Lady, you are about to get more unsolicited advice than you know what to do with. You are in for an interesting journey and life will never be the same again. I am writing you this as a simple tip sheet of things I learned and wished I had known when I first got pregnant, take it as you will. All pregnancies are very different so take it with a grain of salt but I am just hoping this will help calm any nerves you might have. I love you lady, you've got this, it's gonna be great!
First Trimester:
Its time to quit drinking, smoking, eating sushi and cold lunch meat. Also time to avoid hot baths, warm are fine.
Carry food like you are a squirrel, don't let your self get hungry. Hungry pregnant lady means pukey pregnant lady, and that's no fun. HOWEVER! try to avoid salty snacks because even in the beginning you will notice bloating and swelling from salt.
Water is your friend. If you start getting dehydrated your body will tell you in some really crappy ways. Discomfort, bloating, cramps. So go to Target and buy a super cute LARGE water bottle to carry around and drink till you pee like a pregnant woman. If you hate water try cutting juice with water and do the same thing. The straight juice would give me pretty bad heartburn so keep an eye on what it does to you.
At this point you might be starting to get some cravings, I really wanted vanilla milkshakes and that was pretty much it, indulge and have fun but keep an eye on salt and sugar intake. Sugar made me feel sick and salt gave me painful swelling. Don't forget the gestational diabetes test will be happening later on. Also don't be afraid when food starts tasting different. I was a hot food junkie, now I can't deal with it, everything is extra spicy.
Nausea: If you are actually puking with the morning sickness invest in either Pedialyte or Gatorade. You are going to lose electrolytes and hydration and your body will let you know, and it sucks. So to avoid leg cramps and whatnot get those ( and some bananas, but watch those they might cause constipation, but also might help heart burn) My doctor told me to make Gatorade ice pops in the freezer to help with nausea (cold) and dehydration. You might really want those as it gets warmer. The majority of my morning sickness was brought on by over stimulation and the vitamins, you will be able to start knowing its coming before it does.If the vitamins make you sick ask your doctor but mine said you can switch to flinstone chewables, and I know a lot of girls get the gummy prenatals.( its apparently the high iron that causes nausea so pick based on that) Cool air always helped me as well as just finding a cool calm place. When in public a bathroom generally works so you can go hide there if need be.
I personally didn't get a lot of smell sensitivity but I have heard stories of girls who couldn't even stand their own perfume, so just be aware.
Pain: When I was in the first 2 months I cramped just like I was getting my period, almost the whole time. The baby is growing pretty rapidly and stretching out your insides so don't be alarmed unless you are bleeding as well, then call the office and they will gauge it and decide if you need to come in. There is a thing called "Round ligament pain", it suuuucks! you will deal with it the whole time, but if you are careful to stand up slow you can mostly avoid it. It's essentially the muscle from your crotch to your womb and its working overtime so you have to stand up slow to avoid freaking it out and getting essentially a tummy charlie horse.
At this point I was also getting the belly pains from walking too much, so grab a belly band and see if that helps if you are getting the same but keep an eye on if the band is making your morning sickness worse. ( and get comfy shoes!)
...poop: I had very little issues. Some girls however can't poop for a month if they look at a bottle of prenatals. There are lots of powders and supplements you can take to help with this. Ask your doctor and you might want to take them religiously starting now to avoid massive hemorrhoids and discomfort down the road. You can also just try to eat a lot of fiber rich foods to avoid synthetic intake if you wanna be super healthy right now. Also, you will have a massive poop at some point. You will not hurt the baby when you push. You however might bleed a little bit afterwards. As long as its only a little bit and doesn't continue you will be fine, no need for alarm or embarrassing calls to the nurses. If you start getting hemorrhoids now I hear tucks pads and/or witch hazel is the way to go.
