What’s Happening Inside:

Still tiny but growing very fast, the baby inside of you is now the size of a grain of rice. Your baby’s arm and legs continue to grow. The brain is rapidly developing, and your baby’s vital organs such as the lungs, gut, eyes, nostrils, intestines start to form as well.

Maternal Changes

You may be trying very hard to locate it, but it could be a few weeks before you can find your baby bump. The most you will notice now is a rounder abdomen. Besides going to the mirror to try and spot your baby bump, you may also notice your need to urinate more. This is due to your developing baby in your uterus pressing on your bladder, and the work of hormones in your body. You may also start to experience heavier doses of dizziness and morning sickness.

All these changes and symptoms are all part of your body and brain adjusting to the pregnancy. The dizziness and constant trips to the toilet will slowly diminish as your pregnancy continues. Learn how you can curb morning sickness the natural way.

A Matter of Fact

Country to what people think, during the first trimester, it’s safe to do abdominal exercises lying on your back (do get the green light from your gynae first). Exercises that strengthen your muscles (i.e. abdominal exercise to strengthen core muscles) will help you to deal with the additional demands of pregnancy and to cope better during labour and birth.

Tips for Daddy

Help to get mummy fit and strong! Why not be her ‘personal trainer’? You may do some functional movement exercises such as bicep curls, side and forward lunges. Remember to do some warm-up before each exercise.

A quote for mummy-to-be

“Pregnancy seems designed to prepare you for life as a mother. You start making sacrifices nine months before the child is born, so by the time they put in an appearance you are used to giving things up for them.” ~ Brett Kiellerop

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This is part of our New Age Parents Week By Week Pregnancy Guide! This article was first published in New Age Pregnancy.

With this guide, we hope it will help to give you some reassurance and shed some light on the changes you will come to experience for the next 40 weeks. Now, let the countdown begin.

Disclaimer: Please keep in mind the information provided in this guide is just an approximate gauge for your pregnancy. Each pregnancy is different and growth rates vary. If you have any doubts, do not hesitate to contact your gynaecologist.

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