any Mechanics? Ford escape hesitates in 1st???

I have a ford escape(auto tran) and recently when ever I am at a light or stop sign and I accelerate from a dead stop it is as if the brakes are on and the car hesitates to move. Sometimes it will jerk. It does the same thing when moving slow, for example letting people walk by etc the car will almost stop and go. Once moving i have no issues.

Any ideas? Its auto. rebuild? First gear bad? computer? I tried lucus anti slip and i dont know if it was luck but it did go alway for almost a week but it came back today.