Your First Month of Pregnancy
By: Julie Fletcher
Guess what? You are not even pregnant yet!
Ok, so that sounds a little funny, but it is true. You may have already had a positive pregnancy test or visited your doctor for the first time. But according to your body and your doctor’s reckoning, you have been pregnant for a full two weeks before even conceiving.
Remember when your obstetrician asked the date of your Last Menstrual Period (LMP)? Like most women, you probably wonder how you could have been pregnant on that particular day. Actually, you were not technically pregnant, though your body was preparing itself for a potential pregnancy. In fact, each month that is exactly what your body is doing. Gearing up to provide a great place for your possible baby to be conceived and grow.
As you approach the date of your normal period, you’re the lining of your uterus (womb) thickens. It becomes a nutrient rich, cushiony environment perfect for your baby. An egg will be released in anticipation of the great event. If a woman has sex during this fertile time, here it what happens:
The sperm travels upwards to and then through the cervix. The mucus protecting the cervix from invaders has thinned at this time, providing an easy swimming route for the millions of sperm released during intercourse. Yes, during! Even if you and your lover/husband use the ever popular ‘pull-out’ method, you can get pregnant from the fluid he releases while excited. This is known as pre-ejaculate. In not so delicate terms, others refer to this fluid as ‘pre-cum’. This fluid is full of active sperm and a woman can become pregnant from it just as if she had engaged in intercourse that was not interrupted.
After breaching the cervix, the sperm takes a trip up through the uterus, then into the fallopian tubes. If conditions are right, the sperm will meet the released egg (or eggs in the case of a double release!) and try to push their way into the cell. This is fertilization and where conception happens. As soon as the egg is fertilized, the cell begins to rapidly grow and split. During this growth period, the ‘zygote’ travels down the fallopian tube and enters into your uterus.
If you have not shed the blood rich lining of your uterus during a period, then the tiny, growing cells (zygote), will try to find an area to burrow in. By doing this, it causes a slight shedding of lining and may cause you to think that you are having a very light menstruation. The light bleeding may go on for several days, causing you to wonder later how you could be pregnant. If you suspect you are pregnant after having a very light period, then you have more than likely just experienced the ‘burrowing’ of your baby to be!
This is when you miss your period and may also begin to have some of the most common pregnancy symptoms of the first month. Having some seriously strong premenstrual syndrome moods swings? It may not be PMS at all. The changes in your hormonal balance will often cause the same PMS issues. Headaches are very common, along with stuffy sinuses.
Sore breasts come very early with pregnancy. The first month your breasts will already begin to swell. Some women may enjoy the increased sensitivity that comes with this ‘growing’. Sex might be all that more enjoyable, not just for you, but also for your partner if you are responding in a positive way. Still others might find the new sensitivity too much and need to have less stimulation or avoid having their breasts touched altogether.
Have you been sleeping through your alarm? Finding yourself needing to take a nap or maybe wondering why that cup of coffee did nothing for you? Fatigue is a major symptom of the first month of pregnancy. You body is slowing down, going through serious changes and you will need more rest to help support the changes.
There is another early sign of pregnancy that women do not like to discuss often: constipation. Having trouble in the restroom can really be a downer and is often uncomfortable. At the very beginning of pregnancy your digestive system slows down in order to extract as many nutrients as possible from everything you eat or drink. This can cause bouts of constipation in a woman who normally has no issues with bowel movements. Now that you know what is causing the problem, you can solve it! Increase your water consumption, eat high fiber foods, and take your time when you do need to ‘go’.
Speaking of going, you probably have noticed an increased need to urinate. Even this early, your uterus has begun to grow and put pressure on your bladder. It may be inconvenient, but be sure to hit the restroom each time you do feel the need. Holding your urine can cause damage to your bladder while the womb is pushing against it if you do that for long periods of time. This can lead to problems with continence (leakage). If you notice you are having trouble with leaking, try Keigel exercises. You will squeeze the muscles you use to stop urination and hold them tight for a count of ten. Do this as many times a day as you like, for a repetition of ten.
The last symptom we will discuss is hunger. Some women find that they are hungrier than normal in the first month. This is completely normal. Try not to binge or fill up on junk foods, because you need to eat healthy snacks and meals for a healthy baby. If you enjoy vegetables and fruit, try snacking on carrots, apples, and bananas. Raisins are great for increased iron and can satisfy a sweet tooth, too.
Enjoy your pregnancy, be healthy, and congratulations!