When asked about my first trimester, the words that come to mind are nausea, food aversion and anxiety.
Some women (my sister) don't experience any nausea at all and feel almost the same as they did before conceiving. Then there are women at the other end of the spectrum who can't seem to hold down any food at all (fortunately I did not experience this, but I know several women who did)
Speaking only from my personal experience, here is what I have to say about the 1st tri...
If you're a nausea candidate like me, there is really no way to prevent the initial nausea (before seeing a doctor). hcg (the pregnancy hormone) and estrogen are at an all-time high these first 14 weeks and your body is reacting to the rapid hormonal changes.
The nausea came at morning, noon and night. There were mornings that I couldn't get out of bed until the room stopped spinning, and other mornings I felt GREAT until I walked into the kitchen and smelled coffee brewing - the lovely food(beverage) aversion. The sight of any random food or drink had me running in the opposite direction or having to postpone a meal all together. Sticking to bland foods (i.e. crackers, dry cereal), having small snacks throughout the day (protein bars are great) and staying hydrated throughout the day helped remedy my nausea.
Here are some additional remedies that may relieve your nausea:
* Vitamin B6- 50 mg daily
* Morning Sickness Magic
* B-Natal Therapops
* Ginger - capsules, hard candy, ginger ale...
IF your nausea is so severe that you can't hold down food or function on a daily basis, there are some medications that your doctor can prescribe for you.
Anxiety is unavoidable at some point(s) throughout the first trimester, especially with your first baby. I always worried about whether I was getting enough protein, calcium, etc. in my diet because of all my initial food aversions.
Don't stress yourself out. Although diet is very important while pregnant, IT'S OKAY if you're not able to eat dairy (for instance) for a bit and rely on TUMS.
There were some nights I couldn't take down a prenatal vitamin -- also okay. I always had a jar of Flinstone Gummy Vitamins on the counter for these nights (yes, the ones for the kiddies).
If you can't keep down your prenatal (and or DHA) vitamin, talk to your doctor. You'll probably need a folic acid supplement.
For all of the other anxiety-driven question/concerns... is it okay to have a cup of coffee? my hair highlighted? is six plane flights in two months going to harm the baby?... there are plenty of resources (your doctor! books, internet, other Mother's/pregnant women, pregnancy magazines...) to answer these questions for you. Most of the time, you're stressing yourself out over nothing... everything is going to be okay :)
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Along came my second trimester,and I felt a lot better about my pregnancy. I think every woman has some fear in her that something will go wrong those first few months, especially with your first pregnancy. I felt a lot of relief once I reached that 14 week mark.
During my second trimester I spent a lot of time planning, researching, shopping, enjoying eating again (finally!!!) and maintaining a modest exercise regimen. I think a lot of women would include tummy growth here, but for me that didn't come until trimester three.
In addition to the many books and magazines subscriptions (**see October post: "A Good Read") we would constantly seek advice from close family and friends regarding a particular product/manufacturer choice for various baby items. This is one time in your life when it isn't about "getting the best deal."
Once we moved to Chicago, we made a point to stop couples out on walks with children to ask about their stroller choice. We soon realized that most families here chose a stroller with larger (jogging) wheels because it made for a much easier/smoother ride for Mommy and child. Hence, why we chose the Bumbleride Indie Jogging Stroller (**also mentioned in October post)
I soon became close friends with every manager and sales associate at Pottery Barn, Babies R Us, Restoration Hardware and a few other local boutiques. The shopping feels like it's never-ending... fun at first, but you'll be doing it just as much in your third trimester and believe me it gets exhausting! TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE SHIPPING (you can always return at a store if it doesn't work out - which you will do on several occasions!)
Buying your first baby outfit is just as fun as you imagine it to be... better than finding your wedding dress (for me at least :) ) Baby boutiques make it pretty much impossible to not go overboard on baby clothes. My husband did a pretty good job keeping me in check (or so he thinks he did...) !
