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At three months, many women find the unpleasant physical reminders of
pregnancy (the constant tiredness and ravages of morning sickness) begin to
lessen, and although they haven't begun to "show," their jeans are feeling a
little snug. (Women with second or third babies often begin to show earlier than
first timers.)
By the third month you're also likely to be tiring of the sort of limbo
you've been in when it comes to receiving sympathy and help. During the first
trimester you have felt pregnant – tired, nauseated, grouchy, short-tempered,
and generally on an emotional roller coaster – even though your body has not yet
revealed what's going on inside. Accordingly, many friends, relatives, and
especially your spouse may not have been offering you either the sympathy you
want or the help you need.
The emotional ups and downs of the first two months often continue into the
third month. The good news is that the level of pregnancy hormones in your
blood will probably peak during this month, meaning at least their side effects
won't get any worse. For most women, the "constant" PMS feeling will begin to
diminish by the end of twelve weeks. Other feelings you may have include:
An inner confidence. The fear of miscarriage, so prevalent in the
first two months, now lessens a lot, since miscarriages most often occur within
the first eight weeks. If you've had a previous miscarriage, you may enter the
third month with a sigh of relief and allow yourself to feel a surge of maternal
love and hopefulness that you may have held back in case this baby didn't make
it. It is in this month that most women begin to feel confident that they
really are going to go on to deliver a healthy baby.
A need to be alone. Throughout much of the first trimester, but
especially at its end, many women report that they just want to be alone.
Perhaps this is another one of nature's messages to slow down, retreat, and
consider yourself first. It's also a sign that you are ready to become
acquainted with the little life that's growing inside you.
Concerns about weight gain. In the first two months you may have
worried less about weight gain than you do now. Chances are you were just happy
you could keep any food down at all. (Women who experience more than their fair
share of nausea and food aversions during the first two months may not begin to
gain weight until the third month.) Now that you are craving food more, and
able to keep most of it down, it's normal to become conscious of the weight this
extra food is going to put on.
Worries about coping. If you are one of the few women whose
pregnancy sickness does not begin to diminish by the end of this month, you may
wonder how you are ever going to get through the next six. Even the sickest
women usually experience some relief by the end of four months, so hang in
there. Keep in mind though, as your pregnancy progresses, you'll feel more
pregnant.
Antsy. It's common at this stage of pregnancy to feel eager to get
into "real" pregnancy, where you look pregnant and feel the baby moving.
Waiting is especially hard if you're feeling out of sorts.
Your continually rising hormones and your growing baby continue to make their
presence felt. Nausea, vomiting, heartburn, and constipation often continue
during the third month, but typically begin to subside by the end of this month.
In addition to these familiar discomforts, you may have some new physical
experiences.
Abdominal discomfort. Even
though you don't yet show, you will begin to feel that something important is
going on in your pelvis. You may feel a fullness in your lower abdomen. You
may also notice mild stabbing pains when you suddenly change positions, going
say from lying to sitting, or sitting to standing. As your uterus grows it
stretches its supporting ligaments, causing these twitches of pain on both sides
of your waist. Gradually easing into changes of position lessens the sudden
stretching of these ligaments, and the accompanying pains. During the first
trimester, uterine ligament discomfort tends to be sporadic, mild, and more of a
nuisance or discomfort than truly painful. In the second and third trimester,
the enlarging uterus may further stretch these ligaments, causing these pains to
intensify. As your pregnancy progresses, you will learn which is the best
position to assume to relieve these pains.
Between clothing sizes. From the third to the fifth months you may
find nothing fits. Your regular clothing and underwear feel too tight, but you
look silly in maternity clothes. Buy some comfortable non-maternity pants and
skirts one-size larger and with elastic waistbands. You'll wear them again
after the baby is born.
Hearing life. By the 12th week, you and your
doctor may be able to hear your baby's heartbeat using an ultrasound device
(called a Doptone) to detect your baby's heartbeat. Baby's
heartbeat is about twice as fast as yours, and sounds like rapid-fire "swoosh,
swoosh." You may have expected to hear a faint twittering and not the loud
booming sounds that the ultrasound will reveal. You will be amazed how strong
your baby's heart sounds. Remember, it's magnified many times.
Breast changes. Your breasts are continuing to
gear themselves up to feed your baby after birth. By the end of this month your
nipples will probably have enlarged considerably and, as the milk ducts enlarge,
and the pigmented area around your nipple may seem to take up half your breast.
Getting used to the different feel and look of your breasts and realizing the
importance of these changes will prepare you for the more pregnant look that is
soon to come to the rest of you. If you are anxious about adjusting to your new
body image and don't look forward to that fuller look, now is a good time to
work through those feelings.
AskDrSears.com is intended to help parents become better informed consumers
of health care. The information presented in this site gives general advice
on parenting and health care. Always consult your doctor for your individual
needs.
