By the end of the second month, time almost slows down for some women. Your body is still trying to adapt to the changes it’s going through. And with the beginning of the third month, it’s more like there’s too much happening within you for your body to keep up with, which is why you might struggle with a little morning sickness, a rise or drop in your blood pressure or glucose levels etc.
But this is also when your baby is almost fully formed. By the end of the third month, your baby has well-formed hands and fingers, feet and toes and they can open and close their fists and mouth. This is when their teeth are forming too. Their reproductive organs develop, but their gender is difficult to be identified on the ultrasound. The baby’s circulatory and urinary systems also start functioning and the liver starts producing bile.
By the end of the third month or the first trimester, your baby should be about 7.6 -10 cm (3-4 inches) long and would probably weigh about 28g.
After the first trimester, now that your baby's most critical development has taken place, the chances of a miscarriage drop considerably.
Your baby might be very tiny, but all their parts are developed. In fact, your baby’s gender gets confirmed around this time as their gender organs develop.
Your baby now has fingers and toes, fingernails and toenails too, bones, cartilage and teeth under their gums!
This is the month when your baby starts moving inside your womb, even though it might be a bit too early for you to feel it. Their face has taken shape and they’re probably sucking on a thumb or fist. This is also the time when your baby is making digestive juices and excreting urine.
Are you feeling more tired than usual? Don’t sweat, it’s your pregnancy that causes your blood sugar and blood pressure to drop, making you feel exhausted most of the time.
This is also the time when you might complain of indigestion, headaches and gas. During this time, the ovaries release a hormone called progesterone that slows down your digestion contributing towards all these problems.
Morning sickness and a slowed digestive system can make it a challenging task to eat a diverse, well-balanced healthy diet during the end of the first trimester of your pregnancy. In times like these do your best to get a variety of fruits, vegetables, proteins, probiotics, and whole grains into your day. Your baby is growing faster than you can imagine now and needs all the nutrients you can give her. Speaking of nutrients, you must ensure taking a prenatal calcium supplement for your baby to develop strong bones and teeth.
The third month might be the most tiring month of your pregnancy, so get a lot of rest and take time out for a cup of tea to feel better and refreshed. Remember to stay well-hydrated.
It is natural to go through an emotional turmoil during pregnancy. Keeping yourself distracted by reading and listening to music can help you feel better. Books on pregnancy and babies can also help you feel you’re not doing this alone and that there are people out there who understand exactly what you’re going through.
