Your pregnancy at a glance

By Carol Jacobs

Pregnancy is a mind-body journey likely to include everything from moody blues to the kicks of tiny feet. We asked Chester Martin, M.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and Jeanne Waldman, R.N., a certified nurse-midwife with Planned Parenthood for help in compiling a 12-month time line that chronicles how you may feel during your pregnancy. While not a substitute for medical care, this road map may help you distinguish between signs that warn you to call your doctor and signs that indicate everything is normal.

MONTH 1: weeks 1-4 (Am I pregnant?)
Possible Physical Changes
Absence of menstrual period, tingling, tender and/or swollen breasts, fatigue, mild to extreme nausea, with or without vomiting, at any time of day or night, minor uterine contractions.

Possible Emotional Changes
Wondering whether you're pregnant, fear of complications, anxiety about motherhood and how it will affect marriage, career, and lifestyle, crankiness

Possible Appetite Changes:
food cravings or aversions, increase or decrease in appetite. If you even suspect you're pregnant, start taking 800 micrograms of folic acid daily, the dosage recommended during pregnancy by the March of Dimes, to prevent neural tube defects.

The Inside Story
The embryo is a tiny speck, the size of a pencil point that is sometimes visible about the fourth week of gestation via vaginal ultrasound.

Sleep/Stamina Irregularities
Possible fatigue or sleepiness. An hour of extra sleep or taking afternoon naps may help, but don't be surprised if you still feel tired no matter how much sleep you get.

Rx for Stress
Instead of wondering or worrying whether or not you're pregnant, get tested. At-home pregnancy tests are nearly 100 percent accurate 14 days or more after a missed period, and urine tests (done at your doctor's office) are nearly 100 percent accurate 7 to 10 days after conception. Blood tests are 100 percent accurate after 7 days.

Special Risks
Early miscarriage.

Symptoms That Say "Call Your Doctor"
Positive result on home pregnancy test, cramping and spotting or bleeding, which may indicate early miscarriage, lower abdominal pain, continual vomiting, gushing or steady leaking of fluid from vagina, painful or sparse urination.

MONTH 2: weeks 4-8
Possible Physical Changes
Menstruation has ceased, but you may experience slight staining, fatigue, sleepiness, frequent urination, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, indigestion, flatulence, breast tenderness.

Possible Emotional Changes
Irritability, mood swings, weepiness, misgivings, denial, disbelief, anger if the pregnancy is unwanted, joy, elation, excitement.

Possible Appetite Changes
Aversion to certain foods, morning sickness. Eating mini meals and avoiding greasy foods may help squelch queasiness.

The Inside Story
By the end of this month, the tiny, tadpole like embryo is about the size of a grain of rice.

Sleep/Stamina Irregularities
Your metabolism is working overtime to build the growing fetus, so don't fight or ignore signs of fatigue. Great energy boosters include afternoon naps or breaks, going to bed an hour early, daily aerobic exercise , eliminating chores.

Rx for Stress
Relaxation techniques, guide imagery, warm baths (not hot! avoid Jacuzzis, saunas and hot tubs), yoga and low-impact aerobic exercise all help calm frayed nerves. If you're very anxious, or your job is particularly draining take frequent breaks.

Special Risks
Early miscarriage (affects 10 percent of pregnant women), "ectopic" or tubal pregnancy (less common, affecting 1 in 100 women).

Symptoms That Say "Call Your Doctor"
See Month 1.