Trimester Truths: What Really Happens in Each

You’ve been preparing for this moment for a long time: When the pregnancy test stick reveals the “positive” sign and you learn that you are going to become a mother. It’s easily the giddiest few seconds of your life. But all you know now is that a little being is growing inside you and you’re going to need new clothes (with elastic waistbands and adjustable straps). What’s really in store for your next 40 weeks? Read on for a snapshot of the 9 ½ months ahead.
FIRST TRIMESTER
Queasiness and Cravings
For the first 13 weeks of pregnancy, it’s normal to be nauseous and to experience strong cravings. “First trimester nausea varies hugely from one woman to the next,” says Kimmelin Hull, birthing coach and author of A Dozen Invisible Pieces and Other Confessions of Motherhood. While some are truly debilitated by their morning (er, make that all day) sickness, others breeze through the first trimester with minimal stomach upset, smell aversion or other food intolerance. You may be hungrier than usual but you only need an extra 300 calories a day during pregnancy to support your body—and your baby’s—growing needs. Focus on small, well-balanced meals—every 2 to 3 hours—that offer a mix of proteins, complex carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, and essential fatty acids. “An extra granola bar here, another glass of milk there—and you’ll be up to that bonus 300 calories in no time,” says Hull.

SECOND TRIMESTER
The Honeymoon
By 14 weeks, the nausea finally fades and energy levels pick up. You’re starting to look pregnant but aren’t big enough yet to be truly uncomfortable. Many women say their sex drive increases (some experience their first orgasm) and they get a burst of creative energy around this time. “Whether it takes the form of nesting, spontaneously enrolling in community art classes, or picking up a new musical instrument, many pregnant women have an overwhelming need to celebrate the creation of life going on inside of them by indulging in other creative outlets as well,” says Hull. If your doctor gives you the OK, this is also a good time to take a pre-baby vacation. Just be sure, during travel, to drink fluids regularly, empty your bladder frequently and get up and move around every hour or so.

THIRD TRIMESTER
Preparing the Nest
Late in the third trimester you begin to make the mental transition from pregnant woman to mother. Along with that shift can come feelings of fear, according to Tara Brooke, founder and director of Power of Birth, a childbirth education center in New York City. “It’s mainly a fear of the unknown,” Brooke says. “We tend to second-guess ourselves at this stage.” She recommends enlisting the support of your partner, family and friends as you prepare for the big event. Most women also develop some form of nesting instinct that prompts them to prep the “nest” for baby’s arrival. Sometimes the arrival of this instinct is a hint that labor is coming soon!>SURCE:http://pregnancy.glam.com(Romy Weinberg)