What do I need to know about each trimester of pregnancy?

When you become pregnant you hear talk about trimesters early and often. So what are trimesters and what is the difference between the first trimester the second trimester and the third trimester? Here is a trimesterbytrimester breakdown so you know what to expect as pregnancy progresses.
Pregnancy lasts 40 weeks and it is broken up into trimesters of about 13 weeks each.
Every woman is different and every pregnancy is different. Thats why its practically impossible to describe pregnancy in a way that completely matches everyones experience. But there are symptoms of pregnancy and risks that are common as your baby develops.

First trimester
The first trimester starts the moment your baby is conceived and lasts until you are about 3 months pregnant.
First trimester symptoms
Common first trimester symptoms you can expect are breast tenderness nausea and vomiting also known as morning sickness.
How much weight should you gain in the first trimester? You will likely gain only one to four pounds.
First trimester care
As for your care youll see your OBGYN about every four weeks. You can expect to have plenty of blood drawn for prenatal testing as part of your first trimester screening. Genetic testing is done and so are vaginal cultures to make sure you dont have any infections. Youll also get a Pap smear if you havent had one in the past year.
A first trimester ultrasound is done to confirm your pregnancy dates. This may be when you can hear a little baby heartbeat. Around four to seven weeks of pregnancy a heartbeat becomes detectable.
Being pregnant impacts your diet. Avoid heavily processed lunch meats because they can carry bacteria that cause food poisoning. The same goes for soft cheeses like Brie and feta. There are also several fish you should avoid because they carry high levels of mercury. Mercury can harm your babys development.
Taking ibuprofen is also off the table for the entire pregnancy.
You should however begin taking a prenatal vitamin every day.
By the end of the first trimester your baby will be about the size of a thumb. It will have started to form the neural tube which develops into the brain and spinal cord. Your baby will also start to develop ears and eyes at the end of the first trimester.
Typically you will not feel your baby moving during the first trimester though you shouldnt have to wait much longer.
Dont hold off on seeing a physician once you believe youre pregnant. Those