Week 7: Riding out the queasy weeks

Your baby’s brain is growing at a staggering pace this week — roughly a hundred new cells a minute — and tiny paddle-shaped hands are forming at the ends of the arm buds. The umbilical cord is now in place, the lifeline that will nourish your baby for the months ahead.

For many people, nausea and tiredness are at their peak right about now. You might be making endless trips to the loo as your growing uterus presses on your bladder, noticing a strange metallic taste, or feeling unexpectedly tearful. None of it means anything is wrong — it’s simply the first trimester in full swing.

A few small things help: keep crackers by the bed to nibble before you get up, lean on fibre and fluids if constipation sets in, and rest without guilt. This stretch is genuinely hard for a lot of people, and simply “getting through it” is a perfectly good goal for now.

It’s worth saying that the first trimester can be as hard mentally as it is physically. You may be exhausted, nauseous and emotional, often before you’ve even told people you’re pregnant — which can feel isolating. If you’re flat or anxious, that’s common, and worth sharing with someone you trust or your midwife; you don’t have to wait until you “look” pregnant to ask for support. And if you have a history of anxiety or depression, keep a gentle eye on it now, as the perinatal period is a vulnerable time — support is available and it works.

If you’re trying to keep the pregnancy quiet at work for now, the queasiness and exhaustion can be hard to hide — a stash of plain snacks at your desk, a refillable water bottle, and a few quiet moments when you need them all help you get through the day. There’s no obligation to tell anyone until you’re ready, though if symptoms are really affecting you, confiding in a trusted colleague or manager can make things easier.

One easily-forgotten tip: look after your teeth. Pregnancy hormones can leave gums tender and prone to bleeding, and dental health matters more than people expect — many Australian dentists bulk-bill pregnant women. And if nausea is stopping you eating or drinking, your GP or midwife can help.