Bleeding

Bleeding in early pregnancy is stressful, even when it is benign.  Slight spotting is fairly common around the time of implantation (a few days prior to your expected period).  Some women have spotting into the first weeks of pregnancy with no other complications.

But sometimes bleeding in early pregnancy is a sign that the pregnancy may not be healthy.  If you are having a miscarriage, there is generally nothing that can be done to stop it.  But if you are bleeding heavily, please call your midwife or doctor. 

If you are experiencing bleeding with pain (especially one sided pain), seek immediate medical care.

Breast changes  

Breast tenderness and enlargement is a common early pregnancy symptom.  It is common to need to wear a larger bra size soon after becoming pregnant.  Because the changes are likely to continue for a few weeks, getting a soft, stretchy bra to wear can be a good option.  Avoid bras that compress the breasts to the point of discomfort.  Finding a way to exercise comfortably can be challenging. Walking, swimming, and bike/elliptical machines can be good solutions.

Breast tenderness should subside by the end of the first trimester.

Fatigue

The fatigue of early pregnancy can be overwhelming.  For the most part, the solution is to rest.  Try to cut back on your daily activities, nap in the afternoon if you can.  Pay attention to your diet, eating a healthy balance of carbs, fats and protiens.  Anemia can be a cause of severe fatigue.  Your midwife (or doctor) will check your iron levels at your first prenatal visit.  If you are anemic, treating it with iron supplements can be helpful with symptoms of fatigue.

Feeling so tired, you may wonder if caffiene is ok for pregnancy.  While some caffiene is ok for pregnancy, excessive caffiene has been linked to miscarriage.  The March of Dimes recommends that pregnant women limit caffiene consumption to 200 mg per day.  Not all studies show a link to miscarriage, but caffiene use should be moderate.  (A grande latte from Starbuck's has about 150mg of caffiene. A grande drip or brewed coffee from Starbucks has 330mg.) 

Nausea & vomiting (morning sickenss)

Women are often nauseated in early pregancy, and may experience vomiting. While commonly referred to as 'morning sickness', pregnancy induced stomach upset can happen at any time of the day.  However, the morning is a common time, as it is thought to be related to blood sugar dropping due to an empty stomach.

There are many things to try to help get through this time in your pregnancy.  For most women, nausea and vomitting are only a problem in the first trimester (12-14 weeks).  Some things to try:

• Eat something before you get out of bed - crackers on the night stand can help

• Eat small meals - try to keep your blood sugar even through the day

• Sip fluids - too much at once can make you feel worse, but you need to stay hydrated

• Skip the prenatal vitamins for a few weeks until the worst passes.

• Ginger tea or strong ginger candy helps some women

• If water makes you feel ill, try drinking only ice cold water with lemon
• Smells are very intense during pregnancy - avoid smells that trigger nausea