3 Trimesters of the Changing Body of a Pregnant Woman

Pregnancy is estimated to last approximately 280 days from the first day of the woman’s last menstrual cycle to the EDD or estimated due date; this is approximately 40 weeks. It is considered normal to deliver her baby anywhere between 37-42 weeks.

At 37 weeks the baby is “term” which means that baby is fully developed (the lungs being the final organ to mature), 40 weeks is considered “full term” which means the baby has fat stores as well as fully developed organs etc. It is important to note that many first time pregnant women will go into labor up to two weeks after their EDD.

Pregnancy is broken up into 3 trimesters, each presents it’s own set of rewards and challenges and each trimester brings a woman closer to her world changing forever as she prepares her body, mind and spirit for motherhood.

First Trimester

The first trimester of pregnancy is the time from conception to the thirteenth week, or the first 3 months. 15-20% of all known pregnancies end in miscarriage. 80% of those miscarriages happen in the first trimester.

Tests

Women will receive the following prenatal tests in the first trimester. Most of them are non invasive and require no special precautions when it comes to activity. Women are considered “high risk” when they are 35 years old or older and are encouraged to do more testing.

1. Blood tests: blood type screening for Rh compatibility, anemia, Rubella, Hepatitis B & C, Syphilis, HIV, Glucose, Cystic Fibrosis carrier testing, TRI 21, TRI 18 & 13
2. Urine Tests: tests protein and sugar levels
3. Swab: STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections)
4. Ultrasound, nuchal translucency screening to detect signs of trisomy 21 & 18, viability of pregnancy, and number of fetuses
5. Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS): Collection of placental cells at the insertion point on the uterine wall. Done at 10-13 weeks. Detection of chromosomal and genetic disorders like Down Syndrome (chromosomal) and Cystic Fibrosis (genetic).

1 in 100 women miscarry after this test. It is important that women getting a CVS refrain from Prenatal Vinyasa Yoga and any other exercise for 72 hours (some doctors say 24 hours) AND until cleared to return to exercise from her doctor.

Changing body

In the first trimester a woman might feel or notice:

1. Moderate to extreme fatigue
2. Nausea or “morning sickness” varying in intensity from queasy feeling to vomiting
3. Bloated feeling caused by higher progesterone and lower peristalsis (not wanting a tight waistband)
4. Breast tenderness and increased size (also nipples can start to be more pronounced)
5. Frequent urination caused by higher HCG irritating the bladder
6. Craving certain foods or loss of appetite
7. Constipation caused by higher progesterone
8. Menstrual cessation (some spotting can be normal, but seek care provider to get checked)
9. Shortness of breath
10. Increased sensitivity to smells can cause nausea and vomiting

Second Trimester

The second trimester of pregnancy is the time from 14-27 weeks, or the second 3 months.

Tests

Women will receive the following prenatal tests in the second trimester:

1. Ultrasound: (NOTE, second trimester ultrasounds are less accurate in determining due dates)
2. Amniocentesis (optional test): Using a needle a small amount of amniotic fluid is extracted and tested. Amnio tests for everything that CVS tests for but also includes neural tube defects. 1 in 200 women miscarry after this test. It is important that women getting an Amnio refrain from Prenatal Vinyasa Yoga and any other exercise for 72 hours AND until cleared to return to exercise from her doctor.
3. Blood tests at 15-20 weeks to detect diseases or chromosomal disorders like Down syndrome, trisomy 18 and neural tube defects called either the triple or quad screening: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), Estriol, hCG, Inhibin A (this is only in the quad screening)

Changing body

In the second trimester a woman might feel or notice:

1. Reduction in fatigue
2. Reduction in nausea or “morning sickness” varying in intensity from queasy feeling to vomiting (in some cases this can last through the second trimester and even through the third)
3. Abdominal swelling
4. Skin changes that can occur:
   • Dark line from the navel to the pubic bone
   • Brown patches on face
   • Patches of skin irritation or rashes
   • Areolas darken
   • Stretch marks can sometimes present in the second trimester
5. Ligament pain due to the stretching of the uterus. Can be sharp or lingering, and can occur after sitting for long periods of time then standing up.
6. Heartburn can be present on and off
7. Woman might begin to feel movement of baby if she hasn’t already. Butterfly flutters (quickening)
8. She might begin to get Braxton-Hicks contractions as early as 5 months
9. Certain days she might experience extreme fatigue possibly due to the baby going through growth spurts

Third Trimester

The third trimester of pregnancy is the time from 28-40 (42) weeks, or the third 3 months.

Tests

Women will receive the following prenatal tests in the second trimester:

All women are given a vaginal and rectal swab to check for GBS or group B streptococcus. Test is done at 37 weeks and is positive in 25-30% of women tested. It is done late in pregnancy because it comes and goes without symptoms. It is treated with antibiotics in labor because, while it is not harmful to the woman in most cases, it can be transmitted to the baby during birth and cause problems to the baby.

This test is considered valid for 5 weeks and can be repeated.

Changing body

In the third trimester a woman might feel or notice:

1. Increase frequency of urination, as baby shifts bladder is compressed. This often means she is up multiple times during the night
2. Certain days she might experience extreme fatigue possibly due to the baby going through growth spurts and sleep disruption
3. Able to eat less at one time due to stomach compression
4. Increase in heartburn
5. Contractions/Braxton Hicks
6. Navel might “pop out”
7. Less room for lungs to expand therefore causing shortness of breath
8. Breasts continue to swell occasionally leaking colostrum (yellowish pre-milk substance)
9. More ligament stretching and tightening
10. Late in pregnancy there can be pressure on the bottom of the pelvis
11. Feet, hands, ankles, and wrists might begin to swell, referred to as Edema

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