The First Trimester
Nothing much happens at first then your pregnancy hormones go into overdrive soon after the egg burrows into the lining of the uterus to make itself a little nest for the next few months. Some women know within days that they have conceived – especially if it is not their first pregnancy. Caroline says, “Oh yes, with the first baby, the first outward sign was my boobs. They were significantly tender. I have had mastitis in the past and it felt a bit like that but without the lumpiness”.

After a month, her sense of taste changed. “I had a strange metallic taste in my mouth all through the next eight months and I could not face drinking tea. Eating fruit and frozen sweetcorn kernels helped me to forget about the metallic taste. The cup of tea I was given after giving birth tasted fantastic – it was the first one I had enjoyed for ages”.

Some women find that their bladders are more irritable early on, making them need to urinate more often. Others don’t get this problem until the uterus grows big enough to exert pressure downwards onto the bladder.

Most women suffer from varying degrees of nausea, the so-called ‘morning sickness’. Eating little and often can be helpful, especially for those people who get it during every waking hour, as it can be worse when the stomach is empty. Fatigue may also start to become a problem, partly because the mother’s body is pre-occupied with growing a new human being, and partly due to hormones.

The waistline will be starting to thicken by the end of the first three months and tight clothing may be a no-no due to discomfort. If the woman normally wears hi-leg briefs, she may need to think about changing to bikini-height pants or look at maternity briefs or maternity panties. Maternity bras may not be necessary yet but she may well need to move up a cup size already.

Article copyright Maternity Lingerie