What to Expect..

A woman may experience all of these symptoms or only one or two. Knowing that these physical and emotional symptoms are fairly common can help put you at ease during the first month of pregnancy.

Fatigue
Depression
Morning sickness
Breast changes
Excessive saliva
Frequent urination
Fear of baby’s health
Stress

Morning Sickness
During pregnancy, there are some common ailments many women experience. 

• Nausea or "morning sickness" is common; 50-90% of women may have nausea during a normal, healthy pregnancy.
• There is not one remedy that will work for everyone.
• Nausea is worse when a person is tired, so get plenty of rest. Eat lightly and try bland foods around the clock, drink enough fluids especially when queasy. 
• Try eating solids then waiting a while before drinking anything. Eating and drinking at the same time may make nausea worse.
• If you have persistent vomiting, talk to your doctor about medications that may help.

What should a women expect at her first prenatal appointment?
This brief summary will help prepare expecting women as well as those who are planning to have a baby. Knowing what will happen helps women relax and get the most out of their prenatal care. Your health care provider will usually discuss the following topics and perform the following tests.

Check or download chart on Fetal Development
Source: University of South Carolina

Average Fetal Length and Weight Chart
Source: www.babycenter.com

Week-by-week pregnancy calendar
Source: www.kidshealth.org/

Fourth Month Your Baby and Fetal Development You will feel very excited when you feel the baby move during this month. Some women don't feel movement until the fifth month of pregnancy. This movement may feel like fluttering at first. It is called "quickening." Your baby moves, swallows and can hear your voice. He or she is approximately seven inches long and weighs around five ounces.
Your Body and Signs and Symptoms You are beginning your second trimester of pregnancy. Hunger is another one of the symptoms of pregnancy, and you may be craving certain foods. Although you are eating for two, you do not need to eat twice as much! Eat just a little more than usual and begin gaining a few pounds this month. Learn more about healthy weight gain during pregnancy. Learn more about what to expect during your second trimester.

	Fifth Month Your Baby and Fetal Development If you have an ultrasound during the fifth month of pregnancy and the baby is awake, you may be able to see the hand move to the mouth or the mouth open. The radiologist may be able to tell you if you are having a boy or a girl! At the end of the fifth month of pregnancy your baby is approximately 10 inches long and weighs about one pound.
	Your Body and Signs and Symptoms You look radiant. The feeling of tiredness may diminish. You may feel a little bloated. Constipation is one of the symptoms of pregnancy this month. Drink more water! It will help with the constipation and may reduce morning sickness, if you still have it.
Sixth Month Your Baby and Fetal Development Your baby becomes much more active, rolling from side to side and turning upside down and back. He or she begins to suck its thumb. At the end of the sixth month of pregnancy your baby is approximately 12 inches long and weighs about a pound and a half.
Your Body and Signs and Symptoms Listen to your body. Pregnant women tend to do too much, especially if they have other children. Take a rest! Pregnancy symptoms this month include back pain as your baby grows larger.

Reference: www.surebaby.com/pregnancy_second_trimester.php

Nutrition plays an important role throughout your pregnancy, but there are three particular areas of concern in the third trimester.
Calcium During the last three months or pregnancy, your baby begins forming its first set of teeth under the gum line and begin to store calcium in their bones. Pregnant women need three to four servings of dairy products each day. If you cannot tolerate dairy products, a calcium supplement containing about 1500 - 1800 mg can be used daily. If you take a lot of Tums for heartburn, you may be getting that amount anyway.
Iron, Protein and Vitamins The extra red blood cells that you produce will help to ensure good blood flow through the placenta, and act as a buffer to protect you against blood loss during delivery and afterwards. The extra blood cells your baby produces will serve as his or her iron storage for the first three months of life, when typical iron consumption is relatively low. In order for you to build red blood cells you need three types of nutrients: iron, protein and B vitamins. The best source of all of these nutrients is red lean meat, like steak, but also whole grain cereals and breads. If you are anemic and your doctor has put you on additional iron supplements, take it with orange juice. Avoid taking iron at the same time as calcium.
Omega 3, 6 and 9 Fatty Acids Probably the most important thing happening with your baby right now is rapid brain growth. The brain is composed mainly of fat, but not just any type of fat. You need essential fatty acids: Omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids are all healthy fats. The Omega 3 fatty acid called DHA, (Docosahexanoic Acid), is a major component of human brain tissue and the retina (inside the back of the eye). You need four servings per week of foods that are rich in DHA. Those foods include fatty fish like salmon, trout, mackerel, sardines, and tuna. However, tuna should be limited to one serving per week because of the potential exposure to mercury. Also, organ meats, like liver or tongue, are a rich source of DHA. If you don’t like either of those choices, eggs, (including the yolk) and poultry (the dark meat) are pretty good sources as well. Vegetarian sources of Omega 3 fatty acids are flax seeds and flax seed oil.

Learn more about what to expect during your 3rd trimester.

Fetal Kick Counts One way to monitor the well-being of your baby is to do a fetal kick count. This is a way to determine if the placenta is functioning correctly. Lie down and rest after you have eaten a good meal, with juice or pop to drink. The sugar in your juice or pop tends to make the baby more active. Count each time you feel the baby kick or move during the first hour after you’ve eaten. Normally the baby will kick 10 times in one hour, or at least three times in 20 minutes. Another sign of a healthy baby is one that gets the hiccups regularly, so watch for those rhythmic jerks in your abdomen every now and then. Warning signs and when to call your doctor would be a sudden decrease in movement of less than 10 kicks in 12 hours after the fifth month of pregnancy. If you have concerns or worries about your baby, contact your health care provider.