Congratulations! You’re pregnant. Now what?
Here’s what you have to look forward to over the next 14 weeks of the first trimester:
Weeks 3-4
Many women, who have an idea at conception that they may be pregnant, take the test as early as possible. The earliest home test online detects hCG levels as early as 7-10 DPO. Go to www.early-pregancy-tests.com to learn more. At this stage, many Obstetricians won’t see you until at least 6 weeks. Don’t fret, this is the perfect time to use your energy to prepare for the tasks that you won’t want to do in the coming weeks. Avoiding anything strenuous, go ahead and clean and reorganize your closets. It will be the last thing on your mind when the first trimester hits full stream.
Weeks 4-6
For the unsuspected or for the ones who waited to test until the “first day of your missed period”, head to your nearest pharmacy and get a home pregnancy test. I find that the digital pregnancy tests are the most fun. Instead of the one line, two lines three lines…huh? You get a straight up “pregnant” or “not pregnant”. Oh, how I love technology on a stick. These two weeks will be filled with nervous excitement. There may not be many physical symptoms of pregnancy and you may question if you really are pregnant. You may feel a bit impatient for any symptoms to start. Go ahead and call your doctor to schedule an appointment. Your first trimester is well on its way!
Weeks 6-14
Yep, you’re pregnant alright. Weeks 6 through 14 is a long stretch in the first trimester. You are engulfed with nausea from day break to nightfall, you have a keen awareness of your breasts that you never had before, your bedtime is the same time as your 5 year old and those eight glasses of water they want you to drink? Yah, right. Not happening.
Listed below are the three most troublesome symptoms many women face the first trimester and remedies to soothe them.
1. Exhaustion
Plenty of rest has been prescribed to pregnant women for ages, especially the first trimester for baby’s swift development. Although getting rest on Monday night will not leave you refreshed all day Tuesday, but not getting the rest will certainly make you feel even more tired. Working moms should take frequent breaks for bathroom and snacks. Many moms are known to bring in their lunch and nap for the lunch hour. Take your prenatal vitamins and try to keep a low key exercise regiment. Ask your doctor about vitamin B-6 and what exercises are best for you. If you have a history of anemia, low iron may also contribute to fatigue. Consult your doctor on this issue and you may be prescribed iron tablets in additional to your prenatal vitamins.
2. Nausea and Vomiting
Eat small, frequent meals. Keep a snack pack consisting of travel crackers and small juice boxes in your car for nausea emergencies. Don’t continue eating after feeling full. Vitamin B-6 in combination with a ½ Unisom twice a day has helped many women with nausea and is suggested by some doctors. As with any medications or over the counter drugs, consult your doctor before taking these. Most women have a decrease in nausea after the first trimester and some never experience it the entire pregnancy.
3. Food aversions
Many foods that were once your all time favorites may become utterly undesirable. Not only the smell, but simply the thought of an unwanted dish will make you queasy. If you absolutely don’t want to eat a particular food, then don’t eat it! The distasteful thought of this meal will forever linger in your mind and will surely cause waves of nausea. Instead, find healthy, delicious foods that you enjoy eating and indulge in them regularly. Avoid greasy meals; they may bring the same effect. Stock up with fruit, vegetables, and lean meats. Your appetite will certainly increase after the first trimester. You’ll find that finger snacks such as grapes, nectarines, dry cereal or cut up veggies are surprisingly delicious and easy to digest.
Emotional support
A support system, whether it’s the father to be, your mom or best friend, these people are needed for mental and emotional support. You may need to communicate to them your desire to be pampered, soothed or listened to. This is not an easy time; don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are online communities where kinships are formed with women due at the same time as you. You may even find a due date buddy to share this adventure with week by week. iVillage, www.iVillage.com, has a great community board for expecting women. There is also www.babycenter.com and www.pregnancy.org.
Spoil yourself silly if there is not a support system available. You are carrying a precious life inside of you. Remember that even though the first trimester brings exhaustion and you’d prefer to sleep the whole trimester away, the baby inside you is being nourished and grows everyday in perfect health.
Hang in there Mommy!
