by Nora Carver

Created on: September 22, 2008   Last Updated: July 26, 2010

The first trimester of pregnancy is a time of great change physically and emotionally. Your body undergoes extensive changes in preparation for the impending birth. Emotions flare as hormones rage through your body, leaving massive unexplained mood swings in their wake. You begin to experience the first signs and symptoms of pregnancy. You begin to notice physical changes to your body, which may seem alarming at first.

Some of the common symptoms that may manifest during the first trimester of pregnancy include missing your menstruation cycle, morning sickness, breast tenderness, swelling in the feet or ankles, bloating, weight gain, heartburn, constipation, an increased frequency in urination, sudden unexplainable mood swings, changes in appetite, increased fatigue, strange cravings, acne, a heightened sense of smell, frequent headaches, lower back pain, changes in vision and changes in libido. The aureoles around your nipples may darken, you may have mild cramping in the abdominal area, feel dizzy or light headed, experience an increase in hair and nail growth or growth of hair in unusual places, have unusual sensitivity to light or temperature, your nails may become brittle or your hair may become unusually dry or oily. Since every pregnancy is different there is no set "guide" to go by to determine symptoms that every woman may or may not experience during the first trimester of pregnancy, even if she has been pregnant before.

During the first trimester, the abdomen expands as the uterus enlarges to make room for the growing fetus, pushing other organs out of the way which often cause many bothersome symptoms such as lower back pain, abdominal cramps, gastrointestinal problems and increased frequency in urination. These symptoms usually subside after the fourth month. The breast begin to swell as the mammary glands enlarge in preparation to produce milk and dark bluish lines may appear in the breasts, the aureoles become darker and the breasts may be tender to the touch. This eventually lessens throughout the pregnancy until after the birth when the mammary glands begin to produce milk. Morning sickness usually subsides after the first trimester though some women will experience it throughout their pregnancy.

Prenatal care is extremely important during the first trimester of pregnancy. You should schedule an appointment with your health care provider as soon as you think you might be pregnant. Prenatal visits are typically scheduled for every 4 weeks during

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