Many mothers will agree that the first trimester is usually the hardest. During this time, you might experience symptoms such as tender or swollen breasts, fatigue, food aversions, heartburn, constipation, nausea, and more. Even women that have had children before find the first trimester to be difficult, so if you’re a first-time mom, just know that you’re not alone.
If you aren’t sure when the first trimester is, it starts on the first day after your last period and goes all the way to the end of week 12. More simply put, the first trimester is exactly three months.
If you’re struggling to get through your first trimester, here are a few tips to help you survive the first trimester of pregnancy.
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1. Get a Comfortable Bra
Surviving the first trimester of pregnancy can prove to be quite difficult at times. Common symptoms women experience include morning sickness, fatigue, and making frequent trips to the bathroom.
The most common of them, however, is developing tender or swollen breast. At this stage in your pregnancy, you may not be ready for a pregnancy bra. However, you will surely benefit from wearing a comfortable sports bra, or bras that do not include an underwire.
2. Eat Healthy
Your diet can play a part in your overall feelings of well-being during the first trimester. What you eat is not only important for your health but also the health of your baby.
Stay away from uncooked seafood and rare beef to avoid the risk of salmonella. You may also want to stay away from deli meats since they are known to be contaminated with listeria. If you must drink milk, make sure that it’s pasteurized to ensure it’s free of any pathogens.
On top of that, make sure you’re eating plenty of fruits and vegetables as they contain many of the important nutrients you need for pregnancy.
3. Stay Hydrated
Drinking plenty of water is good for the health of mommy and baby. If you find yourself getting bored with drinking water, you can jazz it up with lemon, oranges, or cucumber. I love infusing my water using my fruit infuser water bottle.
Other beverages you can drink aside from water are green smoothies and herbal tea. Before drinking herbal tea, make sure you consult your doctor to ensure it’s safe for the baby.
4. Get Lots of Rest
Having a life growing inside of you is not easy. Most pregnant mothers will admit that exhaustion is one of the first symptoms that they feel during the first trimester. It’s completely normal to feel tired and sleepy during your pregnancy.
In order to give yourself the best chance at getting tasks done throughout the day, you need to make sure that you get as much sleep as possible. Go to bed early and get at least 8 hours of sleep.
5. Stay Fit
When you’re pregnant, exercising may be the furthest thing from your mind. If you find yourself not wanting to exercise, I recommend coming up with a simple routine that will help you stay in shape. You can set aside time to do some pregnancy yoga or go for a short walk.
Overall, exercise is safe during pregnancy; however, I always recommend consulting your doctor before starting a new exercise routine.
6. Don’t Stress Yourself
Often, women worry about their weight during the first trimester. They fear that losing weight may mean that they are not feeding their baby enough. Weight loss typically isn’t something you should worry about. In fact, losing weight in the first trimester is pretty normal, especially for women who have a case of morning sickness.
As long as you’re eating well and not skipping any meals, don’t worry too much about whether you gain weight or not.
Additionally, because stress isn’t good for you or your baby, try your best to keep your stress down in all areas of your life.
Getting through the first trimester can be difficult. However, once you get through this stage, moms often find the rest of the pregnancy to be pretty easy.