Any tips for a first-timer?

[Bumpless]

Hi ladies, age 42 and every sort of medical intervention, I'm now 5 wks and realising that while I know loads about TTC, I know next to nothing about actually being pregnant! Have been very actively taking supplements, listening to visualisation CDs etc for years while TTC and feel like I'm supposed to do stuff to support this baby now it's finally shown up. But what??? Hoping you can give me some tips about what to do next, and things you wish someone had told you at the start!

... after every sort of medical intervention...

Congratulations Bumpless (you will have to change your name soon!).
You just need to chill out and take care of yourself and your body will do the rest.
Good luck to you, and try to relax and enjoy!
x

I think that pretty much all the things you need to do while pregnant are to look after you. keep yourself well, and baby will be well. so...

rest when you can. You might feel exhausted or your might feel fine. Either way, catching a nap when you can will do you the world of good. And sit down when you can, especially as you grow.

Try to excercise gently throughout your pregnancy, as much as you can, ie if you can only do a small amount, that is fine, but do it. I found i often felt terrible, tired, sick and generally yucky but some fresh air and a stroll or a quick swim did me the world of good, and it helps to prepare for childbirth.

Drink lots of water, as much as you can in the day. This eases any morning sickness (might not stop it but helps a little) and helps with tiredness, reduces swelling (other than a nice bump!) also reduces impact of any stretch marks you might get as it keeps skin supple.

Eat as well as you can, sickness allowing. If you are suffering from MS, take supplements, and iron sachets are good (spatone or similar do not give you constipation). Eat small and often if you need to. Eat whatever you might crave.

Smile lots, laugh lots, be happy lots as this increases seratonin which is great for baby.

Make sure you can rest at work, take all the help you are offered.

Congratulations and good luck x

Water, exercise, iron for MS, small frequent meals, grab cat naps, be happy - this is a great to-do list!

Thanks for the help girls

Do you recommend any pregnancy visualisation CDs or anything, or is that just overkill?

Hi there Bumpless I'm 43 and expecting dc3 in July.At 5 weeks I hadn't really concluded I was pg (dc2 is nearly 4 and we'd sort of been trying for a while and sort assumed that that was it) but at about 6 weeks I suddenly felt really pg - things like cooking a meal then deciding it was disgusting and cooking something else a bit wierd and getting very very sleepy. Until week 12 or so you could feel pretty yuk, water(warm) worked for me too a bit and eating something mid afternoon.

Be happy- loving that one, I need to do it more, I have been a raging grumpy moo

I think the list above about covers it- rest is top of mine, as it seems to make everything worse if you get tired- the nausea especially and now at the end, the braxton-hicks.

I never did the visualisation CDs, I hate the thought that you feel your baby needs special thoughts for it to grow and be healthy and happy, in case being a miserable cow has the opposite effect! If you like the idea and it makes you feel happy however, then of course go ahead. The beginning few weeks without a bump or feeling the baby move is strange, I remember feeling as if there wasn't really anything there, I was just making it up! But further along, you can sit on the sofa feeling the tiny wriggles and grinning madly to yourself; this is when you really start to feel connected to the baby and that it's real. Enjoy

you can do pg visualisation cd's if you want to. I did the lot with dd, crystals on belly to promote strength and health, mozart/classical music, the lot. And with Ds who is now 16wks i did nothing of the sort as I was only just managing to function due to hyperemesis (severe sickness throughout whole pg). Both children were/are gorgeous and i bonded with both of them immediately. But, as this is your first, and as you have gone through so much for this pregnancy, it would probably be lovely to do those things and help you connect with your baby early on.

I found myself absentmindly rubbing my belly and talking to my bump quite early on with both babies though. I guess people thought i was a bit mad!

Congratulations OP!

Just avoid stress, caffeiene + dangerous sports I guess? lol

Being on mumsnet is a great start, there's so much support here, and real honest gritty advice on parenting.
I think you'll be fine.
*When you feel yourself about the burst into tears over something ridiculous like being late/getting lost/missing a bus/not being able to find the damn lentils on your 5th walk around ASDA superstore, etc..
Sit down and take a break
You're not cracking up when you get over emotional/angry, you're just pregnant and fragile

fatSeal i was a horrid unhappy miserable cow for this second pregnancy. I tried really hard to be happy, but i felt so awful for most if it and near the end, i worried that my bad moods would have a negative affect on DS. He is the happiest most chilled out little boy in the world. He is calm, smiles and laughs so much, so don't worry about being moody.

Being happy is great, if you can be of course, but not the be all and end all. honestly!

Congratulations, Bumpless.

I second all the advice to think most about looking after yourself, and I like PavlovtheCat's program of activities. I was a giant bag of worry in my 1st trimester, and tried very hard to find something I could actively 'do' to make sure all went well with my pregnancy. Then I realised that beyond being basically healthy and avoiding doing anything really daft, there was really very little that would make any difference. The best I could do was try not to worry, and find a bit of 'acceptance.' Much easier said than done, of course.

That said, I found walking meditations were great. I like meditation in general, but the very gentle exercise, fresh air, and focus on the 'outside' walking meditations gave me really helped me feel calmer and more positive. And this is a lovely time of year for to get outside (well, if it's not raining).

Good luck!

Will be watching this thread with interest.

Love the acceptance advice.

Bumpless - I'm 41 and 12 weeks pregnant with my first. So a kindred spirit!

Early on I would agree with everything everyone's said about looking after yourself. I have found the first trimester miserable with both pregnancies due to sickness and worrying!

Do what you can to feel well! I took pregnacare with my first because I couldn't keep anything down. This time I didn't because I wasn't as bad.

Later on I would thoroughly recommend antenatal yoga, you usually can't start until 16 weeks but something to think about and book in advance, as they can be booked quickly. It's a great way to relax meet people and in the class I took the teacher asked for specific aches and pains and tailored the class to the women present. I went to birthlight classes and have booked again to start at 22 weeks

Hi there Bumpless I see you have graduated from the TTC thread - congratulations!
I am currently 10 weeks having 2nd scan tomorrow. Still doesn't feel real to me although i have got a slight bump already!
I know what you mean about being an expert in TTC and then being totally clueless when you get the BFP.
FWIW I think I have been quite lucky up to now, no sickness just feeling dog tired but feel like i shouldnt complain as i know i could be feeling a hell of a lot worse!
Had my booking in appointment with midwife on Sunday so it does feel a bit more real now I have my notes and a load of pregnancy books to read.
Hopefully after all the angst actually getting PG we will both have relativeley smooth problem free pregnancies! Well we can wish cant we.
Good luck and congratulations again

Congratulations! You must be thrilled that you are pregnant.

I would say, just enjoy being pregnant now that you finally are. Be healthy and sensible and enjoy this time.

I read everything about conception and have read loads about pregnancy, it's the caring for the baby bit that is going to leave me stumped.

I have no idea how to put on a nappy, breastfeed, wash, or even hold a baby! Can't remember the last time I held a baby!

It is going to be trial by fire. Actually I know it will be fine and there is no use worrying about it.