Most first-time mothers are naturally concerned about how the pregnancy is going, whether it is proceeding well, without complications, especially in the early stages.
Currently, obstetricians and gynecologists are involved in pregnancy management. In order to optimally monitor the condition of the expectant mother and fetus, doctors recommend regularly visiting an antenatal clinic.
Registration of a pregnant woman at a dispensary
How can a woman understand that pregnancy is going well in the early stages? It is quite difficult to independently determine the nature of the course of pregnancy in the first trimester. Only qualified specialists can answer this question after conducting an appropriate examination. Therefore, it is very important that a pregnant woman attends an antenatal clinic as early as possible, preferably before the 12th week.
If contraindications for continuing pregnancy are identified, then in the first trimester you can still use gentle methods to terminate it. Timely registration at the dispensary and further regular visits to the obstetrician-gynecologist, according to the established schedule, largely determine the normal course of pregnancy.
The schedule of visits to the antenatal clinic, scheduled by the supervising doctor, must be observed unquestioningly.
Complications and consequences
With timely removal of the dead embryo and membranes, there are no serious physiological abnormalities left for the woman. There is room to talk only about the psychological component of the problem.
If a non-developing pregnancy is diagnosed late enough, the following complications may occur:
- inflammatory processes in the uterine mucosa;
- sepsis.
In most cases, a woman can carry and give birth to a healthy child after a previous frozen pregnancy.
If fetal freezing occurs more than once, it is recommended to undergo a full examination of the body and consultation with a geneticist.
Physiological changes in the body of a pregnant woman
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How can you understand that pregnancy is developing normally without taking into account the opinion of doctors? To do this, you need to focus on your general condition and feelings. Carrying a child will certainly lead to physiological changes in the pregnant woman’s body. What changes in her body can a woman notice that will indicate a normal course of pregnancy:
- Appearance.
- Performance of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
- Functionality of the kidneys, liver and gastrointestinal tract (GIT).
Appearance
It will be quite natural for a pregnant woman to acquire a characteristic appearance that was unusual for her before conceiving a child:
- In addition to the appearance of a tummy, there is a slight increase in the size of the limbs, a decrease in the range of movements in the hip joints, and a change in facial features. Due to the shift in the center of gravity, a woman’s gait and posture changes.
- There is darkening of the skin (pigmentation) in the face, abdomen and nipple area.
- The veins on the lower extremities become more visible. Varicose veins may even appear, which were not typical before conception.
- Due to the enlargement of the abdomen, so-called striae (stripes, stretch marks on the skin) often form on its surface.
- During the period of bearing a child, in some cases a moderate increase in body temperature (low-grade fever) is recorded. As a rule, this is observed up to 4 months and is associated with normal hormonal changes in the body of a pregnant woman. By the way, an increase in rectal temperature is considered to be one of the early signs of pregnancy.
- The mammary glands undergo significant changes, the swelling and increase in volume of which is simply impossible not to notice. The size of the nipples also increases. In addition, due to pigmentation, the nipples and area around the nipple become dark brown.
Cardiovascular and respiratory systems
As a rule, the first trimester is characterized by low blood pressure, but starting from approximately the 29th week, there is a tendency to increase, which sometimes makes it difficult to diagnose true hypertension. With the growth of the fetus and the enlargement of the uterus, the heart rate also increases slightly (within 84–90 beats per minute).
Fluctuations in blood pressure and hormonal changes in the female body often lead to disruption of the heart, which can manifest itself as arrhythmias and extrasystoles.
The additional load on the lungs, associated with the fact that you have to provide oxygen not only to yourself, but also to the fetus, leads to the development of shortness of breath. Pregnant women, especially in later stages, experience certain difficulties in performing normal physical activity. An attack of shortness of breath and rapid fatigue can be observed even when climbing stairs just a few floors.
Nevertheless, all this is considered within normal limits, unless, of course, the pregnant woman suffers from some pathology of the cardiovascular and/or respiratory systems.
Digestive and urinary systems
Quite often, pregnant women's taste preferences change dramatically. Some pregnant women develop a sharp aversion to certain types of foods (for example, meat, cheese, sausages, butter), while others may generally be drawn to inedible things (clay, chalk).
In some cases, there is an increase in appetite, in others, on the contrary, a significant decrease. Also, due to decreased intestinal tone, pregnant women are more prone to constipation. This is normal and does not require correction with medications, except by changing your diet.
