During the first few months of your pregnancy, it can be difficult to tell what is normal and what is not, especially if you are a first-time mother. Early in the pregnancy, what to expect can vary from strong aversions to foods you used to love or experiencing heartburn for the very first time.

Each woman’s experience with pregnancy is unique, so there is no definitive list of what you can expect during your first few months, although the following symptoms are fairly common:

You have probably heard other pregnant women talk about morning sickness, but you may be surprised to know that it does not always take place in the morning! The nausea experienced by pregnant women during their first trimester generally lasts for a few hours and then goes away, but those hours can be any time during the day.

The reason why this happens is that your body is producing a great deal of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) to support the growth and development of the fertilized egg. This is the same hormone that pregnancy tests detect to tell you that you are pregnant. Luckily, around the end of the first trimester, the body stops producing this hormone and your nausea should fade.

Appetite and digestion changes

You may experience any number of changes to your appetite over the course of your early pregnancy. Often, your senses of smell and taste are affected by the hormones produced during the first trimester, leading to new cravings or aversions. Also, you may find that your digestive system has been affected by the growth of the uterus, the change in hormones, or any number of other changes, leading to new digestion issues that you have never experienced.

Some things you might experience include:

• Heartburn
• Constipation
• Increased appetite
• Cravings
• Aversions to foods or smells
• Acid reflux

For more information about healthy eating during pregnancy, please read our article about dieting during pregnancy

The period of your early pregnancy can be demanding both physically and emotionally, so it is also common to experience fatigue. Make sure to give your body the rest it needs during the time, and to pay attention to any signals that you might be pushing yourself too hard. Your baby will be healthiest if you are healthy too, so take care of yourself and expect the unexpected while you are pregnant!

Learn more

If you are looking for more information about what to expect during pregnancy and how to have a health pregnancy, please browse our other articles:

• Top 5 tips for a healthy pregnancy
• Dieting during pregnancy