What to Expect During A General Pregnancy
Pregnancies can be a wonderful experience, especially for new mother’s ready to take on the next stages of their life and help foster new ones into the world. To help you embrace this unique aspect of motherhood, we’re here to support you on your journey, and inform you about the healthy changes that occur during pregnancy.
To outline your experience, healthcare professionals typically section these terms of pregnancy into trimesters. These trimesters include:
First Trimester (1-12 Weeks)
The fertilized egg, known as a zygote, travels through the fallopian tube to the uterus, where the zygote attaches itself to the uterine wall and then forms the fetus and placenta. These clusters of cells develop the basic structure of the human form, and the placenta connects the fetus to the mother’s uterine wall, allowing nutrients and oxygen to the fetus.
Second Trimester (13-28 Weeks)
During the second trimester, women who are pregnant will begin to notice the fetus develops more cognitive function, such as hands and feet moving, and will start to develop more advanced structures, such as the baby’s sex and facial structures. The second trimester is when parents can come into clinics to see the child’s progress and diagnose the child for any complications.
Third Trimester (29-40 Weeks)
During this time, the bones, organs, and other extremities begin to form, all the way up until delivery. Different times of delivery determine the child’s risk for health problems, while babies born between 39 and 40 weeks are considered full-term and have better health outcomes than those born earlier or later.
General pregnancies encompass many annoying, but healthy habits, but depending on its severity, calling your doctor can help determine whether these changes will affect the health of both you and your baby.
Common Symptoms of Pregnancy:
- Mild swelling
- Stomach problems
- Mild aches and pains
- Swollen gums
- Breathing issues
- Skin changes
- Bathroom issues
Abnormal symptoms during pregnancy:
- Preterm labor signs
- Urination problems
- Severe pain
- Mid-back pain
- Illness
- Unusual rashes
- Pelvic pressure
- Excessive/sudden swelling
The Benefits of Support During A General Pregnancy
Our clinic specializes in noticing potential problems in pregnancies and giving immediate care to treat the symptoms. During healthy pregnancies, we focus on guiding our women through these stages and helping them with resources every step of the way. Some other benefits of coming to our clinic include:
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Giving nutritional advice
- Evaluations of baby’s health
- Family-centered support
- Numerous treatment options
Common Questions About General Pregnancies (Mini-FAQ):
When will I feel my baby move?
Typically, the baby will begin to run between 18 and 22 weeks during the second trimester, and these movements will usually occur as flutters or bubbles near the stomach and pelvic area.
How should I measure my pregnancy?
We recommend measuring your pregnancy in weeks rather than months because it will help you keep track of symptoms, weight gain, and other signs during your pregnancy that you would miss if you tracked by months.
How much weight will I gain during my pregnancy?
Women throughout their pregnancy will gain in between 20-30 pounds and broken down; women will need to eat an extra 300 calories to your regular recommended diet to keep the baby healthy during gestation.
How We Can Help With General Pregnancies
At our clinic, pregnancies are our specialty. When your body’s going through physical changes that may be entirely new for you, our health care providers can help educate you about the changes in your body, support you throughout your pregnancy, and help you have a positive experience from gestation to delivery.