All about the first few weeks of pregnancy

And here comes that exciting moment when you find out that you are pregnant. This is the most wonderful and probably the most mysterious state of a woman, when a small copy of two adults grows and develops inside you. But sometimes pregnancy brings not only joyful moments, but also discomfort and even some problems. The first weeks of pregnancy are accompanied by the emergence of probably a million questions about what you can eat and what you can’t, what to do if you get sick, what vitamins to take, and in general what lifestyle to lead now. In our article, we will try to tell you in as much detail as possible about the first weeks of pregnancy, possible problems and try to answer all your questions.

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Test in the first week of pregnancy

The simplest and most accessible means of determining pregnancy is a test. All pregnancy tests work on the principle of determining the presence of an increased amount of human chorionic gonadotropin in urine. Tests can be of different sensitivity and different types. The lower the sensitivity, the earlier it will show pregnancy. Usually, the sensitivity of tests is 10-25 mIU/ml. Depending on the type, all tests can be divided into:

• test strips;
• cassette tests;
• jet tests;
• electronic tests.

Test strips are the cheapest. They are a plastic strip with paper soaked in a reagent glued to it. If the hCG content in the urine is elevated, two control strips appear on it. The disadvantages of test strips include frequent false positive and false negative results, the need for a container to collect urine, and the inability to conduct the test at any time (since the morning portion of urine is needed). The cost of test strips is from 3 UAH to 20 UAH per piece.

Cassette tests – average cost. They are a test strip, enclosed in a plastic case. Such a test does not need to be dipped in urine, just a drop, which is applied to the window. In the second window, either two stripes or a + sign appear. Such tests are visually more aesthetic, so if you want to keep it for yourself as a souvenir, then it will suit best. Among the disadvantages of cassette tests, one can note the need for a urine collection container and a sterile pipette (a pipette is usually included in the kit), as well as the inability to conduct the test at any time. The cost of a cassette test is 15-35 UAH.

Jet tests are expensive tests. They are a plastic tube with a window and a removable end. To use such a test, you need to remove the protective cap and place it under a stream of urine. Jet tests can be done at any time of the day, they have the highest accuracy, and do not require any additional containers to use them. The only disadvantage is the cost, which ranges from 30 to 50 UAH.

Electronic tests are the most expensive tests. They are a plastic case with a small liquid crystal screen. If the test is positive, the word "pregnant" lights up on the screen, if negative, then "not pregnant". This test is convenient because you do not need to peer into the reagent and look for a false positive or false negative result. The cost of such tests ranges from 50 to 120 UAH.

The main part of the instructions for pregnancy tests states that pregnancy can be determined after the first day of a missed period. But it happens that a positive result can appear earlier (with early ovulation) or later (with late ovulation). Therefore, if the result is negative and there is no menstruation, we recommend checking the test in a few more days.

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How to determine the first week of pregnancy?

In order to determine the first week of pregnancy, you need to understand the physiology of conception. So we will start with it. Every woman has a menstrual cycle, which can be of different lengths. Usually it is from 25 to 35 days. The beginning of the cycle is considered to be the first day of menstrual flow, which normally lasts from three to seven days. Approximately in the middle of the cycle, ovulation occurs - the release of an egg into the fallopian tube. If at this moment there is a sperm near the egg, then they merge and from that moment the development of the embryo begins. It turns out that women can only get pregnant on the day of ovulation? In fact, yes. But it is necessary to remember that sperm in the female reproductive system can remain viable for up to seven to ten days, so unprotected intercourse supposedly on "safe" days cannot guarantee 100% that pregnancy will not occur. Let's move on. If fertilization does not occur, the egg, moving along the fallopian tube, enters the uterine cavity, where it dies after a few days. The body, having not received a signal about fertilization, begins to launch the mechanism of a new cycle and the woman again experiences "critical" days. What happens if the fusion of the egg and sperm has occurred? The cells begin to rapidly divide and, moving along the fallopian tube, again enter the uterine cavity. Here the fertilized egg chooses the most "convenient" place for itself and immerses itself in the walls of the endometrium (the inner lining of the uterus), overgrown with blood vessels. This process is called implantation and occurs approximately seven days after fertilization. From this moment, the woman's body begins to produce the pregnancy hormone - human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). hCG first increases in the blood, and after some time it can be detected in the urine. Pregnancy tests are based on the appearance of the hCG hormone in the urine and, as a rule, its increase can be determined 10-14 days after conception, which coincides with a delay in the menstrual cycle. Having received a positive pregnancy test, a woman goes to the antenatal clinic and there she is given a period of 4 obstetric weeks. How so? After all, in fact, conception could not have occurred at this time... The fact is that for convenience, gynecologists use the obstetric period, and not the embryonic one. The obstetric period is counted from the first day of the last menstruation, and it is usually two weeks longer than the embryonic one. The embryonic period is counted from the moment of fertilization and is most often written in ultrasound reports. So how can you accurately determine the first week of pregnancy? There are several options:

