Now that we have finally announced our pregnancy with baby #3 (yay!), I can start blogging about all things pregnancy! I have had so many ideas and things I want to share with you girls. This definitely isn’t my first rodeo and I have learned so much being pregnant three times now, with all three pregnancies being so different from each other. Crazy how that works, right?! Well, to start off my pregnancy blogging series I thought I would tackle the dreaded first trimester. Unfortunately I had a really rough time with my last two pregnancies and being extremely sick during the first 15 weeks or so. I’m talking about getting sick up to ten times per day and not being able to leave my bed. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel and I am feeling so much better now! If any of you are stuck in the dreaded first trimester and looking for some relief, here is a first trimester survival guide and a few things that worked for me!
First Trimester Survival Guide
Loungewear – Let’s face it, you’re not feeling great and the last thing you want to do is put on some jeans or tight leggings. I was literally wandering around my house in the ugliest sweats I own because I didn’t want anything too tight around my upset stomach. But that didn’t make me feel great either. I ended up purchasing two pairs of super cute lounge pants with stretchy waist bands and now I alternate the two almost every day, ha! They will easily last me the whole 9 months.
Elevate – When laying flat in bed, it is easier for stomach acids to move up and initiate the feeling you are about to be sick. I stacked two pillows and slept with my head and chest elevated. The first night was a little uncomfortable, but you get used to it quickly and it made a huge difference in feeling less nauseous.
Prenatal Vitamins – Choose your vitamins wisely! The first bottle I bought from Costco smelled so bad of fish oil, I literally could not get them down. I tried a few other ones like these Olly vitamins (smell like peppermint) and these gummy vitamins. But these Olly gummy vitamins were by far the best! Also experiment with taking your vitamins at different times of the day. The morning and night was when I felt most nauseous, so I would take them with lunch.
Pregnancy Pillows – Game changer! This is my third pregnancy yet the first time I have used one of these. It makes sleeping SO much better, especially as your belly grows and it’s hard to get comfortable. My sister gifted me this pregnancy pillow!
Morning Snacks – Always eat something right when you wake up, BEFORE you get out of bed. I found that if I didn’t do this, I would be running strait to the bathroom to get sick when I stood up. Keep some crackers or something in your nightstand.
Sour Snacks – I may have only been craving bread and carbs in the first trimester, but sour snacks really helped with the nausea! I ate a green apple almost every day and preggie pops were great to suck on.
Constipation – I can’t believe I am putting this on the internet, but it’s a real struggle! Your digestive track moves much slower when you are pregnant, so other things slow down too… If you are feeling super bloated and backed up, try some milk of magnesia. It will definitely do the trick and my doctor said it’s totally safe while pregnant.
Walks – This was literally the last thing I wanted to do when I felt so sick and run down. But one short walk outside made me feel sooo much better for the rest of the day. I am not sure if it’s the fitness or the fresh air, but I noticed a significant difference on the days I (slowly) walked around my neighborhood.
Over The Counter Medicine – I have taken B6 and Unisom with my second two pregnancies. Both should be available at your local drug store. Unisom is actually a sleep medication, but the after effects of it really help to prevent nausea. I took both of them right before bed every night, 25mg of each. (note: please talk to your doctor about this before taking them)
Prescription Medicine – I’m dividing this up into two separate categories… Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor for help! I had to be on two different types of prescriptions this time to get rid of the nausea and be able to function and care for my other kids. There are options that are safe for the baby to help!
I hope all this first trimester survival guide was helpful to you! If you have anything that worked for you, please leave them below so we can all help each other out. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and it will be so worth it when your baby arrives. And don’t forget to give yourself grace.. you are growing a human!