Telford and Newport Scene magazine Early Summer edition 2024

Pregnancy
Coping With Pregnancy:
The Three Stages
Are you planning for a new
arrival in 2024? Whether you’re
a first-time mum-to-be or
getting ready to welcome a new
addition to an already growing
family, there’s always plenty of
advice and information to take
in when it comes to pregnancy.
steps you should take to ensure you are being as healthy
as possible.
Getting plenty of rest and drinking fluids is really
important as is maintaining a healthy and balanced diet.
You should also aim to take folic acid up until week
twelve of your pregnancy as well as Vitamin D
supplements throughout.
The Second Trimester
During the second trimester, your baby will begin to
hear some sounds, they will sleep and wake regularly
and may even start to kick.
By around week twenty, your baby’s digestive system
will be working and this is usually the time you can find
out the gender of your little one.
As well as putting on weight as your baby grows, your
body will continue to go through changes in the second
trimester such as:
• Back ache – some people also experience pelvic pain
and start to find it more difficult to move around.
Physiotherapy can help to manage these changes.
• Stretch marks – as your baby grows you may start to
notice stretch marks appear on your skin. There are
plenty of moisturisers and lotions that can help to
soothe your skin during pregnancy though there is little
evidence that they reduce marks.
• You will feel your baby’s movements – as your baby
gets bigger and stronger you will notice these
movements more and get to know their patterns. Speak
to your midwife or antenatal ward as soon as possible if
you notice less movement.
The Third Trimester
Pregnancy is roughly divided into three separate stages,
or ‘trimesters’:
• First Trimester – from conception to 12 weeks
• Second Trimester – 13 to 27 weeks
• Third Trimester 28 to 40 weeks
The First Trimester
During the first trimester is where your baby is really
beginning to develop. Starting out as a tiny ball of cells,
these become an embryo whereas others form the
placenta.
During the first weeks of pregnancy your baby’s organs
and body parts start to form and the cells that make
your baby’s heart start beating. By week six, your baby’s
heartbeat can usually be detected during an ultrasound
and by week twelve they will have developed into
looking more like a little person.
Some of the more common symptoms experienced
during this first stage of pregnancy are:
• Needing to urinate more often than normal
• Tender breasts
• A general feeling of tiredness
• Morning sickness
Most of these symptoms will slowly begin to ease the
later you get into your pregnancy but there are some
During the final trimester, your baby will put on weight
and become much larger. They will usually turn into a
head-down position ready for the birth by week thirty
six.
During this time you may also experience the following
symptoms:
• You may need to urinate more often and may find you
are leaking urine, particularly when coughing or
sneezing – pelvic floor exercises can help with this.
• You may experience swelling in your ankles and feet or
hands and fingers – if this comes on suddenly, you
should contact your midwife as soon as possible.
• Heartburn – during the third trimester you should try
to eat small portions often and stick to foods that are
lesser in flavour.
• Tiredness and breathlessness – you will be offered
blood test during your pregnancy to keep track of your
iron levels and ensuring you are getting plenty of rest
will also help.
As well as the tips listed, you can contact your midwife
or GP if you have any concerns during your pregnancy
and they will be able to advise you on your symptoms
and further ways to cope.
Don’t isolate yourself during your pregnancy and speak
to others that may well have experienced similar
symptoms to you. Try to enjoy your pregnancy as much
as you can because your little one will be here before you
know it!
By Katie Wilson