What is the first trimester of pregnancy ? 

This begins from the first day of your Last Menstrual Period ( LMP) till the end of the 13 th week of pregnancy . It begins even before you’re actually pregnant . 

What are the changes in your body ? 

You may have weakness and fatigue 

Nausea with or without vomiting 

Breast heaviness and tenderness 

Lower abdominal pain 

Increased frequency of urination 

Constipation and heartburn 

These symptoms may not be present and all may not be present necessarily . 

What are the expected changes in your baby ? 

Your baby develops from a fertilised egg to a ball of cells that looks like a mulberry to a fully formed fetus at the end of the 13 th week . 

Once the embryo gets implanted in the uterus it shows numerous changes. 

Your baby’s spine and brain develops from an open neural tube . 

The heart begins to take shape and heartbeat appears 

The digestive system and kidneys develop 

A soft skeleton starts to grow 

By the end of the first trimester your little one starts looking like a baby and is 2.5-3 inches long . 

What are the red flag signs to watch out for ? 

Severe abdominal pain 

Heavy bleeding or even brownish spotting 

Fainting attacks or severe dizziness 

A rapid weight gain or too little weight gain 

Remember this time is a crucial time ; some girls may glow with happiness while others may feel terribly miserable . 

Meet your doctor by scheduling an Antenatal visit . Pregnancy is a long journey ; let’s make a beginning positively and joyously .

When to plan a delivery after a Caesarean delivery 

A delivery is an overwhelming event . Even though it comes with very happy times , it is a long process often with mixed feelings . As a new mom you struggle with bodily changes of pregnancy and lactation , sleepless nights and exhaustion . A caesarean delivery may also be associated with excessive blood loss , pain and infection at the scar site . And the Caesarean section scar is not just skin deep, there’s a cut on the uterus too that heals as time passes . It takes about 6 weeks for physiological changes of pregnancy to return to that of non pregnant state . 

The longer we give time for the scar to heal , the better it is . And the longer we give time to our body to heal and recuperate ,better still. Iron stores need to be repleted, calcium levels and Vitamin D levels need to be restored , weight lost and bone and muscle mass built with diet and regular exercise . Repeated pregnancies at short intervals drains the mother not just mentally and emotionally but physically as well . 

What is the best time to plan a delivery following  a caesarean delivery ? 

The WHO recommends 2 years and the Government of India says spacing of children by 3 years is ideal and desirable but that may not always be the best for you . If you’re 35 years of age or more or if you’ve had a high risk pregnancy or problems with fertility , you may not want to delay having another baby for so long . Also , sometimes unplanned pregnancies happen very soon after a caesarean delivery . It’s best to discuss your individual case and concerns with your doctor . 

What are the concerns about conceiving very soon after a caesarean delivery ? 

There are greater chances of a weak scar on the uterus due to the previous caesarean rupturing . Also your chances of having a VBAC ( Vaginal delivery after Caesarean birth ) go down due to conceiving too soon . 

There are greater chances of placental problems like bleeding during pregnancy and an adherent placenta . 

Some studies also show chances of preterm births if you conceive too early after a caesarean delivery . 

So it’s best to wait for at least 18-24 months after a caesarean delivery to rest , recuperate , heal and take care of your first baby but still talk to your doctor should you wish too/ accidentally conceive before this .