How I (Barely) Survived The First Trimester

I'm just going to start out by saying, the beginning of my pregnancy has been no walk in the park.  Without going into too much detail, I wanted to post about 5 things that saved me during my first trimester of pregnancy in hopes that one day these things may bring comfort to an ailing first-time mother like me who scoured the internet every day in search of anything that may bring her comfort. Let's jump right into it before I scare anyone away from getting pregnant one day. DISCLAIMER: IF THERE IS ONE THING I LEARNED DURING THE FIRST TRIMESTER, IT WAS THAT NO ONE WOMAN EXPERIENCES PREGNANCY THE SAME AS ANY OTHER WOMAN (NOT EVEN YOUR MOM, YOUR SISTER, YOUR GRANDMOTHER, ETC.) EVERY PREGNANCY IS DIFFERENT. This should bring you comfort in knowing your first trimester will likely go much more smoothly than mine did. :) 1.

That's our little bean at 9 weeks.  Even looking at this picture makes me smile. This tip is more of a mental pick-me-up rather than a physical one.  There isn't much that will make you feel better than hearing your little one's heartbeat or seeing them in an ultrasound.  During the first trimester you only see your doctor about once a month (so three times - that's it!) but trust me, those appointments COUNT! Even the blood draws and the physical exams seem more exciting because you get to hear about your baby.  These appointments will make you forget ALL about the 24 hour nausea, the headaches, the fatigue, the close relationship with your bathroom rug.  So relish in it. RELISH-IN-IT. 2.

Hard candy truly helped me with the nausea and excess saliva (I know, gross, but it happens).  These Brachs Lemon Drops were my favorite.  I think a little sour and a little sweet was key for me.  I have heard that citrus helps many women with their nausea and I did cut up a lemon or two chew on those after dinner but it's effect was not as great as my hard candy. Whenever we left the house I had some hard candy in my purse to suck on in case of an emergency. 3.

Image Via Carole's Blog These come with a disclaimer.  Soon-to-be-mommies are not supposed to take hot baths.  The water temperature should not exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit because although our bodies can sweat and make themselves comfortable, the babies' bodies cannot which can stunt their developing cells.  This is where the word "warm" comes into play.  My rule of thumb is if I can't get in immediately and feel fine (as in, no dipping one foot at a time and get acclimated) then the water is too hot. Once I've got the water to the perfect temperature, I add bubbles, salts, light candles, turn the lights down, and watch an episode of my fave show on Netflix. Nothing relaxes me more or makes me feel more comforted than a nice, quiet bath.  Not to mention it eases the lower back and leg pain, settles your stomach, and helps immensely with migraines.  If I could imagine my perfect labor and delivery, I would labor in my bathtub until I'm 8 cm dilated and then deliver at our hospital in case of emergency during delivery.  A girl can dream! 4.

This picture is OLD.  No, I don't hang snowflakes in August. This is another emotional tip.  SNUGGLE! Easy as that.  Kolby and I moved to Baltimore when I was 7 weeks pregnant (literally, exactly when morning sickness began) and because he has to go to work every day, I am home alone. Except I'm not alone, I have Bella (our cat).  Even snuggling with an animal boosts my spirits about feeling sick.  And as soon as Kolby gets home from work I am quick to snuggle if we can.  The endorphin boost that you get from human touch will make you forget all about feeling sick.  And on that note, it helps to communicate with family and friends.  Seeing our friends and family face to face was impossible for me but text messaging, emailing, face-booking, etc. helps A LOT!   5.

 

I'm now 18 weeks pregnant and just barely seeing a bump but I can testify, way before this little teeny bump popped out, it was still SO uncomfortable to wear anything tight fitting around my waist.  The pressure pushing on my uterus not only hurt but made me feel more nauseous. My favorite loose sweats are the Boyfriend Pants from Victoria's Secret. For going out, let's be honest, jersey maxi skirts are where the comfort is at.

So, these are my main tips for feeling better during the first trimester.  They do exist among many many many other helpful tips (sipping liquids from a straw, eating small frequent meals, prescription nausea medication), but these 5 were my favorite and my most comforting.  First of all, I hope that every woman has and will have a first trimester filled with rainbows and butterflies.  If that isn't the case, I hope that some of these tips will help you feel a little better. xo