If you’ve been feeling the first trimester woes, take it easy, give yourself permission to take a nap or go to bed early. Understanding the changes your body is going through will help you conquer this first phase. An amazing amount of effort is going on behind the scenes. Not only does your body have to work double time to keep you both alive, but your brain must shift gears into the less logical and more nurturing side. Imagine the magnitude of hormone changes to allow for this. Here’s a peak at the most common first trimester woes:
Tired all the time/low energy-those prenatal vitamins may be hard to swallow right now, but can aid in giving you the correct vitamins to give a little more energy. Unfortunately there isn’t a cure for this short phase, but most can muddle through exhaustion and allow your body to rest as often as it tells you. Your baby needs you to shut down often in the beginning for the healthiest chance at developing. Even if you can’t sleep at work, take your breaks out to your car or behind a door and close your eyes (set an alarm first). Even 20 minutes can change the way you feel for the rest of the day and increase chances for a healthier pregnancy. Keep in mind that if you exercise a little every day, you’ll get a deeper, quality sleep.
Sore, tender breasts and nipples-from the minute of conception your body is going through a major transformation. The hormones needed for this will cause your nipples to become tender. It’s usually the first obvious sign that you are pregnant. Support your breast with a good quality bra that can grow with you. You probably won’t grow more than a half cup to one cup bigger during pregnancy. Try to avoid chafing fabrics and use a quality natural oil on your body after showers. Hydration helps avoid extra dryness, but you’ll want to become more aware of what’s in your skin cream before using it. One or two natural ingredients is best. This phase is worst in first weeks. You will feel better as the hormones calm down.
Nausea-some studies suggest that having morning sickness is a sign that miscarriage is highly unlikely. In most research, the higher the HCG levels (pregnancy hormones) the more likely you will feel nauseous. There is also a misnomer about feeling sick in the morning as this can happen at anytime in the day or night. For 95% of the pregnant population this feeling will wind down by the second trimester as your body acclimates to pregnancy. Some tips to help you through the rough patches; drink water with lemon and ginger upon waking -ideally it is already at your bedside, have crackers or toast before you get out of bed, keep a citrus smell around you during intense times of nausea, keep a quality diet of protein-fruit-veggies, avoid the “standard american diet”, stay hydrated, take prenatal vitamins at night, try cold meals, eat small meals often, be sure to rest/sleep when your body warrants it, talk to other mothers and seek alternative therapies (chiropractor-acupuncture-aromatherapy-kinesiology-reiki etc). For those of you who can’t get a handle on feeling sick all the time, talk to your doctor about medications.
Acne-you will feel like that teenager going through puberty again, but this is temporary. As those hormones regulate through pregnancy you should see improvement. In the meantime, try a clean diet, drink plenty of water, avoid chemicals (unnatural makeup) on your skin, cleanse with a mild soap, use tea tree oil or apple cider vinegar as a toner, moisturize with a small amount of coconut oil and take a probiotic. Talk to your doctor if this becomes an ongoing problem.
Frequent urination– this is something you will have to accept as part of the pregnancy. In the beginning of pregnancy, it is hormones causing this issue, in time it will be the pressure of the baby. Your uterus is a pear size when not pregnant but quickly grows to the size of a watermelon. That’s a lot of pressure on the bladder. Be sure to get to know where all the bathrooms (in any place) are before you must go. Don’t try to avoid drinking water when you are thirsty, even at night. Dehydration can bring on bigger problems. Be sure to limit caffeine, alcohol, smoking and artificial sweeteners as these will make you need to go more often. Any restrictive clothing around your lower abdomen should be avoided. Those stretchy panties and loose skirts/pants can be your best friend.
Emotional turmoil-with those crazy hormones comes the emotional roller coaster of pregnancy. Like the changes you feel around the time of your period. Happy, sad, angry, anxious, regret, ambivalence is just a few of the many shades of feelings you’ll experience. You won’t always feel this “off”, but it may seem extreme at times. Usually the first and last trimesters are the most awkward. Working through any family-relationship issues, career concerns and other stressful aspects of life at this time should quell some of the intensity. If you like to write, this is a wonderful passage of life to express yourself in a journal (or art). Maybe someday you’ll blog about it too! Take great care to find an exceptional prenatal yoga or exercise class, those connections with other moms will help ease the transition. As with anything, sharing with people in the same boat can give clarity, BUT sharing online is not the same! Get out and meet other mothers to be. If you find yourself in a constant state of fight or flight, please talk to your caregiver ASAP.
This list is the most popular of first trimester woes but doesn’t mean you won’t experience something else equally annoying to you. Pregnancy can be unique to the individual health issues your body is already working on before conception. Keep your eye on the prize and throw in some humor to roll with the punches. The majority of women will get past this phase and feel amazing in the second trimester (comparably).
For those of you reading this before pregnancy, don’t let these inconveniences deter you. Most of us agree they are short lived and completely manageable. The outcome is well worth the sacrifice. Life is short and who better to share it with, than your children!
Happy Parenting!