• donate blood for human chorionic gonadotropin and calculate it (hCG increases exponentially every 48-72 hours) - this option will be the most accurate and is suitable for those women who have an unstable, long or too short cycle, as well as early or late ovulation. But here it is necessary to take into account that in case of multiple pregnancy it will grow faster and the result may be interpreted incorrectly. According to hCG, the embryonic period will be visible, in order to convert it to obstetric, you need to add 2 weeks (with a standard cycle);
• go for an ultrasound examination (after an ultrasound, the period can be determined with an accuracy of up to a week) - this is also an accurate way to determine the first week of pregnancy, but sometimes an ultrasound before 5-6 obstetric weeks is not indicative, since the fertilized egg may not be visualized. According to the ultrasound conclusion, they talk about the embryonic period of the fetus, to transfer it to the obstetric period, you need to add 2 weeks;
• calculate it yourself (if the menstrual cycle is stable) – a less accurate option. Example: a woman’s menstrual cycle is 28 days, which means that ovulation occurred approximately on the 14th day after the onset of menstruation, fertilization also occurred approximately at this time, on the 21st day of the cycle, hCG in the blood begins to rise and after a few days, two stripes appear on the pregnancy test. This method can be used to determine the exact obstetric period.

We will consider more detailed information about hCG analysis and ultrasound in the first weeks of pregnancy below.

HCG in the first week of pregnancy

In order to determine the exact period in the first weeks of pregnancy or to make sure that the fetus is developing correctly, gynecologists recommend taking a dynamic human chorionic gonadotropin test. As we wrote above, hCG begins to be produced immediately after implantation of the fertilized egg into the uterine wall and grows exponentially approximately every 48-74 hours. But each woman's body is individual, so there are no exact norm figures, there is a so-called "corridor" of normal values. In order for hCG tests to be informative and interpreted correctly, you need to adhere to some rules, namely:

• take tests in the same laboratory;
• take the test at regular intervals (for example, every 3 days);
• take the test at the same time (for example, at 10 am + - 1 hour);
• Interpretation of standards should be carried out according to the standards of the laboratory in which the analysis was performed.

Below we provide a standard table of the “corridor” of norms with minimum and maximum values of hCG by days after implantation (DPI).

• 1 DPI – 2 – 10
• 2 DPI – 3 – 18
• 3 DPI – 5 – 21
• 4 DPI – 8 – 26
• 5 DPI – 11 – 45
• 6 DPI – 17 – 65
• 7 DPI – 22 – 105
• 8 DPI – 29 – 170
• 9 DPI – 39 – 270
• 10 DPI – 68 – 400
• 11 DPI – 120 – 580
• 12 DPI – 220 – 840
• 13 DPI – 370 – 1300
• 14 DPI – 520 – 2000
• 15 DPI – 750 – 3100
• 16 DPI – 1050 – 4900
• 17 DPI – 1400 – 6200
• 18 DPI – 1830 – 7800
• 19 DPI – 2400 – 9800
• 20 DPI – 4200 – 15600
• 21 DPI – 5400 – 19500
• 22 DPI – 7100 – 27300
• 23 DPI – 8800 – 33000
• 24 DPI – 10500 – 40000
• 25 DPI – 11500 – 60000
• 26 DPI – 12800 – 63000
• 27 DPI – 14000 – 68000
• 28 DPI – 15500 – 70000
• 29 DPI – 17000 – 74000
• 30 DPI – 19000 – 78000

The increase in human chorionic gonadotropin is observed up to the 8-9 obstetric week (6-7 embryonic), after which a gradual decrease in its value begins.

High hCG occurs when:

• the presence of multiple pregnancies;
• inaccurately stated gestational age;
• gestational diabetes;
• taking drugs that artificially increase hCG (gestagens);
• defects and pathologies of fetal development;
• laboratory errors.

Low hCG occurs when:

• ectopic pregnancy;
• death of the fetus or non-developing pregnancy;
• fetal abnormalities (delayed development);
• placental insufficiency;
• laboratory error.

