Or in my case, I could title this ‘Sleeping through the first trimester but since sleeping was the easy part for me I’ll explain what the awake part of my first trimester was like and what I did to manage the sometimes pesky symptoms.
Until six weeks I didn’t have any early pregnancy symptoms. This shocked me since I thought that if you were going to be nauseous or sick you’d feel it right away. I didn’t know that commonly “right away” really meant not until about 6 weeks (but everyone is different). I immediately was worried because I assumed not being sick meant that there was something wrong with my pregnancy or my baby but later discovered that a lot of people I know haven’t been sick at all in their pregnancies.
When I arrived at the sick week mark I got my share of the nauseous and fatigue which hit on the third week of trying to get over a nasty cold. Thankfully, for the most part, my sickness was mostly just nausea all day long (and not throwing up every day).
Below are some things that I learned to do to help me get through nausea and fatigue.
Protein- For the first 2 or 3 weeks of nauseous I didn’t realize that I wasn’t actually feeling hungry when I was hungry. My stomach had such a seasick feeling that I avoided eating because I didn’t feel like it, which resulted in intensified nausea. This probably could have been avoided If I would have forced myself to eat protein more often. Protein is the building block for all our cells and our need for it is heightened in pregnancy. Once I began eating more I noticed that If I went to bed with even the slightest hunger or not having eaten enough protein for dinner, I would wake up with worse nauseous than if I had had a filling supper the night before.
It was hard to find protein that seemed appetizing but I just ate what I could which usually was chicken instead of beef, sometimes beef if I didn’t have to cook it myself, and some days eggs but other days no eggs at all. A good-tasting protein powder would have helped a lot as well.
Frequent snacks- When you’re already feeling sick it is hard to eat big meals but also hard to tell when to eat between meals. I found that if I ate frequent small snacks when my stomach started to feel upset it halted the feeling and avoided some nausea.
Ginger candy- Ginger helped me with heartburn and nausea. I kept the chewable ‘Reeds’ or ‘Gin-gin’ brand ginger chews on hand and ate them throughout the day. I normally stay away from sugar so even though there is only 4 grams of sugar per candy that is still 1 tsp of sugar apiece. 1-2tsp of sugar a day was quite an increase for me. I always try to brush my teeth or swish my mouth with water after eating these candies to help remove residual sugar from sitting on my teeth.
Sea bands- These are acupressure wrist bands that apply constant pressure on an anti-nausea pressure point. They are best worn before nausea becomes intense. You can find them at most drug stores. I can’t say they were a lifesaver or that I noticed a huge difference but I did like having another thing I could do to try to help the symptoms lessen. You can find sea bands here.
Lots of sleep- If you are able to sleep then sleep! We view sleep as a luxury but when it comes to building a baby this is an essential need. If you already have little kids make sure to capitalize on any moments and let the dishes wait (I know easier said than done). Building a human is no easy feat and your adrenal glands take a hit. In the third trimester of growing your baby if you have depleted adrenal glands, you can literally tap in and start stealing nutrients from your baby's adrenal glands. WHAT!?! Yes I know it sounds horrible but the most important thing is that you as the mama survive so your body is willing to do anything to make sure you finish the pregnancy. Next time you feel guilty about getting sleep, remind yourself, your husband, your babysitter, and anyone else that if you don’t take care of your adrenals your baby will be negatively affected and may be more susceptible to childhood sickness. Sleep is not always selfish…remember that.
Coconut oil peppermint candies- I didn’t remember these during my first trimester but if I had I’m sure it would have helped a lot. These homemade treats are made with peppermint oil, sea salt, a little bit of honey, and coconut oil or butter. Coconut oil does not have to be broken down by the gallbladder to be turned into energy so it is like eating straight energy. The sea salt helps to nourish your adrenals and the honey will give you a few carbs to burn while the fat from the coconut oil keeps your blood sugar from spiking. Peppermint is great for digestion and can help with nausea. You can find the recipe here. A bonus is that this treat can also help get rid of sugar cravings without excessive indulgence.
Beans- I learned about the amazing enzymes in beans from my midwife. She explained that beans have particular enzymes that help to get the gallbladder doing its job and can in turn have a positive effect on nausea! Her recommendation to me was to eat a cup of cooked beans in the morning and ¼ of beans throughout the day whenever I felt nauseous. Unfortunately, I was almost completely over my morning sickness by the time I learned about this so I haven't gotten to try it out but maybe it can help you!
I’m so thankful that after week 12 of pregnancy my morning sickness started getting better. I remember the first day that my brain really felt clear and energetic again! My creativity came back and now I’m fully back in the kitchen and enjoying the smells and tastes of food.
If you’re currently struggling with first trimester morning sickness just remember that there is light at the end of the tunnel and even if your sickness never fully goes away know that a baby is always worth it.
I’d love to hear from you...what are somethings you’ve done that have helped with morning sickness?
