By Teresa Pitman

When Jessica Thompson became pregnant for the first time, she was working in two conflict zones in Africa – Sudan and Uganda. “The food and water was limited and not always clean, and when I started feeling nauseous all the time I thought I had typhoid fever. I knew it wasn’t malaria because I’d already had that and it felt different.” Even when she realized she was pregnant, she assumed the sickness she felt was probably related to living in a stressful and not especially hygienic environment.

With her second pregnancy, though, she was back home in Iqualuit and, yes, she was just as sick. “It had nothing to do with being in Africa. I was just pregnant.”

Now Thompson is about ten weeks pregnant with baby number three, and once again experiencing that all-too-familiar nausea and other symptoms of pregnancy. While some women do sail through pregnancy with few symptoms — hey, there’s even a show on TLC called I didn’t know I was pregnant — most will, like Thompson, have some clear (and sometimes unpleasant) physical indications.

What’s happening in your body?

Every woman’s cycle is a little different, but on average you ovulate (releasing an egg from one ovary into the fallopian tubes where it starts its journey to the uterus) about two weeks after the first day of your period. If a fortunate sperm managed to find that egg, it will take a couple of weeks to travel through the tube and into your uterus to burrow into the lining and start developing. Although this future baby is very tiny at first, it’s the hormonal signals it sends to your body that cause most of the changes.

Morning sickness

Laurel Newton recalls: “I was seven weeks pregnant. I felt fine on Monday, then overnight and all day every day for the next week, I was throwing up and couldn’t eat anything. I finally went to the doctor and got a prescription for Diclectin which really helped, although it didn’t subside completely. Thirteen weeks came and went without a change, but around 16 weeks there was finally some relief.”

Morning sickness is a classic sign of pregnancy, although for many women — as Newton would tell you — the name “all-day sickness” would be more appropriate. Some women just feel queasy, while others will vomit occasionally or frequently. It usually starts around six weeks and subsides after 12 weeks, although for some it continues until the baby is born.

Eating small amounts of easy-to-digest foods frequently throughout the day can help. Eating as soon as you wake up in the morning may also prevent it — some women keep a snack on the bedside table so they don’t even have to get out of bed to eat. Try not to go more than two hours without eating. Ginger is also helpful for some women. Newton says: “I tried ginger ‘chews,’ ginger tea, peppermint tea, and they all provided some relief but I needed large doses of them.” Thompson found candied ginger helped her. In more severe cases, your doctor may prescribe medication to reduce the nausea.

Fatigue

As your body gears up for pregnancy, you may find you are usually tired. It’s common to get home from work, eat supper, and be ready to go to bed. Elisa Brook, who is just past eight weeks pregnant, says the tiredness comes in waves, and sometimes catches her by surprise. “Sometimes I just need to sit down and relax for a few minutes.”

The best treatment for this is simply to rest as much as you can. Even if you can’t sleep, putting your feet up for a few minutes may help.

Breast changes

During pregnancy, the ducts in your breasts grow and increase in number. Your breasts will become larger and often feel very tender and sensitive during this process. You may notice more obvious blue veins under the skin; the blood flow has increased as well.

Talk to your partner about how your breasts feel; you may not want to have them touched during sex and even being hugged can be painful. A comfortable, supportive bra can be helpful too, and you may need a larger cup size than you usually wear.

Frequent urination

Although your baby is still very tiny at this stage — it grows from a single cell at conception to about six centimetres long by 12 weeks — your uterus is already enlarging and developing a thicker lining to provide a home for the baby as it grows. So you may be aware of pressure on your bladder (which is conveniently located right under the uterus) and have to pee more often than usual. This is normal but can occasionally be a sign of a bladder infection (see section on when to call your doctor or midwife).

Cramping and other abdominal pain

Because your uterus is starting to grow, it’s not unusual to feel cramping, painful twinges that are like a stitch in your side, or other uncomfortable sensations. Your internal organs are being pushed out of the way and into new positions, and that can hurt! These are rarely anything more than natural responses to the changes that are happening, but if the pain is persistent and severe, contact your doctor.

Spotting or bleeding

A small amount of bleeding (usually called spotting because it may be just a few spots of blood on your underwear) from the vagina is common during pregnancy. Some women will have what appears to be a light period, either at the time they would have expected their next menstrual periods, or at around three months gestation when the placenta is fully formed, or at other times. Bleeding after sex is also common. Most bleeding — while it can alarming to the expectant parents — does not end up with a miscarriage. But if you see bright red (rather than brownish) blood, and lots of it, you should contact your doctor or midwife.

Weight gain or loss

Remember how tiny your baby is at this point in pregnancy? At just six centimetres long, it won’t be contributing much to your weight gain. Of course, there are other changes going on that can cause you to add a few pounds: your blood volume is increasing, you are retaining more fluid and your uterus is expanding and producing a thick lining. Women all have different patterns of weight gain during pregnancy, but typically you will gain less during this first trimester than during the later weeks of pregnancy. Some women actually lose weight because they are so queasy.

Taking care of yourself

Early pregnancy might not be very visible to the outside world, but expectant mothers are very aware of the changes in their bodies. Giving yourself some TLC is essential. Laurel Newton says: “I’ve definitely made changes in what I’ve been eating. I always try to eat healthy, but I do it even more so now I’m pregnant. I’d like to get into yoga now, too.”

For Jessica Thompson, being busy at work makes it challenging to get the rest she needs. “I have a stressful job that involves a lot of travel,” she explains. “I sometimes rest or nap in my office during my lunch hour. I try to have food and snacks ready in the fridge at home, and in my desk drawer at work, so I can eat when I get hungry — I’m celiac, so I can’t just grab a piece of toast. My husband makes big batches of gluten-free pancakes and I just pop them in the toaster when I’m hungry. We also keep cut-up fruit and vegetables in the fridge.”

Getting better

And here’s the good news — many of the worst symptoms subside after 12 to 14 weeks, as the placenta takes on the role of connecting the baby to your body. Thompson says “I always want to have a party for my placenta at that point, to let it know how much I appreciate it.” You might not want to go as far as throwing a party, but you may breathe a sigh of relief as you move into your second trimester.

When to call your doctor or midwife

If your morning sickness is severe enough that you are not able to work or keep up with normal activities (some women find they can’t even get out of bed), or if you are losing weight, talk to your doctor or midwife about your treatment options, which may include medication.

If you see bright red blood in significant amounts, contact your doctor or midwife. He or she may suggest an ultrasound to see what is going on.

If you are urinating frequently and also feel burning or pain, or often feel as though you need to urinate but only pass a few drops, you may have a bladder infection. These are common in pregnancy, but have been linked to miscarriages and premature births, so your doctor or midwife will advise you about treatments.

Severe, persistent abdominal pains, usually but not always with bleeding, can indicate a tubal pregnancy.