If your hCG level in the first week of pregnancy does not fit into the "corridor" of the norm, do not panic ahead of time. Do additional diagnostics in the form of an ultrasound examination, which we will discuss in detail below.

In rare cases, hCG can be detected in non-pregnant women and even men. Usually, this is a sign of a malfunction of the pituitary gland (namely, a pituitary adenoma) or a hydatidiform mole. If you are not pregnant, and your hCG is higher than normal, you should urgently consult a doctor to clarify the diagnosis.

Progesterone in the first week of pregnancy

We have already mentioned such a hormone as progesterone more than once. What kind of hormone is this and what is the function of progesterone in the first weeks of pregnancy? Progesterone is a hormone that is produced in women and men. In women, it plays one of the leading roles during pregnancy, namely:

• prevents uterine contractions during pregnancy;
• stimulates the increase in size of the uterus to meet the needs of fetal growth;
• prepares the breast for lactation;
• suppresses the mother's immunity to prevent rejection of the fetus.

Progesterone is produced by the corpus luteum in the early stages, and after 12 weeks, the placenta gradually takes over this role. It is precisely because of the lack of progesterone production by the corpus luteum that spontaneous miscarriages most often occur. The norm of progesterone in the first weeks of pregnancy is 8.9-468.4 nmol/l. If a deficiency of this hormone is determined, then progesterone-containing drugs are prescribed, namely Utrozhestan or Duphaston. They are taken until the placenta completely takes over the role of progesterone production. These drugs are discontinued gradually, since a sharp withdrawal can provoke a threat.

Ultrasound in the first weeks of pregnancy

Very often women, having just learned about pregnancy, immediately run to an ultrasound examination. But there is an opinion that ultrasound in the first weeks of pregnancy is dangerous. Is it true? And when should it be done at all? First, let's figure out why ultrasound is needed in the first weeks of pregnancy. So, an ultrasound examination in the early stages can be prescribed for:

• determination of intrauterine or ectopic pregnancy;
• definitions of multiple pregnancies;
• determining the exact gestational age;
• confirmation or denial of a frozen or biochemical pregnancy.

Usually, gynecologists prescribe ultrasound in the first weeks of pregnancy extremely rarely, only in case of urgent need, namely strange hCG levels, nagging pain in the lumbar region, bloody discharge, and so on. The fact is that there is an opinion that ultrasound examination in the early stages is dangerous, because high-frequency waves cause cells to heat up. And if for an adult female body heating a couple of hundred cells will not lead to anything serious, then for an embryo that has just begun to develop, it can lead to serious consequences. But this is only a theory, no one has conducted research in this area. Therefore, if there is a possibility of, for example, an ectopic pregnancy, it is better to do an ultrasound, since waiting can lead to a rupture of the fallopian tube, bleeding and even death of the mother.

So when is it informative to do an ultrasound? The fetal egg can be seen no earlier than the fifth week of pregnancy (the hCG level is 1000-2000 mIU/ml). The fetal heartbeat appears at 5.5 weeks, and it can be heard on a good device from 6-7 weeks. We strongly recommend not to conduct an ultrasound examination earlier than 6-7 obstetric weeks (and only if there are indications). The safest time for an ultrasound will be the first screening, namely 12 obstetric weeks.

Signs of pregnancy in the first week

Should all pregnant women have toxicosis? What other signs of pregnancy are there? What sensations do you feel in the first week of pregnancy? We will answer all these questions now. In fact, more than half of women do not feel anything at all in the first weeks of pregnancy, they may not even suspect that they are in an interesting position. Therefore, nausea can be a sign of indigestion, an increase in the volume of the abdomen - flatulence, rapid fatigue - chronic fatigue syndrome. Only 37% of women noted the appearance of some signs of pregnancy even before the delay of menstruation and in the first weeks after a positive result. The most common signs of pregnancy in the first week are:

• aversion to smells, food, nausea, vomiting;
• heavy, swollen breasts, sensitive nipples;
• rapid fatigue, drowsiness;
• pulling pain in the lower abdomen;
• irritability, depression;
• "feeling" of pregnancy.

