previous entry - next entry

Tuesday 3 April 2007
about the first trimester

i will be 10 weeks along on thursday - double digits, can you believe that!? i still find it amazing that i'm actually pregnant, i guess it's because i haven't had an ultrasound yet (first one in about 2 weeks time) so i haven't see what's going on inside me.

i wanted to keep this blog updated as much as possible without going crazy with it. there are SO MANY things i could post every hour or every minute regarding what's going on with me, but you really don't need to know how much my boobs hurt, do you? (they hurt alot actually). i will post, however, about morning sickness and the first trimester so far.

there's not much 'yucky' private lady stuff, so you don't need to avert your eyes next time you see me. promise. i just think there should be a pamphlet given to all newly pregnant women that tells you what to expect apart from missing your period and feeling sick.

this is what i know so far -

* 'morning' sickness was probably named by a man who thinks a cup of tea and a cold compress will fix anything. for most women with it, it's an all day sickness that can get worse/better at any time of the day without warning.

* you probably think that you'll puke your guts out and that'll be it - but it's a vast range of things, and different for all women. all day nausea seems to be very common.

* you could start morning sickness from as early as 4 weeks along (like i did) or you can start a bit later. you might not even get it at all. all normal.

continues on here

* it is WAY better to go with what your body is telling you to eat, than to force yourself to eat what you usually do or 'should be eating'. my first trimester is so far sponsored by popcorn, nutella, cadbury and freedom foods, but this can change daily and weekly. your baby will get the nutrients from whatever you eat and from your prenatal vitamins, you can worry about eating better when you feel better in the 2nd trimester.

* always keep your stomach half to three quarters full. overeating makes me feel like ralphing. under eating makes me ravenous. i have a bag full of snack food which i call my 'feed bag'. yes i've turned into a pigeon lady.

* drink lots of water. you're probably really thirsty anyway, but water will help the nausea. you're supposed to have up to 2 litres a day. i've been eating hydralyte iceblocks too. if you can't keep things down, then tell your dr asap.

* ginger tea is good, great even. helps with the nausea. tastes like tangy poop.

* vitamin b6 has worked for me and my dry retching and nausea. i still feel crap, but i could be alot worse.

* at my worst points, nux vomica (a homeopathic treatment) has helped my dry retching and nausea by great lengths. i don't rely on it though, and haven't taken it in 2 weeks, yay!

* seasickness bands work, but are not for everyone.

* sleep and rest do wonders. i may resemble a bear in hibernation, but at least i'm rested. growing a baby is HARD work dude. don't overwork yourself. the 'tiredness' is more like total body exhaustion. you're going to feel like a zombie with pms, and you're going to have to go with it for a little while.

* don't overheat yourself either. stay cool (temperature wise, and emotion wise). it's apparently not good in the first trimester to be over heated, and no one likes to sweat into their feed bag.

* heart palpitations are normal (though have it checked out if you're freaked). it's because of the extra blood that needs to be pumped around your body now. i felt like i was having a heart attack when i first had mine (at about 7 weeks) AND i was driving at the time.

* feeling 'warm' or 'hot' is normal too. it's the hormones and/or the blood pumping around.

* your bladder will turn pro in the pee olympics.

* to pass the time, i don't obsess over what day i'm up to - i celebrate each weekly milestone and look forward to that instead. i also don't try to obsess on how sick i'm feeling that day. i'm likely to feel the same every day anyway, there's no real update. i'll let you know when i'm up for tap classes, or running a marathon (which is likely never btw).

* stomach cramps, period cramps, stretchy cramps - any kind of lower belly/uterus ache is normal. if you're worried, get a check up.

* slight bleeding can be normal too. best to get a check up if you're worried though.

* with doctor's advice, you can continue exercising, but can't start anything new that you haven't tried before or lately. i'm just going all the way with it - not doing anything at all. i'm way too blahh for anything.

* you can't have a full body massage or a back massage or a stomach massage in the first trimester.

* stay away from fish like tuna and marlin. anything big with alot of mercury. salmon is OK, in fact you need to keep up the fatty acids and omega 3.

* stay way from soft cheeses like brie and camembert - you can have pasteurised cheese though.

* if you were lactose intolerant before, you might NOT be lactose intolerant while pregnant.

* crazy scary nightmares are common - i've had many vivid nightmares that's scared the bejesus out of me when i've woken up the next morning. it's just the hormones. (and the hormones say BOO!)

* avoid panadiene and other pain killers for as long as humanly possible. i'm very used to taking at least a few a month for cramps, migraines and other things, but i've gone cold turkey and will continue with it for the entire pregnancy unless advised.

* BOOBS. you will get BOOBS. even ME, the flattest woman in Australia has BOOBS now. it's like a candy land. i actually have to go bra shopping soon. omg. they might still be an A cup, but dammit it's still a whole full cup with no chicken fillets. the joy!

* boob pain is not a candy land. nipple pain is not the gingerbread house you think it sounds like. a loose fitting singlet is your friend - everything else feels like a bondage device, which can be fun, but not right now.

* you need to start exercising your hooha NOW.

* your underpants, pants and skirts will all get smaller.... or you get bigger. i haven't figured it out yet. lol. j/k. you might start thickening up at 5 weeks (like I did) or it could be a little later on. the baby is too small at this point though so it's not likely to be baby 'fat'. you could feel like the michelin man, but you haven't gained an ounce, too.

* it's probably best to be more of a lurker, than a poster on your regular messageboards while you're temporarily amped up with hormones. i've had to step right back from lots of posts i could of made, because it was just too crazy to submit. e.g. i swear my dog patted the baby! wha?? no she didn't.

* find your most comfortable pants and stay in them for at least 12 weeks.

* spell check is your new friend. and re-reading everything. and re-thinking everything before you say it.

* the first trimester is probably not going to be your favourite trimester, only because you feel so sick and might not get an ultrasound until the second trimester. so it just feels like the flu or a 3 month hangover.

there are so many more things people can tell you about their experiences, but those where mine. i've become very zen about it all now, once i got into a comfortable routine i saw no reason to panic. all of this is happening for a reason and i need to let it ride out. between the 'down' days, i've tried to enjoy the good days ten fold.

so i'll continue on with my 10th week and look forward to the 11th one.
xx