First Trimester of Pregnancy: A Week-by-Week Guide for Indian Women

The first trimester is the first 12 weeks of pregnancy — counted from the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP). It's the most important period for foetal development and the time when most pregnancy risks are decided. The right care now sets up the rest of the pregnancy.

What you might feel

• Missed period and breast tenderness (often the first signs).
• Nausea, vomiting or food aversions — especially weeks 6–10.
• Tiredness and frequent urination.
• Mood swings due to rising hormones.
• Mild lower-abdominal cramping (without bleeding) is usually normal.

Your first antenatal visit

Ideally schedule your first visit between 6–8 weeks. At this visit:

• Confirmation of pregnancy and accurate dating.
• Detailed medical history — past pregnancies, family history, chronic conditions.
• Examination: BP, weight, baseline measurements.
• Folic acid (5 mg in India) and iron started or continued.
• Vaccination status reviewed (Tdap, flu).
• Lifestyle, diet, exercise and travel guidance.

Tests in the first trimester

• Blood group, Rh typing, CBC, blood sugar, TSH.
• Hepatitis B, HIV, VDRL (syphilis screening).
• Urine routine — protein, sugar, infection.
• Dating scan (6–9 weeks) to confirm gestational age and viability.
• NT (nuchal translucency) scan + double marker at 11–13 weeks for chromosomal screening.

Diet & lifestyle in the first trimester

• Eat small, frequent meals to manage nausea.
• Stay hydrated — at least 8–10 glasses of water daily.
• Folic acid 5 mg daily (already prescribed) — crucial for neural tube development.
• Avoid alcohol, tobacco and recreational drugs entirely.
• Limit caffeine to under 200 mg/day (about 2 cups of tea).
• Avoid papaya, pineapple in large amounts, raw seafood, undercooked meat.
• Gentle walking, prenatal yoga — avoid heavy lifting or high-impact exercise.

When to call your doctor immediately

• Vaginal bleeding — any amount.
• Severe one-sided lower abdominal pain.
• Persistent vomiting unable to keep fluids down.
• Fever above 38°C / 100.4°F.
• Severe headache with vision changes.
• Shoulder-tip pain (possible sign of ectopic pregnancy).

Risk factors that need closer monitoring

Women with the following often need a more detailed first-trimester plan — see an obstetrician who has handled similar cases:

• Age over 35.
• Previous miscarriage(s).
• Hypertension, diabetes or thyroid problems.
• Twin or multiple pregnancy.
• Previous pregnancy with complications.
• Family history of genetic conditions.