Having a baby is an exciting time. The first trimester is filled with exciting and exhausting events. From morning sickness to aching breasts and fatigue, it is important to have a good support system around you. Pregnancy is different for everyone, but there are a few things that most women will have in common.

It is essential to focus on your overall health to make sure your body is prepared to go through the changes correctly.

Changes in Your Body

Some of the changes you can expect with your body will be difficult to overcome, while others will be easier to handle. Common experiences during the first trimester include food cravings and aversions, increased urination, fatigue, mood swings, morning sickness, weight gain, constipation and breast tenderness. It is important to contact your doctor if you experience any problems with bleeding, sharp pains in the abdomen and cramping.

Sore breasts are a common sign of pregnancy, because your breasts are preparing the milk ducts to feed the baby. Prenatal vitamins will increase the level of iron in your body, which will slow down the way the intestines move food. Increasing your water intake is important to moving stool out of the body and keeping you feeling better. Daily exercise is recommended to help with the digestive track and to make sure you are keeping your muscles healthy and toned to deal with the pregnancy. Fatigue is a common symptom people feel as they are going through the first trimester: the body is adjusting to the fetus and needs plenty of rest. Morning sickness is another issue you will likely experience (at any time of the day). Morning sickness causes you to feel nauseous often, and many women will vomit often throughout the day.

Medical Testing

Tests, and receiving quality medical care, are very important during a woman’s first trimester. Some women are deemed at risk for their health and the health of the baby. Medications you take have an impact on you and the baby. Contact your doctor immediately if you are dealing with bleeding, cramping and severe dizziness.

The National Down Syndrome Society states that 1 out of 733 pregnancies will result in a child born with Down syndrome. During the first trimester, women will undergo several blood and urine tests to check for signs of problems. If you are concerned about Down syndrome or other birth defects, speak with your doctors. During a first trimester ultrasound, the doctor will look for physical abnormalities. If the fetus has a thickened neck skin fold, also known as a nuchal fold, it can be an indication of Down syndrome. If skin folds are detected, there are additional tests the doctor will recommend. Other signs of Down syndrome include dilation in the kidneys, lack of nasal bone, heart defects and bowel defects.

Genetic screening isn’t limited to Down syndrome; fetal and maternal diagnoses can be used to identify a wide range of diseases and conditions. While originally only women over the age of 25 were encouraged to engage in heightened medical testing during their first trimester, it’s become increasingly prevalent among women of all ages to engage in genetic screening to better identify potential health risks.

Whether you are a first time mother, or have been pregnant before, it is essential to pay close attention to your body during your first trimester, and receive quality medical care to protect to health of you and your child.

 About Author : Jenna Gutierrez is a freelance medical blogger. She enjoys sharing her knowledge of pediatric health care with an online audience.