by Rebecca Saint

Created on: July 04, 2009   Last Updated: November 27, 2010

The first trimester of pregnancy is full of weird and wonderful things. If you don’t know what to expect, it’s possible you may think an alien has invaded your body, first time mothers especially. The first trimester is also the period when a woman is most likely to suffer a miscarriage. Knowing what to expect and what is abnormal could save your life.

1) Bleeding

It is common knowledge that a woman’s period stops when she conceives. In extremely rare instances, what seems like a menstrual cycle may continue several months into the pregnancy, if not for the entirety. This could be a sign of incompetent cervix or other, more serious issues. This is problematic since the first clue for many women that they may be pregnant is when their menstrual cycle stops. Heavy bleeding, especially if accompanied by abdominal cramps, may indicate a miscarriage. If this is the case, do not hesitate and go to the nearest hospital. It is rare that a miscarriage can be stopped, however it may cause haemorrhaging and severe blood loss.

A woman may experience spotting as well. This is caused by the embryo attaching itself to the uterine wall and is perfectly normal. However, if the bleeding persists or becomes more than a few spots a visit to your obstetrician is in order as soon as possible.

2) Cravings and Revulsions

It is a well known joke that women become very picky eaters during pregnancy. This is usually a result of the sudden increase and decrease of various hormones in the body.

3) Morning sickness

As the production of hCG and progesterone increases, it is natural for nausea and dizziness to occur. These symptoms usually abate around the end of the first trimester as the body adjusts to this boost in hormones, however some women experience morning sickness much longer, and not always necessarily in the morning. This nausea may also be instigated by sights, smells, textures or motion.

4) Fatigue

As the embryo attaches itself to the uterine wall and begins to develop into a fetus, a woman’s body is sending every possible nutrient to the womb. This makes it very important to partake in a healthy, well balanced diet and also take pre-natal vitamins. Naturally, as these nutrients are being re-directed, a woman may feel more tired than usual.

5) Breast tenderness

Progesterone increases also work to begin preparing the breasts for milk production. During the first trimester, the breast may become tender and slightly swollen as the body prepares to

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