Role of Nutrition in the First Trimester of Pregnancy

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When it comes to pregnancy, every household has different traditions that they follow or advice to make sure that the mother and child are both happy and healthy. Everyone wants the best for them, but sometimes all these advices can get a little overwhelming for the mother. She may be confused what to do and when to do them. She has to make changes in her lifestyle all while major changes are happening in her body as well.

What are these changes that occur in a pregnant mother?

Well, they are known as physiological changes which means changes that happen in her organ systems. Let’s find out what they are!

There are many organ systems in our body dies like cardiovascular, respiratory, alimentary, renal, urinary or gastrointestinal system. All of these systems are affected one way or the other by the Endocrine system.

The Endocrine System also known as the hormone system is responsible for the hormones like Progesterone, Oestrogen, and Thyroid Hormones among many. These hormones are particularly high during the first trimester and for a very good reason.

Progesterone is an important hormone that prepares your uterus for the egg to implant properly. It is also however responsible for the mood swings that come with pregnancy. Progesterone also acts as a muscle relaxant to prevent you from contractions and onset of early labour. However, progesterone with its muscle relaxant is also responsible for slowing down digestion in turn causing constipation.

Speaking of gastrointestinal changes, another symptom that occurs is gastroesophageal reflux (GERD). This happens because of the increased pressure of the growing fetus. Along with GERD, nausea and vomiting, commonly known as “morning sickness” also begin. The cause for this unknown but it correlates with the increase in the level s of progesterone, and another hormone known as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) which is responsible for the growth of the baby throughout pregnancy. To tackle the morning sickness, Click here.

Oestrogen maintains the lining of the uterus which is vital for the baby’s development. It is also known to increase blood flow which can have both pleasant and un-pleasant reactions. The increased blood flow is maybe what gives pregnant mothers the “pregnant glow” but it also makes the breast tender with ache.

As the blood flow is increasing due to progesterone, the blood vessels are dilating which causes blood pressure to decrease. In response to this, the cardiac output increases up to 20%. Meanwhile, sodium and water retention also occur causing swelling or oedema which in turn causes the total blood volume to increase.

If a mother already suffers uncontrolled high blood pressure, she is likely to suffer from a pregnancy complication called pre-eclampsia which also causes oedema thus masking the real issue. Close monitoring in such a case and detection of protein in the urine can distinguish the condition better and earlier to prevent any harm to the baby or the mother.

Thyroid Hormone like T3 and T4 also slightly increase in the first trimester of pregnancy along with Thyroxine- binding globulin (TBG) due to rise in oestrogen. This increase help support the neurodevelopment and bone development of the baby.

These are a gist of changes that occur in a pregnant mother’s body during the first trimester of pregnancy. And all of these changes have one and only one goal - support and maintain the growth and development of the foetus. And these first 3 months are as crucial for the mother as they are for the baby.

Now that we understand what changes occur in the mother’s body, what happens to the foetus’s growth?