Obstetric pregnancy calendar at NOVO Medical Center

In the first trimester, there is a change in the woman's hormonal background, producing a large amount of the female sex hormone progesterone. This hormone inhibits the contraction of the smooth muscles of the uterus, preparing it for a harmonious continuation and preservation of pregnancy, as well as the smooth muscles in other internal organs, particularly the digestive system. The latter can be quite noticeable for women because the slowed evacuation of food from the stomach can cause nausea and vomiting, and reduced bowel motility can lead to constipation. These unpleasant symptoms can also arise due to increased vagus nerve tone—a long nerve that originates from the brain stem and also inhibits the movements of the gastrointestinal tract's muscles. Their general name is early pregnancy sickness or morning sickness, also caused by the fact that the placenta has not yet formed in the uterus, which will later protect it from excessive metabolic load from the fetus. Morning sickness usually subsides once the placenta is fully formed in the body.

It's important for the pregnant woman to get registered as early as possible—within the first weeks—to undergo all necessary tests immediately. This allows for the timely detection of serious complications like ectopic pregnancy, identification, and treatment of various infections or hormonal imbalances, etc.

The second trimester of pregnancy is generally more peaceful than the first. During this period, the woman feels good and can truly enjoy her new state—pregnancy. The signs of early morning sickness have passed, and heaviness and shortness of breath have not yet begun to bother her. If the pregnancy is progressing normally, the woman blooms during this time.

Routine examinations during this period include hormone testing, as well as ultrasound scans of the fetus, amniotic fluid, fetal membranes, placenta, and uterine walls. These examinations at this stage of pregnancy allow for the detection of possible chromosomal (e.g., Down syndrome) and hereditary diseases, as well as other potential developmental defects in the fetus.

In the second trimester, complications such as preterm labor (late miscarriage), bleeding (usually due to placenta previa), iron-deficiency anemia, and fetal hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) can emerge, as the fetus is very sensitive to oxygen deficiency. If complications are detected during the examination, the woman is prescribed appropriate treatment and special breathing exercises.

Normalizing the woman's breathing in the second trimester is necessary to ensure the fetus is well-supplied with oxygen, as this is when the baby's brain develops most intensively.

After the 28th week, the third trimester begins. The baby has grown significantly, and the abdomen noticeably and constantly expands, pressing against the organs in the thoracic and abdominal cavities. This is when heaviness and shortness of breath appear. Heartburn might occur as stomach acid enters the esophagus, as well as hemorrhoids, varicose veins, etc. To avoid these, at this stage of pregnancy, it's important for the woman to carefully monitor her diet and engage in a lot of movement, alternating activity with rest. As the birth date approaches, the future mother needs to be calm, balanced, and as prepared as possible for delivery.

For future moms, this is the best time to attend childbirth preparation courses, ideally together with their partner, as he is usually the first to assist the woman when labor begins.