First Month
Mother : If you've been trying for a baby, a missed period is a good sign you're on the right track. Other indications of pregnancy include:
- Nausea, and not just in the morning
- A sudden aversion to familiar foods like coffee or alcohol
- Cravings for certain foods
- A metallic taste in your mouth
- Tender breasts
- Constant trips to the loo
- Fatigue
- Faintness or dizziness
- An increase in vaginal discharge
- Moodiness
If you suspect you're pregnant, you can try a home pregnancy test (about 95% accurate) or make an appointment with your GP to confirm the diagnosis.
Labour is usually longest with a first child, lasting 12-14 hours in most cases. Typically if you have light contractions, your labour will be longer.
Baby
By the end of the first month, your unborn baby is technically known as an embryo. He has a heart, and a heart beat can already be detected. Finger-shaped growths called chorionic villi grow into the uterine wall to anchor the embryo, and the umbilical cord is beginning to form. Your baby is about the size of a pea!
The first weeks are the most vulnerable for an unborn baby, so it's a good time to assess your lifestyle. Stop smoking and cut down on alcohol, check your work environment for hazardous conditions, and take care when handling pets to avoid contracting toxoplasmosis.