Early Pregnancy

Procreation is one of the fundamental desires of a living being.  Every person would like to have children of his/her own.  In a happy marriage pregnancy is a celebration.  This is a step towards firm establishment of a family.

 

In a healthy couple the chance of conception is 60-70% within 6 months, about 80% conceive within one year and another 10% within 2 years.  Couple not using any contraception and do not conceive within 2 years need evaluation.

The first indication of pregnancy is failure to have menses in a regularly menstruating woman.  Within a week of missing period, pregnancy can be confirmed by any home pregnancy test.  As days pass by woman may have impaired appetite, nausea, sometimes occasional vomiting.  This is the time when woman consults obstetrician. 

In the early pregnancy a visit to the obstetrician helps in basic health evaluation of the woman.  In a healthy woman in the first 3 months of pregnancy the only medication that is advised is folic acid tablets.  This will reduce the incidence of certain abnormalities in the fetus, central nervous system in particular.  If the nausea and vomiting are not bothersome no medication is necessary.  Nausea and vomiting are generally more in the mornings, hence morning sickness.  This can be overcome by reassurance, taking small frequent feeds, avoiding spicy foods and long hours of starvation and also starting the day with eating than drinking coffee or tea or milk. Milk is preferred as it is healthier than tea or coffee.  If the nausea and vomiting are persistent resulting in starvation and dehydration in woman, medication is advised.  This is usually a combination of pyridoxine – a vitamin and doxylamine tablet.  It is taken twice or once daily depending on the preparation.

The first three months of pregnancy (first trimester) is critical for the development of the fetus. This is the time when all the organs are formed.  This is the time when certain medicines, infections and radiation can cause a disturbance in the organogenesis that can lead to minor or major malformations in fetus.  Any medication during this time is taken under proper guidance only. 

A healthy woman needs one checkup in the first three months of pregnancy.  A healthy woman can carry out her regular activities.  Women who are doing manual labour or strenuous work or getting exposed to chemicals or radiation should avoid it.  Pregnant woman can carry on her physical activity as long as she is comfortable. 

Pregnancy in general a physiological condition and initiates certain changes in the body that continue during the course of pregnancy.  With the support of the family and under the guidance of obstetrician woman will adjust to all changes and will have a successful and happy outcome.