The 1st Trimester – The Struggle is Real

Congratulations you’re pregnant! This is exciting news, but now get ready. The Struggle Is Real, but Worth It!

The First Trimester
During the first trimester, your body undergoes many changes. Hormonal changes affect almost every organ system in your body and can trigger symptoms even in the very first weeks of pregnancy. Your period stopping can be the first sign that you are pregnant. Other changes may include:

• upset stomach, with or without vomiting (morning sickness)
• tender, swollen breasts; your nipples may also stick out
• extreme tiredness
• mood swings
• headaches
• frequent need to pee
• constipation (trouble having bowel movements)
• heartburn
• cravings or distaste for certain foods
• weight gain or loss

As your body changes, you may need to make adjustments to your daily routine, such as going to bed earlier or eating small meals more often.
Fortunately, most of these discomforts will go away as your pregnancy progresses. And some lucky women might not feel any discomfort at all! If you have been pregnant before, you may feel different this time around. Just as each woman is different, so is each pregnancy.

Morning Sickness Sucks!
Morning sickness can be nausea with or without vomiting. It is most common during the first trimester, sometimes beginning as early as two weeks after conception and continuing until 16 to 20 weeks for some women.

Tips:
• Drink lemon water in the morning and sniff lemons.
• Eat small, frequent meals; having an empty stomach can make
nausea worse.
• Eat cold meals, which can be better tolerated than hot ones.
• Eat protein-rich foods and add coconut oil to your meals.
• Keep a morning-sickness diary.
• Stay hydrated; drink ginger ale or ginger tea between meals.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Wear a seasickness wristband.
• Try reflexology or acupuncture treatments.
• Take your prenatal vitamins.

“I had hyperemesis when I was pregnant, which meant I threw up all day and night. I had not left my house in months. I was determined to go to Sportmart and buy my husband a golf bag for Christmas. As soon as I walked in the door, I had to fly to the bathroom to throw up. I went over by the golf bags and sat down on the floor and cried. A salesperson came over and asked me what was wrong. I looked at him with my mascara running and my face a sickly green color and said, ‘I am pregnant. Can’t you see the glow?’ He walked away slowly, LOL!”  —Sue R. Highland Park, Illinois

Food Aversions
When you’re pregnant, you may become more sensitive to certain odors, and your sense of taste may change. Some food smells will send you running to the bathroom.

Tips:
• Take a vitamin B6 supplement and prenatal vitamins daily.
• Dr. Oz recommends eating healthy foods such as an apple paired with low-fat string cheese or whole grain crackers and
natural peanut butter.

Foods to Avoid While Pregnant:
• raw meat
• deli meats
• fish high in mercury or exposed to industrial pollutants
• sushi or other raw seafood
• smoked seafood
• raw eggs
• soft cheese
• unpasteurized milk
• caffeine
• unwashed vegetables
• alcohol

Parent tip: “Because of my propensity to continually throw up, I started carrying a survival bag with me. It included a plastic bag,
a clean shirt, toothbrush and toothpaste, and crackers to help alleviate nausea.” —Pam C. Alsip, Illinois

When to Call the Doctor
If you’re having a hard time keeping anything down, then it’s time to see a doctor who can determine whether you need to be prescribed something for your nausea. Of course, you’ll want to check with your doctor before taking any medication, or if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• severe nausea or vomiting
• passing only a small amount of urine or dark-colored urine
• inability to keep down liquids
• dizziness or faintness when you stand up
• racing heart
• blood in your vomit