5 Tips to Boost Your First Trimester
I wish I could say I thoroughly enjoyed my first trimester, but that would be a bold faced lie … and I simply can’t do that to you all. To be honest, those first three months, more often then not, I sat there thinking “how in the world do people have a second” ?! I was convinced I was not having anymore kids after this one. Now hold on, don’t freak out here, let me finish. I’m into my third trimester now and it’s true what they say, it does get way better. Second trimester is a dream, well relative to your situation… but you ALMOST forget the hell you went through in the first trimester. My symptoms included:
Exhaustion - HELLO AFTERNOON NAPS
Nausea - THE WORST
Bloating - I literally looked 5 months pregnant and could not wear any of my old pants starting from week 8
I did not have any weird cravings, and I never threw up … which I can’t decide if I am glad was the case or not. I often wondered if getting something out would make me feel better for a moment or two. Instead, I just kept stuffing myself with food to try and suppress the discomfort I felt. Carbs, you did me good, real good.
Along this wonderful *cough cough* journey, I definitely picked up some things that helped get me through those tough three months. Naturally, I am here to share my tips to help boost your own experience in the first trimester!
1. Infused Water
For some reason my largest aversion while pregnant was water. Literally just plain water. I couldn’t stomach it, the thought of having to drink it made my throat close up instantly. On top of that, because I was also bloated I couldn’t drink anything with carbonation, so any sodas or sparkling water were a no-go.
After a week of struggles I finally landed on a solution. Infused water! I’m not talking about the kind you get from the store, but rather some good old fashioned self made infused water. I would pre-make jars for the day, and every few days I’d change up the flavouring to keep things interesting. It was super easy, and allowed me to hit my water intake for the day. I actually think I drank even more water than normal because of it. A few of my favourite flavour combos included:
lime and cucumber
lime and mint leaves (this tasted like a mojito and I couldn’t be happier drinking it)
lemon lime and orange
lime and strawberries
So if you’re like me, and can’t seem to enjoy the water your body so desperately needs … or even if you’re looking to spice things up because meals without a glass of wine are sad - throw in some slices of lime, plop in a few mint leaf stems (don’t be stingy), and let them sit in a big jar for ten minutes and bottoms up baby!
side note: ginger is extremely helpful for nausea symptoms, so if you need that extra kick, find a way to add fresh ginger into your daily routine. I would often boil some cut up ginger in a pot of water and drink that with some lemon and honey at night.
2. Fresh Air
This is a HUGE helper for nausea. There were so many days where all I wanted to do was succumb to my inhuman like state, hibernate inside and do absolutely NOTHING. All I wanted was to complain, be nauseous, and stubbornly believe there was no solution to my physical state. While that is allowed and okay, I’ll tell you … 5 minutes into my forced walk outside, I was so grateful to be out there. Mind you, it was -30 degrees Celsius most days in Russia. So if I’m saying I was happy to be out there and feeling some relief in those frigid temperatures … that is really saying something.
Not only is fresh air beneficial for nausea but it is a boost to your overall mental health. Your hormones and emotions are going to be going on a wild ride during these 9 months. I’m talking seeing a moon on the tv and wanting to cry. Some things are just unexplainable when you’re pregnant you know? Or maybe “I’m pregnant” is the perfect explanation. Either way, if you can find the time to do something for yourself, and refresh how you are feeling, get yourself outside and reap the benefits of fresh air.
3. Sour Candies
This falls right into my wheelhouse. I am a sucker for sour candy. Give me the option between sour or sweet, I’m choosing sour ANY day of the week. Sour keys, sour belts, sour patch kids, warheads, the list goes on. So I naturally stumbled onto this solution, which apparently ended up being a common but unexpected remedy for nausea.
I would never imagine that something sour would help curb nausea, but I’ve tested this theory countless times, and wouldn’t you know it - it does! They even make specific sour candy for pregnant women which are all natural, called Preggie Pop Drops. I have not personally tried these as I stuck to visiting the candy shop - cue 50 cent’s Candy Shop song - and perused all the delicious goods that my eyes fell on and craved that day.
A favourite to keep in my purse (fanny pack) are Ice Breakers Sours. They are portable, and just the right amount of sour. An easy alternative to the Preggie Pop Drops.
4. Nap
I am not a napper. Never have been. I find it interferes with my ability to sleep at night. I somehow always wake up hungry, grumpy and more tired. Side note: apparently the most beneficial naps are 30 minutes long. They shouldn’t be any longer as that is all the time your body needs to feel rejuvenated. If your nap goes longer, you are more likely to feel groggy and tired … EXCUSE ME?!!!
I truly do not understand this. I mean, I get the logic of it … and I’m sure if I could accomplish this properly I would understand this sorcery, but it takes me about 30 minutes just to fall asleep for my nap. At this point am I just supposed to call it quits, or does the 30 minutes start once I’ve fallen asleep? Please advise.
Despite not being a fan of napping, I’ve learned that while pregnant it is inevitable. If your body is telling you it is exhausted and could use some shut eye, that’s probably because IT IS and IT COULD. Your body is not only physically changing but there are so many hormonal changes that it NEEDS that extra time to sleep and recover. No, you are not weak, lazy or inferior for doing so. You’re a g*d damn warrior creating new life inside of you and need some more rest! Simple. As. That.
If you feel exhausted, go down for a nap. End. Of. Story.
5. Keep up your workouts
Now I know I JUST finished telling you to let your body rest because of all the extra work it’s doing, and by all means take your rest when you need it. But if you are someone who has regularly worked out pre-pregnancy, and you have been given the green light to continue from your doctor - then I highly recommend you try and get AT LEAST 30 minutes of exercise in each day. This can be as simple as a walk, yoga, pilates, or even your usual weight lifting, with some modifications of course.
The first 3 months are some of the most crucial in your pregnancy and there isn’t a reason to over exert yourself. But it also isn’t the 60’s anymore where we think we have to treat our pregnant bodies as if they are fine pieces of China. Our bodies are made to withstand a great deal, the most important thing is to understand your own limits and listen to what your body is telling you.
Despite not feeling like a functional human during those three months, I made sure I did some form of workout every day to start off my day. And funny enough, I always felt so good while working out. It kept the nausea at bay for the time being, and it prevented me from putting on weight too quickly with how much food I was eating - AKA inhaling.
Again this is all under the impression that you aren’t high risk and your doctor has given you the go ahead to workout.
It is truly an incredible time. Though it may feel like the longest three months of your life, and you may curse the fact that you ever decided to try and have kids, I promise you it does get better, and hopefully these tips will also make it easier for you. Congratulations all you beautiful and amazing mamas. You are doing life changing things every day and if you haven’t been told this yet today … you are incredible!
xx
Sash