For Pregnant Mothers
We know pregnancy is a very big change in any woman’s life, especially when it is unplanned. This pregnancy guide is for women to use as a guide of what physical changes to expect throughout the nine months of pregnancy.
If you’re pregnant and considering adoption, we will help you throughout your pregnancy, both with understanding what to expect in terms of physical and emotional changes, but also with free resources and financial support to ease the cost of pregnancy. Medical and legal expenses, housing, maternity clothes, living expenses, can all be covered so you don’t have to worry about finances.
The first stage of pregnancy, also referred to as the first trimester, can be the most difficult. Finding out you are pregnant, along with the early pregnancy symptoms as your body adjusts to the influx of hormones and other changes, can be very difficult to digest.
The first trimester brings about the first signs and symptoms of pregnancy, including morning sickness and extreme fatigue. Morning sickness and fatigue usually disappear by weeks 13 to 16. In the meantime, get as much rest as you can. To help curb the morning sickness, eating smaller meals and snacking throughout the day can decrease your symptoms.
As for your emotional state, you are probably going through a lot in dealing with being pregnant and the decision of what to do. Talk to as many people as you can to support you through this- family, friends, counselors. Talk to those who will support your feelings, thoughts and ultimately, your decision of what to do. The first trimester is very important to both you and the baby, who is developing inside you, and will require adjustments to your lifestyle. This is a time when the baby does most of their development, and is also the time where he/she stands the biggest chance of acquiring any complications.
The second trimester is usually the easiest on you physically, but can be emotionally challenging for you as you will begin to feel the baby move. Many women choosing adoption have a difficult time during this stage, as the pregnancy becomes more real. Continue to use the resources you have in family, friends and counselors to talk through your feelings and emotions. The second trimester is usually when the morning sickness disappears and you will begin to look and feel pregnant. Overall, your fatigue should improve as well. You may begin, as your body changes, to have back pain, some dizziness and lightheadedness.
By the end of the third trimester, women on average gain between 25-35 pounds. The back pain may get worse as your body grows. You may also begin to feel a lot of pressure as the baby moves down. The fatigue from the first trimester may return, so be sure to continue to get lots of rest. During this stage of your pregnancy, the baby’s development and growth will be slowing down rapidly and coming to an end. The baby will be moving less and less as he/she grows.
Emotionally, as your pregnancy comes to an end, you may feel excitement that it’s almost over, anxious about the delivery and how things will be after. Again, use the support you have to continue to process your emotions through this time. Work with your counselor to determine how you want things to go at the hospital. Do you want to hold the baby? Do you want contact after the baby is born?
Contact us to discuss all your options, including adoption. You can change your mind at any time during the adoption process