I'll tell you what though, one of the best things about my second trimester was being able to enjoy food again!!! My aversions went away, and particular food groups that I couldn't bare to even smell the previous months were now a part of my daily intake :)
My favorite food item: Whole Foods Burritos (the ones they make in front of you at the burrito station) A-MAZING... the breakfast burritos they put out each morning are also VERY GOOD! (*not every Whole Foods store has a burrito station*)
I didn't know how much importance exercise would play during my pregnancy, but WOW has it been important. The best advice I can give anyone is to continue to do whatever you used to do, but in moderation. This doesn't mean you can continue to lift heavy weights if you were a heavy lifter -- safe exercises that won't cause your body or baby any harm.
I am not as big of a runner as I used to be, but I know several women who continued to run throughout their pregnancy. For someone like me, it wouldn't have been a good idea to start running regularly now when I hadn't much pre-pregnancy. Same thing goes with hobbies such as as yoga and pilates -- don't start something when you weren't doing it before.
If you HAVE done yoga/pilates in the past I highly recommend keeping with it. They are very soothing for your changing body, and the breathing techniques (esp. from yoga) can be very beneficial in the labor process.
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The third trimester... the buddha belly emerged, baby got VERY active, major OCD and nesting set in, the last few weeks I felt pretty yucky physically, and my patience (by week 36) is wearing very thin!!!
FINALLY I am showing!!! Not until the beginning of the 3rd trimester did I REALLY start to show. Although I always felt the baby moving during the 2nd trimester, there wasn't much of a bump which left me feeling extremely self-conscious.
My doctor even performed some atypical ultrasounds to ensure that Baby was growing as she should be - which, thankfully, she always was!!!
Developing the large bump was an amazing feeling - I absolutely loved looking at my tummy and getting that confirmation that she WAS in there - happy and healthy!!! :)
The growth of the baby during the 3rd trimester (in terms of weight) is at its peak, which means the kicks, punches, maneuvers are THAT much more intense!
At this point in your pregnancy the baby should be moving throughout the day, and you feel pretty much everything (sometimes quite uncomfortable) Our baby flipped head down at around 36 weeks, and she spent the rest of my pregnancy digging her little feet into my ribs. This can be painful... any attempt to gently push her foot away from my ribs resulted in a very powerful kick back from her. She wasn't budging.
She is her Mother's daughter.
I also started to get obsessive compulsive about everything around the house - everything had needed to be perfect at all times JUST IN CASE she came early. We had the car seat installed at 35 weeks and everything set up, put together, bottles sterilized, etc. by 36 weeks. Am I crazy? Yes, but I also have a husband who was traveling until a few weeks before my due date so I was BORED and wanted to get done as much as possible EARLY. The nesting goes hand in hand with the OCD... I vacuumed, polished/dusted and sanitized the whole apartment at least three times a week. Again, CRAZY!!
Physically, I feel great. I've been very lucky and had it very easy carrying my first baby. I'm not sure if this is pure luck, or a reflection of my pregnancy lifestyle... maybe a little of both? I ate well and had a balanced diet, got at least 8 plus hours of sleep each night, maintained low impact exercising almost every day and I was not working for my 2nd and 3rd trimester (i.e. my stress was at an all-time low)
The only complaints I can think of -- occasional backache and some rough nights sleep every now and then. That's it.
PATIENCE.
This is the hardest part BY FAR.
By week 37 - once I knew the baby was head down and had developed enough so that she'd be okay outside of the womb - I was ready to meet her......... NOW :)
Patience got a lot more difficult this month because we have everything ready for her arrival. The only thing left to do was add some more fat to our little lady so that she's better equipped to brave this Chicago winter!!!!
The baby usually gains a couple pounds during the last month of pregnancy, but a lot of women actually stay at the same weight or drop a pound or two during this month. This is due to the decrease in amniotic fluid and a drop in total body water.
Between weeks 35 and 38 I didn't gain any weight (reasons above) but ultrasounds showed our little lady steadily gaining weight each week. By the time I went into labor - 10 days overdue - I had gained a total of 25 pounds and I came home from the hospital with 15 of those 25 pounds gone. The rest of the weight came off on its own within the next few weeks.
One purchase that I'd recommend is the Belly Bandit (note: I'm not sure if the Bandit would be a wise investment for a cesarean birth mother)
I actually started wearing my Belly Bandit the day after I gave birth - - It helped my body get rid of fluid faster and generally move the process along better.