Increased stress on the kidneys often leads to frequent urination. In the absence of other symptoms, frequent urination should be attributed to natural physiological changes in the body of a pregnant woman, and not to the clinical manifestation of any disease.
No one is saying that you have to endure any discomfort or, even worse, pain. Any changes in your health should be reported to your doctor. And he will decide how serious this is.
Hypertonicity or training contractions?
Obstetricians say that in the second and third trimester the main task of the embryo is to grow, since the rudiments of organs and systems have already formed. At this stage, it is important to maintain the health of the expectant mother and prevent deviations during pregnancy. Hypertonicity of the uterus is not normal under any circumstances - this threatens the development of fetal hypoxia and the risk of miscarriage. Nagging pain in the lumbosacral region, a feeling of a “petrified uterus” are signs of hypertonicity. In contrast to hypertonicity, training contractions, which can begin as early as the beginning of the second trimester, pass quickly, alternating periods of tension and relaxation of the uterus. Remember, a “stone” stomach and severe pain in the lower back are hypertension; urgent medical attention is needed.
Signs of a normal pregnancy
What you should pay attention to first of all in order to find out that pregnancy, both in the early and late stages, is proceeding normally:
- Weight gain.
- Abdominal enlargement.
- Fetal movement.
- Fetal heartbeat.
- Pain.
- Vaginal discharge.
- The appearance of colostrum.
Weight gain
Fetal development, uterine enlargement, fluid retention, restructuring of metabolic processes - all this naturally causes the progressive weight gain of a pregnant woman. On average, the body weight of the expectant mother during the entire period of bearing a child increases by 10–12 kg, of which:
- About 6 kg are the fetus, placenta and amniotic fluid.
- 1–2 kg is due to the growth of the uterus and mammary glands.
- 3–4 kg is an immediate weight gain.
In the early stages of pregnancy, a woman’s body weight remains virtually unchanged. By the end of the 12th week there is some increase, which can be up to 2 kg. In the second trimester, a woman usually gains 300 grams per week. In the third trimester, the increase is already up to 400 grams per week.
A few days before giving birth, regular changes in metabolic processes lead to the fact that a pregnant woman’s body weight can decrease by 1–2 kg.
It should be remembered that these are average data, which may vary in each specific case. In addition, weight gain, among other things, can be influenced by factors such as individual and constitutional characteristics of the body, as well as heredity.
Fetal movement
The baby makes its first movements at 8 weeks, but they are not yet noticeable to the woman. It is generally accepted that fetal movement begins to be felt at 16–20 weeks. Multiparous mothers are familiar with this feeling firsthand, so they record the motor activity of the unborn child earlier than first-time mothers. It is also worth noting that due to the lack of fat deposits on the front wall of the abdomen, slimmer girls perceive the baby’s movements more quickly than plump ones.
Make a note of the date you feel your first fetal movement as this will help your healthcare provider determine your expected due date. As a rule, for a primiparous woman it is necessary to add 20 weeks, for a multiparous woman - 22 weeks. The intensity of movements will help you assess the baby's health. Excessive activity is just as bad as a significant reduction or complete cessation of movement.
To monitor the child’s activity, a specially developed test is used, which can be used at home starting from the 28th week. From 9 am to 9 pm it is necessary to count the number of movements and record every 10. Normally, the tenth movement is usually observed before 5 pm. If over the course of 12 hours you notice that the child has moved less than 10 times, then you should inform the doctor about this. If not a single movement is noted for the whole day, then you should immediately go to the hospital.
By the movement of the fetus, a woman herself can understand how her pregnancy is progressing, whether everything is developing normally, or whether she needs to immediately seek help.
Fetal heartbeat
One of the most important signs of a normal pregnancy is the fetal heartbeat. The first signs of the heart of the unborn baby can be determined using a special vaginal ultrasound sensor already in the early stages of pregnancy (3–4 weeks). Features of changes in fetal heart rate:
- At weeks 4–6, your heart rate will be 80–85 beats per minute.
- At 6–8 weeks, the heart rate will increase to 110–130 beats per minute.
- At 8–10 weeks, the heart rate can reach 190 beats per minute.
- From the 11th week until delivery, your heart rate will be between 140 and 160 bpm.