Due to a sharp hormonal change, a woman's body sometimes begins to react inadequately to even ordinary smells. Her favorite eau de toilette begins to stink unbearably, tobacco smoke makes you feel sick, and if you pass by a shawarma stand, you may even throw up. Food preferences also change. Your favorite dish may cause disgust, but an ordinary bun with butter will make your mouth water. Some "gourmets" may love radishes with sugar or eat chocolate with sausage. Do not think that there is something wrong with you - this is all a normal reaction of the body. There is even an opinion that during this period the body requires exactly what it lacks, so you cannot deny yourself some culinary delights. Naturally, everything without fanaticism. When surveying pregnant women, it was found that this sign of pregnancy in the first week appears in 46% of respondents.

Due to the increase in progesterone in the blood, the nipples become very sensitive, the breasts "fill up" and become very heavy. Some pregnant women note a slight tingling in the nipple area or even soreness. All this occurs due to the restructuring of the mammary gland to a working mode. Pregnant women are advised to wear loose, natural underwear to prevent sagging breasts. Nipples in the first weeks of pregnancy may darken. Changes in the breasts during a survey of pregnant women were noted in 50% of respondents.

Every second pregnant woman complains of unbearable fatigue, drowsiness, and slight dizziness in the early stages. These signs of pregnancy in the first week arise due to a sharp hormonal restructuring. Nature has thought of everything and it is thanks to this sign that the body gives a signal to the expectant mother: "Stop, take your time, you have a more important mission, namely, bearing a baby." Pregnant women need to rest more and sleep more in the first weeks. This condition will not last for all 9 months, after the end of the first trimester everything will pass, and strength will appear again.

One of the alarming signs of pregnancy in the first week is nagging pain in the lower abdomen. This may indicate the implantation process, uterine tone, lack of the hormone progesterone and other problems. If there is bloody discharge, you should urgently go to the hospital, as this may indicate a possible miscarriage. This sign of pregnancy in the first weeks occurs in 10% of the surveyed women in position.

Everyone knows the "horror stories" about the unbalanced psyche of pregnant women. The fact is that in the first weeks of pregnancy, a hormonal storm occurs in the body and the female brain cannot always adequately cope with this situation. Because of this, irritability, apathy and even depression may arise. To avoid such a state, you need to try to surround yourself with only positive emotions whenever possible, and if you feel that you are already on edge, it is better to take sedatives (valerian, motherwort), which will help bring the nervous system in order. This sign of pregnancy in the first weeks is observed in 41% of the women surveyed.

Women also very often experience a surprising, inexplicable sensation in the first week of pregnancy. It is described as a complete certainty that they are pregnant, with a feeling of lightness and airiness. This reaction of the body is also explained by a sharp restructuring of the body, namely an increase in progesterone and estradiol. This symptom occurs in 39% of surveyed pregnant women.

Toxicosis in the first week of pregnancy

Toxicosis is a complex of symptoms that appear in the first weeks of pregnancy and, as a rule, last up to twelve weeks. Toxicosis can be tolerable, but there are cases when, if it is severe, you may be hospitalized. Toxicosis usually manifests itself as morning sickness and/or vomiting, aversion to any food, decreased appetite, aversion to strong odors, and even vomiting. According to a survey, approximately 50% of pregnant women suffer from early toxicosis. Doctors still cannot find the cause of this condition, but statistics show that the following are more susceptible to toxicosis in the first week of pregnancy:

• women with chronic diseases;
• women with gastrointestinal problems;
• women with bad habits;
• women who are subject to constant stress and have irregular work schedules.

There is also the concept of late toxicosis - this is toxicosis that appears or continues after twelve weeks. Late toxicosis is also called gestosis. Gestosis is a very dangerous condition, so it requires monitoring by doctors.

How can you ease your lot with toxicosis in the first weeks of pregnancy? To do this, you should follow simple rules:

1. First, you need to organize your diet. Remove all fatty and spicy foods from it. It is advisable to eat steamed or baked foods.
2. You need to eat often, but in small portions. You need to have at least 3 snacks a day (in addition to the main meal).
3. You shouldn't overeat at night, as toxicosis is most severe in the morning.
4. In the evening it is good to go outside to walk and breathe fresh air.
5. Sleep should be complete and the work schedule should be regulated.
6. To relieve the first attack of nausea in the morning, it is good to eat a mint candy, a slice of lemon or orange, or a sweet cracker. Moreover, you need to eat these products without getting out of bed and without rushing.

The most important thing to remember is that toxicosis in the first weeks of pregnancy is a temporary phenomenon and sometimes you just need to get through it.

