Cooperative Extension Service, University of Georgia, College of Family and Consumer Sciences, Athens

First Trimester:
Off to a Good Start

Holly Alley, MS, RD, LD
Nutrition Specialist,
Department of Food and Nutrition

and Don Bower, DPA, CFCS
Associate Professor and Human Development Specialist,
Department of Child and Family Development
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Now that you are pregnant, your body is changing rapidly. It is very important for you to take care of yourself so you can be well on your way to the joys of parenthood! Here are 3 important things you should do right away.

  1. See a doctor or go to a clinic. Regular check-ups can prevent problems for both you and your baby.
  2. Review your food habits. Good nutrition during pregnancy is important for your baby’s start in life. Both mother and baby can suffer during pregnancy if mother’s diet is poor.
  3. Stop taking all drugs including alcohol unless your doctor says your medicine is safe during pregnancy. Many drugs, even aspirin, can harm your baby.

Baby’s Growth

First Month. Your baby’s heart began beating. The baby is called an embryo at this stage. The embryo is about 1/4 inch long at the end of the month. This is 10,000 times larger than the egg it started from!

Second Month. From the second month on the baby is called a fetus. The arms, legs, body, and face begin to develop.

Third Month. The fetus is about 3 inches long and weighs about one ounce. It can open and close its mouth, swallow, kick its legs, move its hands, and turn its head. A doctor can now tell if the fetus is a boy or girl.

Eating For Two
Your calories and nutrients must be increased while you are pregnant because your baby needs food, too. You are the sole source of food for your baby. The best way to get all the nutrients for your baby is to eat a variety of foods. You need:

  • 6 or more servings from the bread and cereal group
  • 2 or more servings of fruit
  • 3 or more servings of vegetables
  • 3 or more servings from the milk group
  • 2 or more servings from the meat group

A pregnant woman needs about 300 extra calories a day. Additional foods from any food group can be eaten to meet these needs. For example, try a baked potato, a cup of broccoli, and 2 tablespoons cheese sauce.

Two Important Nutrients
Your need for folic acid and iron is increased during pregnancy. Folic acid is especially important before you become pregnant. It decreases your baby’s chance of brain and spine defects.
Foods high in folic acid include: Foods high in iron include:
fortified breads and cereals
broccoli
brussel sprouts
greens
peas and beans
okra
orange juice		 liver
meat
poultry
beans
enriched breads and cereals

Nausea and Vomiting
You may experience some nausea during the first few months of pregnancy. This is quite normal and may pass in time. One of the following suggestions may help you feel better.

  • Avoid smells that trigger a sick feeling.
  • Open windows or doors and use fans to let in fresh air.
  • Don’t smoke. Avoid smoky rooms.
  • Contact your doctor if you cannot keep food down or if you feel extremely ill.

It is important to eat well in spite of the nausea for your health and your baby’s health.

Alcohol
Many people do not think of alcohol as a drug, but it is. Alcohol is a depressant that affects many organs in your body. When you drink alcohol during pregnancy, it can harm your unborn baby’s delicate body.

Alcohol passes through the placenta to the baby. When you have a drink, your baby has one of equal strength. Because the fetus is so small, the alcohol is harder on the baby than on you. This can lead to brain damage, mental retardation, and “fetal alcohol syndrome” in which the baby is smaller than normal. The baby may also have severe face abnormalities, heart defects, and poor coordination. To be safe, avoid using any alcohol during pregnancy.

Smoking
If you can’t quit smoking for yourself, do it for your baby. Smoking increases your chances of having a low birth weight baby. Such babies weigh less than 5½ pounds at birth and are at greater risk for disabling conditions such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, blindness, deafness, and even death.

Looking Ahead
To predict your baby’s birth date, add 280 days to the first day of your last period. Or you could take the first day of your last period, count back three months, and add 7 days. Both of these methods predict a birth date for the “average pregnancy.” This date is just a “guesstimate.” Most doctors say two weeks on either side of this due date is a normal range.

While you’re waiting, stay well! If you need more information, contact your County Extension Service.

Document use:
Permission is granted to reproduce these materials in whole or in part for educational purposes only (not for profit beyond the cost of reproduction) provided that the author and the University of Georgia receive acknowledgement and the notice is included:

Reprinted with permission from the University of Georgia.
Alley, H, Bower, D. (1996). Well on Your Way: First Trimester. Athens, GA: University of Georgia, Cooperative Extension Service.

Available from:
In Georgia:
Contact your local County Extension Office.

Out of state:
Distribution Center
Cooperative Extension Service
University of Georgia
305 Riverbend Road
Athens, GA 30602
Fax: (706) 542-2162
Phone: (706) 542-8946
Email: eruark@arches.uga.edu
Content Person Contact: Holly Alley, MS, RD, LD
Copyright Permission: (706) 542-4860
Document Review: level 3: State/Regional Peer Review
Document Size:
Publication Date: 1996-06-01
Entry Date: 1999-01-25
Pull Date: 2001-01-25
Pub #: CHFD-E-45-01

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