What advice do you wish you were given in your first trimester

[Oatmilktea]

I found out that I’m 4 weeks pregnant yesterday. I’m wondering what advice you wish you had/you would give someone in their first trimester?

This is all totally new to me!

The only thing I have done is started taking a pregnancy multivitamin

My midwife told me to sleep more if I needed to and eat whatever I could face eating (I had bad morning sickness) - whether that was chips, ice cream, whatever! It definitely was good advice

With your first pregnancy I would say sleep as much as you can while you can! It gets harder as your bump grows and even harder when baby arrives so make the most of it now. Also early pregnancy is quite tiring (for me I felt quite run down until about 12 weeks) so sleep and vitamins are good. Also keep exercising as much as you can- walking, swimming etc.

Yes I second sleep. Sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, SLEEP. Even if you are not tired just lie down at any given moment and relax.

That if you feel fine, that’s totally normal too!

I was so worried that I had no morning sickness, but it doesn’t happen to everyone.

Thanks everyone. Seems pretty unanimous that I should get as much sleep in as possible!

I don’t have any appetite at all, no sickness though. I’m wondering if this is normal

Don't compare your pregnancy symptoms to others! I practically consumed myself with the fact I didn't feel sick ect when others did! Everyone has a different experience and don't worry if you are/aren't feeling something someone else is. I was like you, had no appetite but didn't feel sick! Felt like I was such an odd one out but it's actually really common

Also, feel the emotions! I tried so hard sometimes to not cry ect when I felt like it purely for the reason I had no explanation for why I was crying! That is absolutely okay and no one deserves or needs a reason from you!

I had 2 healthy pregnancies without even the tiniest bit of sickness or heartburn. It happens.

My advice would be weight gain can be in spurts rather than a steady 'set' trajectory so just go with it. By week ten I'd gained a stone and remember thinking wow if it carries on at this rate I'll be so big by the end but honestly it just slowed down naturally for a while after that. Listen to your body and eat when you're hungry.

Also @Oatmilktea this isn't so much related to the pregnancy itself but just try to have as much quality time with your partner as possible. As exciting as becoming a 3 is just soak up being a family of 2 for a few more months

Don't wish for symptoms as I did at 4 weeks and a week later morning sickness hit and I threw up regularly until 32 weeks!

Eat what you crave, when you can.

But also prunes, or lactulose, because constipation can be harsh!

Really good advice, thanks! So far my only symptom has been sore breasts, might that calm down soon?

@Sellingbedtime ill definitely prioritise time with my DP (and our dog!) I can imagine it’s easy to get caught up in thinking about the future etc so I’ll be mindful to enjoy the here and now with DP.

I’m going to keep up exercise, I’ve recently been going to HIIT classes. I’ll modify the exercises where necessary though.

That’s good to know about weight gain @bakewellbride

PUT DOWN THE PASTRY That's all I wish someone said 😅

Assume all is well until proved otherwise.

I'm 8 weeks and 2 days today and it totally threw me how tired and achey I felt from about 5 weeks and getting up in the night to pee.

I am on extra meds as it's an IVF pregnancy but come 3pm I feel like my energy is gone, try not to beat yourself up about having rest evenings or days. Listen to your body.

As others have said, everyone is different but small changes I've felt helpful so is to have a notepad and whatever I think write it down so it's out my brain, some nights I'm awake for hours feeling overwhelmed with everything there is to do.

If you have no appetite but aren't struggling with sickness then take this chance to get as much fruit/Vegs and healthy food in as you can, for the last 2 weeks all I've really struggled to cook/eat veg and even deal with certain textures. Looking at chocolate and cake turns my stomach 😂 never has this happened in my life!

I have had to change my meals around to smaller meals but my evening meal is usually very plain like toast or Porridge, this is because I started having terrible bloating and gas that would keep me awake for hours. Realised I was not moving round much after tea before bed so that made it worse when it was a full on meal. I do some stretches before bed to try reduce that and someone recommended foxes glacier mints to help reduce bloating too.

Be as relaxed and laid back as you can about everything. It'll all work out.

Do your pelvic floor exercises.
Do appropriate exercise for core and general strength.

Have a full body massage while you can still lie on your front and back. In fact generally appreciate lying on your front and back.

Check what you need to do at work to maximise your earnings in the eligible period (and when that is).

Don't borrow worry.

You might be very lucky and experience few symptoms buts if you do get hit by nausea and vomiting, lack of energy, depression etc don’t feel bad about it or that you’re weaker or less resilient than any other woman . You busy might struggle with one stage of pregnancy or birth that another woman breezes through and vice versa, it’s all luck. Listen to your body, take time to rest, go off sick if you need to etc. Treat yourself with kindness and listen to your body throughout pregnancy and parenthood.

Congratulations!!

I agree with all the advice.

Just to add make sure your multivitamin has folate rather than folic acid.
Many people have a mutation that stops them being able to process folic acid (you need to turn it into folate ready for your body to use) Whereas folate is ready to use and is really important at beginning of pregnancy.

I really agree get lots of sleep.

Ask for medication ASAP if sickness gets too much

If you are poorly it's better to tell people what's going on and get support rather than disappear and isolate yourself so that you can 'surprise them' at 12 weeks

Congratulations:)

I've got a 12 week old and this is what I would advise:

• don't push yourself at all, you are pregnant and need to look after yourself!
• take vitamins and just eat what you can stomach in early weeks.
• if you get the awful taste in your mouth, I drank camomile tea and ate extra strong sugar free mints. And it went at about week 14.
• pelvic floor exercises, do them a LOT.
• core strength exercises whilst you can, just to make 3rd trimester and birth a bit easier.
• read and watch videos on breastfeeding loads of that's what you want to do. It's quite tricky to get right. Get some details of local BFing groups and private lactation consultants now. Maybe even see one in 3rd trimester to discuss it.

Hope you have a great next 8months!

Keep yourself safe from infection. There's a lot of COVID going around and it's not good news in pregnancy, and flu normally surges in December. Wear an N95 in crowded spaces and hospital appointments, make sure your office is well ventilated, lobby work to invest in air purifiers (or ask your union - indoor air quality is an important aspect of health and safety). Don't hesitate to ask sick people to reschedule meeting up - your health and baby's is number one.

Get your flu shot and COVID booster.

If you can keep staying active then do, but equally you might end up mainly horizontal for the first trimester.

I found Expecting Better by Emily Oster quite a useful read in my first pregnancy.

Also multivitamins (especially the iron) may make your morning sickness worse (and morning sickness is more of a whole day thing than morning thing for most people).
My Dr recommended focusing on folic acid for 12 weeks then bringing in multivitamins, iron, when you feel better.

Enjoy time as couple. Do things like cinema, theatre, non-child friendly restaurants and weekends away while you can without a baby in tow.

I heard about the usual tricks to combat nausea, such as ginger, mint, eating light and frequent meals and it helped a bit. Towards the end of my first trimester I also heard that probiotics are proven effective against nausea, I tried it and was surprised it really worked! It was not a miracle cure, and it might not work on everyone, but I wish I had known it a bit before. Probiotics are also helpful against constipation later on.

Sleep as much as you can!
Don't have a hot bath. (Warm is fine)
Eat what you want (except the food that is harmful whilst pregnant).
Relax and take it easy.
Pelvic floor exercises if you can.
Try to get in the routine of being active, even just a quick walk.
Up your water intake by 1 litre. (I had squash very often instead).

Some great advice! Thank you.

I’m usually a really good sleeper but for the past few nights I’ve only managed about 5 or 6 hours sleep which is so frustrating!