First trimester

Most people think of pregnancy as being 9 months long; however, the average pregnancy actually lasts about 280 days, or 40 weeks.¹ Progress is generally measured in weeks, and the weeks are grouped into 3 phases, called trimesters.

Feeling queasy?

Morning sickness is the most common pregnancy-related condition among women in their first trimester.¹ It affects up to 80 percent of all pregnant women and usually lasts for 1 to 3 months.^2,3 While no one knows exactly what causes it, some foods and vitamins can make it worse, forcing you to struggle between supporting your baby's health and your own ability to get through a meeting at work, an appointment with your doctor, or even a trip to the grocery store. You want to be sure your baby gets the best nutrition possible to grow healthy and strong, but you don't want anything to make you feel worse!

That's why it's important to talk with your doctor about a healthy diet and the right choice for your prenatal vitamins. During this stage of your pregnancy, your body will need almost twice the normal amount of some nutrients. Even if you're eating right, you simply can't meet the additional requirements through diet alone.

CitraNatal vitamins are specially formulated to provide the additional nutrients you need, while being easy on your system. They include ingredients that are absorbed gently to avoid unpleasant effects, as well as Vitamin B₆, which might help with the nausea associated with your morning sickness.⁴

New developments

While your pregnancy may have gone unnoticed by people around you, you've probably experienced a number of changes in your body so far, including:¹

• Breasts — With milk glands multiplying and fat layers growing to support the extra calories your baby needs, your breasts may feel larger and sore to the touch. This soreness is similar to what some women experience with PMS. It usually passes by the 8th to 10th week, and breast growth begins to slow down by the end of your first trimester.
• Stomach — For many women, morning sickness starts a few weeks into pregnancy. The exact cause is a mystery, but it usually goes away by about week 14. Additionally, while you're still a long way off from having a big baby belly, you may notice that bloating makes your clothes start to feel tighter.
• Uterus — Your uterus will grow from its normal size (about the size of a plum) to about the size of a grapefruit by the end of the first trimester. Inside your uterus, a placenta will surround your baby, and an umbilical cord will supply nutrients.

Other physical symptoms of pregnancy

Other physical changes you may notice during this time include:¹

• Fatigue
• Frequent urination
• Constipation
• Heartburn, indigestion, excess gas, and bloating
• Food cravings
• Food aversions
• Occasional headaches
• Occasional faintness or dizziness
• Increased appetite

The role of the placenta

The placenta is a specialized organ with numerous small projections (villi) extending into the blood vessels of the uterine wall. As the mother's blood flows into the spaces surrounding the villi, nutrients, oxygen, and antibodies are exchanged with the blood of the fetus through a thin membrane. Waste products from the fetus flow back into the mother's body through the same membrane. The placenta continues to grow throughout the pregnancy and weighs about 1 pound at birth.

How baby is growing⁵

While you're getting used to being pregnant, your baby is growing at an incredible pace. The first trimester is a time for early organ and structure development. Your baby's spinal cord and brain begin to form, along with his or her bones, muscles, and major organs. Your baby's heart will begin beating.

By the end of this trimester, your baby's eyelids, teeth buds, fingernails, and toenails have formed, and his or her arms, legs, and major joints will be developed.

Learn more about what to expect during your second trimester.