Heart rate can be used to assess the general condition of the fetus. The child’s heart instantly reacts to any changes that occur to a pregnant woman (stress, various diseases, physical activity). For example, a heart rate that is too fast may indicate long-term problems with the blood supply to the fetus, which leads to insufficient oxygen and nutrients.
A slowdown in the rhythm will indicate a sharp deterioration in the condition of the fetus, requiring emergency measures up to and including surgical delivery.
Pain
During pregnancy, painful sensations of varying nature, intensity and localization often occur. Most of them are considered a natural physiological process in response to changes that occur in the body of a pregnant woman:
- Due to the enlargement of the uterus, its own ligaments, which are attached to the iliac bones, are stretched, and pain occurs in the area of the inguinal folds and above the pubis. This could be due to sudden turns, fast movements, or even just coughing. Such pain does not pose a danger to a woman or child.
- Due to a tendency to constipation, pregnant women often experience nagging pain in the lower abdomen (usually on the left side). To prevent constipation, pay attention to your diet. Your diet should include enough dairy products and foods containing more fiber. In addition, regular physical activity of moderate intensity has a positive effect on intestinal motility.
- Due to some divergence of the symphysis pubis under the influence of the hormone relaxin produced by the ovaries and placenta, pain in the pubic area may be observed. Such changes in the location of the pelvic bones are necessary to facilitate the passage of the baby through the birth canal.
If sufficiently intense and severe pain occurs, you should seek help from a qualified specialist. It is not recommended to take any medications or perform any manipulations to relieve pain without informing your supervising physician.
Vaginal discharge
During the entire period of pregnancy, vaginal discharge is observed. And this is a completely normal phenomenon if their character meets a number of parameters. What vaginal discharge is considered normal?
Abundant, transparent, white, without an unpleasant odor and not accompanied by itching or burning in the genital area. At the same time, the following discharges are considered pathological, requiring identification of the cause and special treatment:
- Yellow. It is necessary to undergo appropriate tests to exclude sexually transmitted diseases (for example, gonorrhea).
- Abundant white, accompanied by itching and burning . Moreover, it has a cheesy consistency. The most common cause of such discharge is vaginal candidiasis or thrush.
- Green. The reasons can be very diverse, but most often associated with infectious and inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system.
- Brown. Under no circumstances should you delay visiting an obstetrician-gynecologist. This kind of discharge could be caused by ectopic pregnancy, placental abruption, cervical injury, etc.
- Bloody . They are considered the most dangerous of all possible pathological discharges, and if detected, you must urgently see your supervising doctor.
Most often, spotting indicates an ectopic pregnancy, the development of a miscarriage, premature placental abruption, damage to the vagina and/or cervix.
Colostrum
For some pregnant women, any changes in the body that they were not warned about cause serious concern. For example, the appearance of colostrum before birth can even cause them to have a panic attack. We hasten to assure you that there is no reason to worry. It is normal to leak colostrum while pregnant. No pathology can be traced here.
In addition, the absence of colostrum secretion before birth is also not considered a deviation from the norm.
If you cannot accurately understand whether the pregnancy is progressing well and normally, you should visit an obstetrician-gynecologist as soon as possible, which will dispel all your doubts or take appropriate measures in a timely manner.
First trimester
Since gynecologists begin counting the pregnancy period from the first day of the last monthly bleeding, then in the first trimester your “interesting situation” will be one week less than in all the others. Considering the course of pregnancy week by week, it will not be difficult to track how your baby is developing and what he already “can do” by a certain date.
In the first month, everything happens literally at the cellular level. So, on the fourth day after fertilization, your child consists of 58 cells, and only 5 of them are the fetus and umbilical cord rudiments, and the rest will be used for nutrition and development. By the end of the first month (more precisely, the 3rd week), the embryo already has the shape of the letter C and its “growth” is 2.5 mm.
At 5–8 weeks, the rudiments of the main organs, both external and internal, begin to form: rudimentary eyes, nose, ears, the basis of the spinal cord and brain, intestines, liver, lungs, etc. At this stage, the baby has gill slits and small tail.
In the third month, the fetus takes on the appearance of a human being. During this period, it is very important for the expectant mother to move more, because the baby’s vestibular apparatus is developing. The arms and legs are already well formed, the fingers are hardening, the first movements appear - the child opens his mouth, moves his limbs, makes the first swallowing and sucking movements. At the tenth week, sexual characteristics are already clearly visible.
