First Month of Pregnancy: Symptoms, Foods to Eat & Avoid, and Body Changes

The first month of pregnancy is a thrilling yet overwhelming time for many expectant mothers. As your body begins to adjust to this incredible journey, you may experience early signs like fatigue, nausea, and tender breasts—common first month pregnancy symptoms.

Pregnancy during the first month goes by with just the mom understanding what is going on with her. Obviously, you see a lot of changes and symptoms in your body. So, the first thing that comes in your mind is,” Am I pregnant…” Well, the answer is Yes! Yes, you are pregnant, but it’s always good to consult the doctor and have a proper checkup.

Pregnancy during the starting months is the toughest, as your body is trying to adjust with all the new changes and preparing itself for the next coming months. So, we have brought to you the pregnancy symptoms during the first month, what foods to eat and what to avoid- a whole complete guideline about first-month pregnancy.

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First month pregnancy symptoms before missed period (4 Week)

The first month of pregnancy begins after the third week, i.e. after your last menstrual cycle. And then you start to feel all the below symptoms, that’s when you get the idea of testing for pregnancy. Symptoms are as follows-

Tender, Swollen Breasts:- This is the symptom that women can notice suddenly. After two weeks of conception, hormones start changing which makes your breasts tender, tingly, or sore.
Fatigue:- Being tired is also one of the early pregnancy symptoms. During early pregnancy, the level of progesterone hormone soar, which makes you sleepy. Also due to lower blood sugar level and increased blood production takes most of our energy during pregnancy.
Slight Bleeding:- A small amount of spotting or vaginal bleeding is also one of the early symptoms of pregnancy. It is termed as implantation bleeding.

Nausea with or without vomiting:- This is the result of Morning sickness. For many women, nausea starts two weeks after conception and lasts until 14 weeks. There are many different reasons for nausea like the smell of food, being empty stomach, etc. There are some ways to combat the morning sickness too.
Cravings:- Yes! The most popular symptom of pregnancy has started with food cravings. This is a very common symptom and is caused due to hormonal changes.
Headaches:- Due to increased blood circulation caused due to hormonal changes, headaches may be triggered.

Constipation:- Pregnancy brings with it the constipation problem, as your body is adjusting itself to accommodate a baby, the food passes very slowly through the intestine leading to constipation.
Dizziness:- As your blood pressure drops, you may feel lightheaded or dizzy. In early pregnancy, faintness or dizziness is also triggered by low blood sugar.
Body Temperature:- You may feel a little feverish, after the ovulation and if the temperature is the same for another two weeks, that means you are pregnant.

Mood Swings:- Due to change in hormones in your body, you feel more emotional and weepy and this is called Mood swings.

Foods to Eat During the First Month Of Pregnancy

Alongside these changes, it’s crucial to focus on nutrition by incorporating foods rich in essential vitamins and minerals, such as leafy greens, lean proteins, and whole grains, into your diet. Equally important is avoiding foods that could pose risks, like unpasteurized dairy and raw seafood. Understanding these early symptoms and dietary needs will help you start your pregnancy journey with confidence and care.

Dairy Products:- It is good to consume more dairy products like Yogurt as they are rich in high-quality protein, vitamin B, magnesium, and zinc. The extra protein and calcium help to meet the needs of the growing fetus.

Folate-Rich Foods:- Folic acid helps to form the neural tube and it also prevents many major birth defects. Some of the folate-rich foods are- citrus fruits, beans, peas, lentils, fortified cereal, and rice.
Whole Grains:- Whole grains are a healthy source of carbohydrates, vitamin-B complexes, minerals, and dietary fiber. These nutrients are essential for the growth of your baby. Whole-grain foods like-oatmeal, buckwheat, barley, brown rice, and millets.
Vegetables:- There is no escaping from the vegetables. Vegetables like-pumpkin, broccoli, kale, spinach, bell peppers, eggplant, cabbage, etc. are very nutritious for the baby.

Seeds and Nuts:- Seeds and Nuts are an excellent source of healthy fats, vitamins, proteins, minerals. Eating them in the first month and also throughout your pregnancy is very effective.
Fish:- Fish contains low-fat and high-quality protein. They are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B2, D, and E and they also contain essential minerals like zinc, calcium, iodine, and magnesium.
Meat:- Meat is rich in protein, zinc, and iron, which is good for you and your baby. Try to include lean meats in your diet in the first month of pregnancy.

Dried Fruit:- Dried fruit is a host of vitamins, minerals, iron, and potassium. It also contains natural sugars.

Foods to Avoid in the First Month of Pregnancy

Soft cheese:- Soft cheese is made up of unpasteurized milk, and it contains bacteria that can cause food poisoning. Therefore, it will be a good choice to avoid soft cheese.
Seafood:- Seafood has a content of mercury, that can cause brain damage. So seafood should be avoided through the pregnancy.

Papayas:- Both unripe and ripe papayas contain latex, which triggers the uterine contraction and can cause preterm labor.
Pineapples:- Pineapples are rich in bromelain, which can soften the cervix and lead to miscarriage.
Caffeine:- Caffeine causes sleeplessness, nervousness, and irritability. It also increases the chances of miscarriage.

Alcoholic Beverage:- We all know this, alcohol is bad for both mother and child. Hence, it should be strictly avoided throughout the pregnancy.
Sugary Food:- Pregnant women only needs 300 calories per day. Consuming more than that can lead to weight gain and gestational diabetes.

Baby Development During the First Month

There are just some initial developments during the first month of pregnancy. Like-

Placenta gets developed, which is the main bridge between mom and baby.
Around the fertilized egg, the amniotic sac is formed, which cushions the growing embryo.
Blood cells take shape and circulation begins.

The mouth, lower jaw, and throat start to develop.

How does a woman feel in the first month of pregnancy?

There won’t be many changes in your body during the first month. But inside your body, it is getting prepared for the next eight months. This is the foundation month, so you should eat healthy and nutritious food. Avoid alcohol and smoking, and try to take every multi-vitamin. You can also start with some prenatal yoga or you can continue your exercise.

By the end of the first month, your baby is around 6-7mm (1/4 inch) long- i.e. about the size of a grain of rice. This is just the starting month, so prepare yourself for the next 8 months and enjoy your pregnancy.

FAQ

Can I still exercise during the first month of pregnancy?

Every pregnancy case is different, it will be easy if you consult your doctor before performing any different kind of exercise. You can still continue to walk, swim, and also prenatal yoga.

Will I have a baby bump in the first month?

Baby bump does not develop so soon, although you may feel bloated at the start of pregnancy. But the baby bump is far.

Dr Ritu Agarwal

Dr. Ritu Agarwal is an appreciated IVF expert in Jaipur for IVF therapy, owing to her more than ten years of experience in this field. She is the top IVF specialist in Jaipur who makes every attempt to provide correct counseling and emotional support to patients in order to help them find the ideal solution for becoming parents. She can assist you at our IVF center in Jaipur whether you are younger than 35 with a track record of miscarriages or are over 40 with a low AMH. Contact us to find out how Dr. Ritu can assist you with infertility therapy!