Pregnancy
What you need in the first trimester
The first trimester in practice. Folic acid and vitamin D, tiredness and nausea, your first visits to the gynaecologist, clothes, and what not to buy yet.
2 min read
Early signs of pregnancy
At the start you may feel nothing at all. Or everything at once. Early signs of pregnancy vary, and on their own they do not confirm a pregnancy. A test and a doctor do that.
The most common early signs
The NHS says you may have no symptoms at all at the start. Once the pregnancy hormone hCG starts to act, the following may appear in the first trimester (up to week 12):1
| Sign | Note |
|---|---|
| a missed period | often one of the first signals |
| sore, tender breasts | many women notice a change in how their bra fits very early |
| nausea, morning sickness | despite the name, it can come at any time of day |
| a metallic taste in the mouth | |
| new cravings and aversions to food | |
| a keener sense of smell | |
| needing to wee more often | |
| a milky white discharge | |
| light spotting | when the egg implants; the NHS advises seeing a doctor if you bleed in pregnancy |
| period-like cramps | |
| darker patches on the face | the so-called mask of pregnancy |
| bloating |
None of these signs proves a pregnancy on its own. Many of them resemble the symptoms before a period.
What to do first
- A pregnancy test from the pharmacy. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Book an appointment with a gynaecologist. They will confirm the pregnancy and arrange your further check-ups at the antenatal clinic (tehotenská poradňa).
- Folic acid: the NHS recommends taking 400 micrograms of folic acid a day, ideally for three months before conception, otherwise as soon as you find out you are pregnant, and continuing until week 12. Some women need a higher dose, for example if they have diabetes or take certain medicines; talk to your doctor.2
- Any medicines you take should be discussed with a doctor or pharmacist.
When to see a doctor straight away
And clothes?
In the first trimester of a first pregnancy, the bump often does not show yet.1 You may, however, feel changes in your breasts and at your waist. If your bra feels tight, switch to a softer one. More in the article When to start wearing maternity clothes.
Next
Where this comes from
The numbers in the text refer to these sources. The links go to the publishers’ own pages; we simply cite them.
- NHS (United Kingdom):4 weeks pregnant – early pregnancy symptomsList of early symptoms, and the advice to see a doctor if you bleed.
- NHS (United Kingdom):Pregnancy vitamins and supplements400 micrograms of folic acid a day, ideally from before conception until week 12.
We last checked these sources on 13 October 2026.
Further along the path
Pregnancy
How your body changes during pregnancy
An overview of the three trimesters of pregnancy, week by week. What usually changes in your body, what to do about it in practice, and what it means for clothes and comfort.
2 min read
Clothes
When to start wearing maternity clothes
There is no right week. How to tell it is time, what your everyday wardrobe can still cope with, and in what order to buy maternity pieces.
2 min read