Other problems in the first weeks of pregnancy

Many women in the first weeks of pregnancy face various other unpleasant symptoms, such as: belching, heartburn, constipation or, on the contrary, upset stomach, dizziness, acne and others. All these problems are often associated with hormonal changes in the body. The most common unpleasant phenomenon that a woman in position faces is heartburn. It appears due to a change in the position of the stomach and can be eliminated with the help of heartburn medications, such as Rennie, Enterosgel, Pochaev tablets for heartburn, etc. The next no less common problem is constipation. They also occur as a result of the displacement of the intestines due to the increase in the size of the uterus. Constipation can be dealt with by food rich in fiber, as well as prunes, plum compote, beets and other laxative foods. Upset stomach does not occur so often, but it can be eliminated by eating constipating foods such as rice, apples with banana, etc. Dizziness in the first weeks of pregnancy can be caused by low hemoglobin. It can be increased by eating boiled beef, fried liver, pomegranate juice, baked Antonovka apples. Acne (pimples) appear due to a sharp increase in progesterone and women prone to rashes, unfortunately, do not find it so easy to fight them. But they disappear without a trace after childbirth.

What to do in the first weeks of pregnancy?

So you saw your "striped" test, made your husband happy and thought about what to do in the first weeks of pregnancy? Nothing special, continue to live and enjoy life, be happy with your condition, organize your diet, eliminating harmful products and alcohol, do not overexert yourself at work and be less nervous. Around the 6-7th obstetric week (delay of 2-3 weeks), make an appointment at the antenatal clinic with your local gynecologist to register. When registering, the gynecologist will start a special exchange card, in which he will record all your visits to the antenatal clinic, all the information about the pregnancy, confirm the tests and ultrasound examinations taken. It is recommended to always have the exchange card with you, as it contains the entire history of the pregnancy and this information will be very relevant when calling an ambulance.

What do they do at the first appointment at the antenatal clinic in the first weeks of pregnancy? The gynecologist carefully studies your medical history, clarifies your family history, measures and records parameters (weight, height, abdominal circumference, height of the fundus of the uterus, pelvic dimensions), measures blood pressure and pulse, and, if necessary, sends you for an ultrasound examination. Also at the first visit, you will receive directions for tests: a complete blood count, a complete urine test, blood biochemistry, bacteriological analysis of urine, HIV, syphilis, hepatitis C, blood type and Rh factor, as well as an analysis for antibodies to TORCH infections (toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes). When registering, the gynecologist takes a smear from the vagina and cervix on the chair to determine the flora and examine the cytological picture of the cervix. Some women are very afraid of a manual examination in the first weeks of pregnancy. And this is in vain. The gynecologist, understanding the situation, will perform this procedure extremely carefully. The gynecologist also gives recommendations and schedules the next visit (if everything is normal, then usually in a month).

Dangerous symptoms in the first weeks of pregnancy

It happens that in the first weeks of pregnancy, alarming symptoms appear that may indicate some problems. In order not to miss a possible problem, you need to contact a gynecologist if:

• stomach ache;
• lower back pain;
• spotting appeared;
• my period started;
• bleeding started.

If you have a stomach ache in the first week of pregnancy, this may indicate uterine tone or an ectopic pregnancy. With a high uterine tone, there is a risk of miscarriage, so you need to see a doctor immediately. If you cannot see a doctor, you can provide yourself with emergency care. In such cases, no-shpa tablets and papaverine suppositories are prescribed. They will relieve the tone. In this case, you need to rest and lie down more. But if the pain has disappeared, this does not mean that you need to postpone a visit to the gynecologist. With an ectopic pregnancy, there is a risk of rupture of the fallopian tube and bleeding, so you should not joke with this symptom.

If you have lower back pain in the first week of pregnancy, this may also be an indicator of tone or ectopic pregnancy. But most often, such pain may be due to ligaments stretching due to a sharp increase in the hormone progesterone. According to statistics, such pain occurs in women who are prone to thinness.

Spotting in the first weeks of pregnancy most often occurs on the day of the expected period. This may indicate a lack of the hormone progesterone and may entail serious consequences in the form of a frozen pregnancy or miscarriage. If spotting has begun, you need to go to the doctor immediately. Usually, with such a dangerous symptom, you are sent to the hospital for preservation and prescribed supportive therapy in the form of hemostatic drugs (tranexam), progesterone-containing drugs (utrogestan, duphaston), antispasmodics (no-shpa, papaverine) and sedatives (valerian, Magne B6).

