Pregnancy by trimester: What you should know

While becoming a parent is an exciting journey, it can also be overwhelming. A pregnant woman may experience a spectrum of physical and emotional changes as her body grows rapidly over a full-term pregnancy of three trimesters, with each lasting approximately three months. 

“Much of what a woman experiences is due to the changes that happen during pregnancy, including hormones, and the physical effects of the enlarging uterus,” explained  Dr Pradip Dashraath, Associate Consultant with the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at National University Hospital (NUH). 

While some pregnancy signs may be uncomfortable, there’s no need to be alarmed. Dr Pradip shared that some women may experience more extreme symptoms. “Fortunately, most of these are not harmful, but they can be distressing to the mother,” he said. There are, however, some red flags to watch for. For example, any pregnancy manifestation that prevents the mother from performing her daily activities, or which appears to be worsening, must be brought to the obstetrician’s attention.