Early stages

At least one-third of women experience nausea during pregnancy. Fortunately, it usually lessens or disappears by the third or fourth month. To ease nausea, make sure you are getting enough rest. Eating small amounts of food every 1-½ hours to two hours helps to keep your stomach full. Eat whatever sounds appealing. Avoiding greasy foods may help. Eat a cracker or dry toast before getting out of bed. If you have continuous vomiting for more than 24 hours, call your doctor, nurse practitioner or certified nurse-midwife.

Some spotting or bleeding is experienced in one-third of pregnancies during the first trimester. Spotting after a cervical exam is normal. This occurs because your cervix is fragile. Spotting should stop in 24 hours to 48 hours. If you have cramping and pain, or if the flow resembles a period, call your doctor, nurse practitioner or certified nurse-midwife.

The first movement of your baby is called "quickening." It may feel like fluttering or gas bubbles. It usually occurs between 16 weeks and 22 weeks of pregnancy. Women who are pregnant for the first time usually experience quickening later than women who have had previous pregnancies.

After 32 weeks, your baby will move about 10 times an hour when active. To check your baby's movements, eat or drink something, then lie down and feel your stomach for movement. If you are not able to feel any movement within one hour, call your doctor, nurse practitioner or certified nurse-midwife.