At this point in the pregnancy I thought I was getting a cold for like 2 weeks, turns out extra mucus, like extra blood, is a thing. Also, be prepared for blood in your nose. Ask your doctor about what allergy pills you can take if this happens, it helped a lot for me. Also invest in a netti pot for colds because you can really only take a handful of medications.
One more thing, if nauseous or your heart is all super poundy and racing try laying on your left side, it removes pressure from one of the arteries that kind of causes that stuff.
TODO:
Buy Water Bottle and soft shoes
Call insurance, tell them you are pregnant so they are prepared and ask them how to receive breast pump
Start baby registry ( I loved the check list via Babiesrus but ultimately got better deals via Target)
Buy Baby Book ( but really only one, they are all pretty similar)
Stay active, take walks, but also submit to naps, you need them.
Sign up for WIC and any other assistance, every dime helps.
Second Trimester:
A lot of the same, some less nausea, some more energy.
... in theory.
This is when my heartburn started, avoid food right before getting horizontal and don't let yourself get hungry. Ask your doctor what he recommends, apparently we are restricted on tums and other medications but my doctor put me on Zantac and I love it. ( you can also get like 100 pills for like 10 dollars at Sam's Club) Also mom gave me Gaviscon which has magnesium in it which will help with poopy issues AND heartburn, you might want it...
Your bump will start to show, after about 16 weeks you might feel the baby kick, I didn't feel till almost 22 I think, so don't fret.
You find out the sex now! You will love either one but don't beat yourself up if you are secretly disappointed. I was, then I came to my senses and I couldn't be happier right now.
This is the fun time, buy new clothes, buy onesies, pick names, get excited!
I learned people love to tell you EXACTLY what they think of the names so save for the select few you will use as a sounding board I personally suggest not telling too many people your ideas until you can say Baby F will in fact be named "SOMETHING" it keeps the drama down because at this point you may or may not be crying all the time but if you are anything like me you WILL be in bitch mode all the time.
TODO:
Throw baby shower
Tell work, find out maternity policy
Make one of those cute announcement photos off pinterest for facebook
Make sure you are taking one picture a week to watch your bump grow. ( I use the babybump app to track mine)
Get Glucose test :6
Get awesome ultrasound pics during the anatomy scan
Sign up for birthing classes
Giggle at K's sympathy symptoms.
Buy maternity wear
Third Trimester:
Now that you can't bend too well you will want to start cleaning things. In my experience the less I am capable of doing something the more I want to do it.
Nausea might return, you might also get Braxton Hicks ( practice contractions) I am at 36 weeks and haven't had any to my knowledge but some girls get them super early too. Swelling gets really bad towards the end, luckily it will be nice and crisp outside for you which will help. Elevation, ice packs, and cool towels have helped for me. I get so swollen when I eat loads of salt my joints and belly get achy so be careful what you are eating.
Sleeping at this point gets really lame, your hips hurt, you are supposed to sleep on your left side but all you want is to sleep in any other position. Some girls swear by a snoogle, some say they are useless and take up too much space. I have a body pillow for my legs ( a normal pillow would have been just as good) and I have a little throw pillow to prop my tummy up a little. I had restless legs through a lot of the pregnancy, watch your iron, potassium and hydration to help with that.
TODO:
REST!
Set up the nursery
Nest
Take the birthing classes
Call about the car seat ( health department?)
Drive K up the wall with the 3 am need for ice cream.
Drive K up the wall with the 3 am need for ice cream.
Definitely start really trying to avoid salt now.
I am only at 36 weeks so I will let you read the rest yourself or learn in class since I have no experience to share for the end.
One thing I will tell you though is the birthing class has made me far less afraid of the pain and made me feel very empowered, and I think that I am woman hear me roar helps get over the "oh shit, baby has to come out of where?!"
The two of you are going to be amazing, Enjoy these last few months alone, be adorable and romantic, pick your battles (with everyone, Trust me, I wanted to tear into everyone ), relax and pamper as much as you can, eat well, and be happy.
Good luck little Mama!
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