Your pregnancy: you are pregnant and life will never be the same again

You may not even look pregnant yet, but the first 12 weeks of pregnancy - the first trimester - can be a difficult time, both physically and emotionally, as your body changes and your baby grows. Suddenly everything takes on new significance - from what you eat and drink to how much sleep you get and how much exercise you do.

Visit The Baby Show and you can meet midwives and health visitors, pick up maternity clothes and plan ahead for the next nine months.

Early sign of pregnancy

Right from the start of a pregnancy, you take a huge leap from being yourself to becoming a mum-to-be, with a tiny person growing inside you. From the moment of conception, the hormone levels in your body change. Then your body starts to grow as your baby gets bigger inside you and your organs move to accommodate him.

By now your hormones are powerful enough to make you feel fundamentally different. The exhaustion of early pregnancy is a huge shock to most women, however prepared they are for every sign of pregnancy in books and magazines. Fatigue hits you like a steam train and this can be particularly frustrating and upsetting to a normally active and energetic woman.

Fatigue is an early pregnancy symptom

The best way to cope is to give in - don't fight it. When you're pregnant, your body is crying out for rest so it's best to just accept fatigue as an early pregnancy symptom and try to adjust your life accordingly. Simplify your life - reduce your list of daily activities down to the bare essentials. Stock the fridge with ready meals, turn down social invitations and do whatever helps you to cope. Try to fit in a daily nap if you can. There may be a medical or rest room at work where you can lie down, or go somewhere quiet to sit and rest. Make the most of weekends to get plenty of rest and sleep.

This period of exhaustion in pregnancy is only temporary and should pass by around 14 to 16 weeks - then you'll start to feel energetic again. Practical Parenting magazine offers advice every month on how to cope with all the different stages of pregnancy. Read on for a summary of some of the features on pregnancy.

Did you know?

Eating chocolate is good for your baby. Research published in the New Scientist shows that the babies of women who ate chocolate while pregnant are happier and smile more!

Morning sickness and how to cope

Don't let those queasy waves of nausea get you down during pregnancy! Nausea and sickness are the biggest nightmares for around four out of every five pregnant women during their first trimester (weeks 0-12).

Although it's called morning sickness, it's not unusual for this nausea to go on all day or night. No one knows exactly what causes it, though it may have something to do with the developing placenta. The physical changes taking place in your body - including increasing oestrogen levels, enhanced sense of smell, excess stomach acids and fatigue - may also contribute to the nausea. While it's unpleasant, don't worry too much about it. It's not normally a problem and won't affect your baby. The nausea normally wears out after 12-14 weeks, although a few women may continue to suffer morning sickness throughout their pregnancy. If your sickness is severe and you can't hold anything down, tell your midwife or GP.

How to cope with morning sickness

Here are a few things you can do to try and prevent or at least reduce the queasiness. If this is the normal nausea that affects most women during pregnancy, then you're probably already avoiding any foods and smells that may churn your stomach. Here are a few things you can do to try and prevent or at least reduce the queasiness:

Eat little and often: hunger often makes nausea worse. Keep snacks close at hand - many women find eating a biscuit or cracker before they get out of bed makes them feel better first thing in the morning.

Eat ginger: ginger root is a well-known natural remedy for nausea. Try eating ginger biscuits or drinking ginger beer. You can also grate some root ginger into a cup of hot water or add plenty of chopped ginger to your food.

Try acupressure wristbands: these are designed primarily for travel sickness and work by applying pressure to points in your wrist. They are available from pharmacies and lots of pregnant women swear by them.

Tell your doctor if your sickness seems severe and you can't keep any food or drink down, as you may be in danger of becoming dehydrated.

Sniff lemons: the smell of a freshly cut lemon is said to help ease nausea. Add some slices of lemon to your iced tea or sparkling water.

Eat or drink peppermint: peppermint and peppermint tea are also known to help ease queasiness.

Eat a high-carbohydrate diet: make small meals of dry toast, honey, banana, baked potato, muesli, whole grain breakfast cereals, steamed rice or tofu - or foods high in protein. Both can help combat nausea. Yogurt is also a good choice - it's high in B vitamins, which can ease nausea. If your diet has been poor, then it is even more important to start eating delicious, nutritious, well-balanced meals.

Avoid strong smells, fatty foods and rich, spicy, acidic or fried foods: these can also cause heartburn during pregnancy. Some women can't tolerate milk, eggs or meat. You may need to eat what and when you fancy for a while.

Cut down on alcohol: limit your intake to a couple of units a week at the most.

Avoid smoking any tobacco and avoid smoke-filled places

Limit your coffee intake during your first trimester