The first trimester is a weird one. In the first trimester we're not supposed to tell anyone we're pregnant AND we can't go see a doctor for almost a full month after the positive test. Now that I've lived through the first trimester, I want to share my secrets for getting through it!
This post is all about what to expect in the first trimester of pregnancy!
Let me start by saying EVERYONE is different when it comes to what you will experience in the first trimester of your pregnancy. Not only is everyone different… apparently every pregnancy is different. Wild cards everywhere.
Let me go over a few of the basics of the first trimester:
Cravings during the first trimester
Cravings can start early. Mine started at 4 weeks. Seth and my sister questioned that they were actually pregnancy symptoms so much that I began to question them myself! But I spoke with a friend who is a hormone specialist and she said YES, when you become pregnant your body instantly flips multiple switches into “pregnant mode”! I ALWAYS knew what I wanted for dinner!
Holy Hormones in the first trimester
Holy. Freaking. Hormones. This was actually a sign for me that I was pregnant! I went to a party and didn't feel like I belonged… then I cried about it.
When you're pregnant YOUR FEELINGS ARE REAL… your reaction to things might be a bit more exaggerated.
Pooch V. Baby
Most of us have that little “pooch”– the little something, something right below our belly button. Well, in your first trimester you're constantly checking your reflection in the mirror to decide if you're finally “showing”. Likely you're not.
For me, it felt like my insides were filling up first and then 20+ weeks into my pregnancy I FINALLY started to show. However, I have a long torso and wide hips so there is a lot of room for the baby to grow. Also, I've been told several times that you don't show as quickly with your first baby as you do for your 2nd or 3rd.
Tampons anyone?!
For the first time in my life I didn't need to have any on hand… and it was a little strange. So I was trying to purge the tampons. Anytime I knew someone who needed them, I would give them FIVE.
My thought process was: I won't need them for at least 9 months PLUS I can't use them during postpartum recovery PLUS however long it takes me to get my period back after baby is born! (I also used a cup, but I held on to that one).
“MORNING” sickness… Cute.
Morning sickness is a beast and what made the 1st trimester the worst for me.
First of all, it's not reserved for the morning. Sometimes it was afternoon sickness or even all day sickness.
Plus, what kind of sickness are we talking about?
Personally, I felt like I was car sick… almost 24/7. As a kid who was constantly getting car sick, I have a few natural remedies for helping with the “morning sickness”.
I've also heard the “hangover” comparison used a lot. Either way… not enjoyable. BUT I was able to find some relief and I want to share my tips with you!
1| FOOD: Protein Shakes and Saltines
Protein: Please check with your doctor to see if your preferred type of protein is safe while pregnant. I was using a non-dairy berry kind but whatever sounds appealing to you is what you should do!
Saltines: I just bought a giant box and kept a sleeve by my bed, in my car, by the couch… anywhere hunger might strike.
It was a terrible cycle of “OMG I'm so sick I know I need to eat but OMG I can't get up bc I feel sick”.
I was always told that you should eat small snacks when you're not feeling well and I agree. However, sometimes I would eat too much in an attempt to feel better and then would then feel sick from eating too much.
2| SeaBands for Sickness in the 1st trimester
These SeaBands were AMAZING for making me feel better!! I literally never took them off except for when I slept and showered. They're acupressure bands and I seriously cannot recommend them enough.
Ginger is supposed to help a ton with an upset stomach but ginger ale had way too much sugar for me. These helped to ease my upset stomach. I bought them at my local grocery store but Amazon has them too so… see you in 2 days, gin gins!
4| Peppermint
Chewing peppermint gum, smelling peppermint essential oils, or really peppermint anything will help to take some of the edge of nausea away!
5| Filtered water bottle
I LOOOOVED having a filtered water bottle. I could fill up my water anywhere and know it was clean for me and my baby. Plus, this will come in handy while breastfeeding as well!
Stay healthy during Pregnancy:
Prenatal Vitamins start in the first trimester:
Probiotics, Prenatals and DHA
HEYSHAYLA gives you 15% off!
Mocktails:
This may have been more of a big deal in 2019. But there was once a time where you might be out with friends for “drinks” before you announced your pregnancy to the world. My favorite mocktail was soda water and lime! Not only did it look like something I would normally drink, but it was actually pretty delicious!
Maternity Clothing (you can skip in the first trimester but I want you to be prepared!)
I was hell-bent on NOT buying maternity clothing. But once I started to wear some of my sister's hand me downs, I knew I had to. It was way more flattering for my changing body and sooo much more comfortable to not have the “flap” of the shirt hanging below!
These are my FAVORITE maternity leggings! They are compression in the legs and have a crazy good stretch in the belly. SO comfortable. I basically just lived in the 2 pair that I have. Now they have tons of cute colors!
for literally everything else maternity. Pro tip: get on their mailing list and you'll receive discounts ALL the time. Never pay full price for anything!
Pregnancy Apps and a Youtube channel to start following in the first trimester
It was almost a celebration each week of my pregnancy I would hop on the Ovia app to see what food the baby resembled… which was always confusing to me and I couldn't eat that food that week haha! I loved seeing what baby was doing in there and what they were growing!
Channel Mum:
THIS WAS THE BEEEEEEST! Channel Mum has a video for each week of your pregnancy and they show other people's bumps, they also tell you what baby is doing in there, and about how we're feeling. I LOVED watching this!
xo Shayla
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