Beginnings are often hard, and the early stages of creating a new life can be particularly challenging. From morning sickness to fatigue and overwhelming emotions, we’ve got the ultimate tips for making that difficult first trimester a lot more manageable.
1. Have a support system on hand
The first few weeks of pregnancy will most likely take up a lot of your energy so it’s important to surround yourself with a good support system. Make sure you have family and friends nearby to lend support both physically and mentally when needed. This will be especially important when it comes to sharing experiences such as scan pictures, test results, and later on kick counts.
2. Be prepared for morning sickness
Although you may be one of the lucky few lucky to not have morning sickness (which sometimes occurs later on in the day rather than morning), having sickness alleviating remedies on hand is a good idea since it can strike at any time — especially in the first trimester. Sea bands, ginger sweets, aromatherapy, and in extreme cases, a visit to your doctor.
3. Drink plenty
It can be difficult to remember to stay hydrated, especially whilst trying to keep the morning sickness at bay. But it’s extremely important to drink enough water throughout your pregnancy as it’s responsible for forming amniotic fluid, building new tissues, and carrying nutrients.
4. Be aware of smells
A heightened sense of smell in early pregnancy is very common, and is due to a change in hormone levels. Leave windows open around the house and office to keep it fresh, and try to avoid offensive strong smells if possible. Also be aware that food you may have previously enjoyed such as broccoli and cauliflower give off a pungent odor which might leave you feeling uneasy.
5. Find ways of contacting your doctor out of office hours
During this vulnerable time, it would be a good idea to find a doctor that you trust and have a good relationship with. Always ask for ways of getting in touch out of office hours – although you most likely won’t need it, knowing someone is available after hours will put your mind at ease.
6. Prioritise sleep
In the first trimester your body is working extra hard to create life, and the surge of hormones is likely to make you feeling utterly drained and exhausted. Sleep and rest should be prioritised as much as possible to help you feel positive and focused. Whether it’s after work or in the middle of the day on weekends, make time to sleep.
7. Be kind to yourself
You may not feel up for doing much with morning sickness and the extreme fatigue looming over during those early weeks. Try not to feel guilty if plans have to be cancelled or moved around. It’s your time to look after yourself and your bump. Be kind to yourself.
8. Eat what your body tells you to eat
Dry plain foods can help with morning sickness. Cravings don’t usually start this early, but if you feel like eating something you wouldn’t normally, or feel put off by something you usually enjoy, listen to your body and consume whatever it’s telling you to eat (as long as it’s not harmful to you or the baby!).
9. Pregnancy apps
Early pregnancy is often a time when couples choose not to share their news just yet, so it can sometimes feel a little lonely. Having an app on hand allows you to be part of a community and keep up to date with what’s going on inside your bump.
10. Embrace and celebrate the good moments
In between the morning sickness and extreme fatigue will be moments of happiness and excitement. Embrace these moments and try to focus on the bigger picture. The good news is that it gets much easier in the second trimester and you’ll start to feel a lot more like yourself again.