Once I came home from the hospital I wore the bandit each day for 6-10 hours for a month. It definitely helped tighten my stomach back up! I also started exercising just a few days after giving birth - NOT NORMAL (I'm crazy), but I was lucky enough to have minimal damage and slowly get back into the swing of things. I started doing some light lifting and sit- ups at 1-2 weeks postpartum as well. The early morning exercise is the perfect start to my day with the little Miss... gives me a boost in the a.m. and helps keep me sane inside our home all day in this frigid Chicago winter!!!!
FINALLY I am showing!!! Not until the beginning of the 3rd trimester did I REALLY start to show. Although I always felt the baby moving during the 2nd trimester, there wasn't much of a bump which left me feeling extremely self-conscious.
My doctor even performed some atypical ultrasounds to ensure that Baby was growing as she should be - which, thankfully, she always was!!!
Developing the large bump was an amazing feeling - I absolutely loved looking at my tummy and getting that confirmation that she WAS in there - happy and healthy!!! :)
The growth of the baby during the 3rd trimester (in terms of weight) is at its peak, which means the kicks, punches, maneuvers are THAT much more intense!
At this point in your pregnancy the baby should be moving throughout the day, and you feel pretty much everything (sometimes quite uncomfortable) Our baby flipped head down at around 36 weeks, and she spent the rest of my pregnancy digging her little feet into my ribs. This can be painful... any attempt to gently push her foot away from my ribs resulted in a very powerful kick back from her. She wasn't budging.
She is her Mother's daughter.
I also started to get obsessive compulsive about everything around the house - everything had needed to be perfect at all times JUST IN CASE she came early. We had the car seat installed at 35 weeks and everything set up, put together, bottles sterilized, etc. by 36 weeks. Am I crazy? Yes, but I also have a husband who was traveling until a few weeks before my due date so I was BORED and wanted to get done as much as possible EARLY. The nesting goes hand in hand with the OCD... I vacuumed, polished/dusted and sanitized the whole apartment at least three times a week. Again, CRAZY!!
Physically, I feel great. I've been very lucky and had it very easy carrying my first baby. I'm not sure if this is pure luck, or a reflection of my pregnancy lifestyle... maybe a little of both? I ate well and had a balanced diet, got at least 8 plus hours of sleep each night, maintained low impact exercising almost every day and I was not working for my 2nd and 3rd trimester (i.e. my stress was at an all-time low)
The only complaints I can think of -- occasional backache and some rough nights sleep every now and then. That's it.
PATIENCE.
This is the hardest part BY FAR.
By week 37 - once I knew the baby was head down and had developed enough so that she'd be okay outside of the womb - I was ready to meet her......... NOW :)
Patience got a lot more difficult this month because we have everything ready for her arrival. The only thing left to do was add some more fat to our little lady so that she's better equipped to brave this Chicago winter!!!!
The baby usually gains a couple pounds during the last month of pregnancy, but a lot of women actually stay at the same weight or drop a pound or two during this month. This is due to the decrease in amniotic fluid and a drop in total body water.
Between weeks 35 and 38 I didn't gain any weight (reasons above) but ultrasounds showed our little lady steadily gaining weight each week. By the time I went into labor - 10 days overdue - I had gained a total of 25 pounds and I came home from the hospital with 15 of those 25 pounds gone. The rest of the weight came off on its own within the next few weeks.
One purchase that I'd recommend is the Belly Bandit (note: I'm not sure if the Bandit would be a wise investment for a cesarean birth mother)
I actually started wearing my Belly Bandit the day after I gave birth - - It helped my body get rid of fluid faster and generally move the process along better.
Once I came home from the hospital I wore the bandit each day for 6-10 hours for a month. It definitely helped tighten my stomach back up! I also started exercising just a few days after giving birth - NOT NORMAL (I'm crazy), but I was lucky enough to have minimal damage and slowly get back into the swing of things. I started doing some light lifting and sit- ups at 1-2 weeks postpartum as well. The early morning exercise is the perfect start to my day with the little Miss... gives me a boost in the a.m. and helps keep me sane inside our home all day in this frigid Chicago winter!!!!