If you start your period in the first weeks of pregnancy, this is also a dangerous symptom. The fact is that with the correct hormonal background and a normal pregnancy, the menstrual cycle is simply impossible. Of course, there are many examples of pregnant women starting their periods and everything was fine, but any sensible gynecologist will call this a threat of miscarriage. Bloody discharge may indicate placental abruption, ectopic pregnancy, or spontaneous miscarriage.

Bleeding in the first weeks of pregnancy is very dangerous and most often occurs with ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage. If you have started bleeding, you need to urgently call an ambulance and go to the hospital.

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Lifestyle in the first weeks of pregnancy

It is often said that pregnancy is not a disease, so you should lead a normal life. But in reality, many questions arise regarding what is allowed and what is not. We will try to answer the most common questions regarding lifestyle in the first weeks of pregnancy.

Is it possible to play sports in the first weeks of pregnancy?

Sports are not all the same. If you are into wrestling or boxing, lifting heavy weights or doing weightlifting, then you should leave this sport until you give birth. But if you are into swimming, light fitness or gymnastics, then you can and even should do this sport, but only if the pregnancy is without threats and tone. But we strongly recommend reducing physical activity and listening to your body. If you experience pulling pains in the lower abdomen, pain in the lower back, then it is safer not to do it.

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Is it possible to go to the bathhouse in the first weeks of pregnancy?

It is not recommended to go to the bathhouse at any stage of pregnancy, and especially in the first weeks. In the bathhouse, the general body temperature increases, and this can negatively affect the development of the fetus. In addition, in the bathhouse, the pulse and pressure increase, which accordingly leads to an increase in the baby's pulse. It is also not recommended to take hot baths. They can provoke bleeding.

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Is it possible to have sex in the first weeks of pregnancy?

If there are no threats and tone, then sex can be done and is even useful. It has been proven that sperm, when in contact with the cervix, greatly increases its elasticity, and this has a positive effect during childbirth. In addition, during sex, endorphins appear in the blood - hormones of pleasure that balance the mental state of the pregnant woman. But if there is tone of the uterus, then achieving orgasm can provoke even greater tone, so in such cases, it is worth refraining from sexual intercourse.

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What is the preferred diet in the first weeks of pregnancy?

In the absence of toxicosis, an increased appetite is most often observed in the first week of pregnancy. This is logical, since the body consumes much more energy to build a new organism. Therefore, during this period, nutrition should be balanced and as healthy as possible. It is advisable to exclude fried and very fatty foods, mayonnaise, fast food, coffee from the diet. Eat less frankly chemical products, such as carbonated sweet water, brightly colored candies, and so on. Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grain cereals, dairy products. It is best to steam or bake products in the oven. Do not forget about fish day, since it contains phosphorus, which helps to avoid cramps.

What vitamins should I take in the first weeks of pregnancy?

As soon as you find out about pregnancy, it is advisable to start taking special multivitamins for pregnant women. They contain the optimal daily norm of vitamins and microelements necessary for normal growth and development of the fetus. Examples of such vitamins can be: Elevit, Vitrum Pronatal, Pregnavit, Materna, Multi Tabs Ponatal, Pregnakea, Pregnavit and so on.

Is it possible to have an x-ray in the first weeks of pregnancy?

We strongly advise against doing X-rays in the first weeks of pregnancy. But there are situations when it is impossible to avoid this procedure. Then you must warn the X-ray technician about your condition, then you will be given a special lead apron that will protect the fetus from X-ray radiation. Fluorography is also not recommended (only in case of extreme necessity).

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Is it possible to drink alcohol in the first weeks of pregnancy?

In the first weeks of pregnancy, it is contraindicated to drink alcohol, since it is in the first trimester that all organs and systems are formed. But there are cases when the expectant mother drank alcohol, not yet suspecting that she was pregnant. In such a case, as they say, "no fighting after the battle." Stress can sometimes do much more harm than drinking alcohol.

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What to do when you are stressed in the first weeks of pregnancy?

Stress has a very negative effect on the development of the fetus and the mother's condition in general. It can provoke increased tone, changes in blood pressure, increased heart rate and much more. There is even a belief that the less nervous the mother is during pregnancy, the calmer the child will be after birth. What should a woman do to reduce the risk to the child if she is very nervous? You should always have sedatives in your first aid kit. Valerian and motherwort are considered harmless for pregnant women. You can also drink mint tea daily for prevention. Aroma lamps with essential oils of orange, lavender, neroli, and chamomile are very helpful in relieving stress.