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• First Month

The First Month

Boy meets girl. Egg meets sperm. Your period has stopped. You're going to the bathroom a lot, and your "get-up-and-go" seems to have got up and went. What's happening?

It's the start of a whole new life, and your body is getting ready for a remarkable odyssey that lasts an average of 280 days. Inside one of your fallopian tubes, a fertilized egg is growing. And by the end of the first week, it has grown to about 200 cells. After the end of that first week, that ball of cells travels down the fallopian tube and attaches itself to the lining of your uterus. With that connection, the embryo begins to grow.

You don't look pregnant, but you're starting to feel kind of pregnant. Your period stops. Your breasts are tender and sore, and your stomach-well -why do you feel so queasy?

As soon as you know for certain that you're pregnant, it's time to start taking special care of yourself, and your baby. If you're drinking a toast to the Blessed Event, make it club soda or juice. Alcoholic beverages-even in moderation- can harm a baby's physical and intellectual development. It's best to avoid them altogether.

If you're a smoker, this is a great time (and a great motivator) to quit. A cup of coffee won't hurt, but just say "no" to that second latté.

Make sure you're eating a balanced diet. And don't stop going to the gym. As long as your doctor okays it, moderate exercise is good for you. But if you feel any discomfort, call a halt.

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