I went into my pregnancy journey knowing the absolute basics. I’d read all the highly praised books and even listened to a few parental guidance podcasts. Once you’re in it for yourself those books are rather arbitrary. They can aid in giving you direction, but it’s all up to you to carry it out.
Before I go into the things that helped me sleep at night, literally, I want to stress that every pregnancy is different. My experience is not yours and everyone will have various symptoms and hardships. Some may even have no difficulties, but it’s very important that you advocate for yourself and speak to your medical provider regarding any concerns.
Pregnancy self-care
The first trimester hibernation really sets up the rest of the pregnancy for you. Do what your body needs and rest! Slow down and ensure you’re well rested, hydrated and are eating – well… as much as you can keep down. Though when it comes to resting be sure to find a good balance. You know your body so use your best judgement given your unique circumstances, but don’t become a perpetual couch potato. You still have physical needs that need to be met and you also need to know when your previous daily physical activity should be toned down to keep the baby safe.
With that being said, in order to keep the baby safe you also have to show up for yourself. Keep an eye on your mental health as this is, for some, the most difficult stage of pregnancy. Have a few nights to sit and focus on your hobbies and just existing. Do the things that help ground you and ease any mental and emotional tension.
Appointments
In preparing for doctors’ visits I suggest looking at a breakdown of prenatal appointment schedules. Not every appointment is going to include an ultrasound and that can be nerve racking. If this is something that will make you anxious, discuss it with your provider, but also know that your baby’s heartbeat is checked even when you don’t get the ultrasound. It’s best to vocalize anything that could cause you stress. Ask all the questions you need and know that it isn’t silly and you will not be judged for it.
Speaking of judging, that brings me to my next point. If you have a provider who doesn’t meet your needs and you do not feel safe sharing this experience with them – shop around. It’s better to get this out of the way early than to wait until your third trimester and cause yourself more harm than good making the switch.
Bills
Money going into prenatal care and baby preparation in general is going to be a big stressor. Do your research on what your insurance covers and what you will be paying for visits. It’s best to have an idea beforehand than to be bombarded every time you get a medical bill. Walking to the mailbox doesn’t have to become dreadful.
Nutrition
During any stage of pregnancy you need to watch what you eat and be mindful of what you’re putting in your body. The first trimester is known for its uphill battles with nausea, food sensitivity and aversions. Do your best to hydrate and eat healthy, balanced meals.
I was given a 40-ounce tumbler during my first trimester and made it my mission to drink two of those a day and sometimes more to make sure I was hydrated. Not only is this important for your health, but also for the baby’s. If you dislike the taste of water, get some flavor additives or, ideally, electrolyte drink enhancers.
Keep snacks on you, too! My go-to snacks that I kept in my purse throughout the workday were high-protein beef sticks and granola bars. Though any quick and easy snack that will keep you from flipping tables and quitting your job will do! Pregnancy hunger is no joke.
Hygiene
We’ve made it this far, don’t let me lose you now. Most people report feeling less clean once they become pregnant. Your body is going through a lot hormonally and you may have some changes to get used to. Here are the things I got to ease my mind from thinking I smelled as if I’d worked a shift at Arby’s.
- Different deodorant: I have always used men’s deodorant because it’s stronger, but decided to get a different scent. Since I had become too accustomed with my previous deodorant, the upgrade made it easier to notice the scent change and thus helped my brain recognize that I did not stink.
- Skincare: I used skin-firming lotion to prevent stretch marks as much as I could, as well as a citrus scented body oil. Not only did these ease my hygienic worries, but also applying it daily helped my skin more than I imagined.
I also purchased my usual facial skincare products and pimple patches. During the first trimester my skin took a turn for the worse but quickly settled with a few helpful products.
- Bathroom care: As soon as I found out I was pregnant I purchased Goodwipes botanical bliss scent and Honey Pot Cooling Herbal Infusion Pads.
The Goodwipes are flushable and also come in scents like cocoa butter and rose water. If you’re pregnant in the summer, which in Alabama is basically year-round, get the wipes. Even if you aren’t, a little extra cleanup makes you feel better and will reduce the risk of infection.
Honey Pot Cooling Herbal Infusion Pads do exactly what the name says. They have a cooling sensation that makes you feel very refreshed, but if you go into it not knowing they do that – you feel like you have fire crotch. I was warned beforehand so I sampled my first pad in the safety of my home and knew what to expect.
- Oral hygiene: I wanted to stay on top of my oral upkeep so I purchased the Terra & Co. Gentle Green Oil Pulling toothpaste and REGROW Remineralizing Tooth Powder. I noticed improvement to my teeth using these products and will continue to use them postpartum.
Gender reveal/baby shower/maternity photos
Overall when it comes to reveals, showers and anything keepsake just be sure to do what you want. This is your pregnancy and you call the shots! If you prefer not to have a reveal, shower or party that is your right not to do so. Speak up for yourself and make sure to surround yourself with the people who support your decisions.
- Baby shower: When it comes to baby showers I highly recommend adding in diapers and wipes as a gift suggestion. You will need a lot of them.
Splurging
Money? You’re about to spend a lot of it and it’s entirely worth it. Though be sure to know what things are appropriate to buy and what can wait.
- Maternity clothes: Unless you’ve been blessed by God himself, you will need maternity clothes! I put off buying maternity clothes until my last trimester because I refused to pay what most places charged for anything maternity.
I tried to browse local thrift stores for maternity pants but could not find my size. I ended up buying a clearance pair online and several pairs of office casual yoga pants that could easily double as maternity.
- Nursery items: As you comb all of the lists and suggestions for must-have baby gear, be sure to read the bad reviews as well as the good ones. What one person claims is perfect about the product, another may dislike for a reason that you may not be fond of either. A lot of these items are marketed to loop you in and convince you that you need it.
That being said, there’s nothing wrong with being safer than sorry! If you want to overprepare, I highly support you. There are plenty of local individuals you could give those items to who will appreciate it.
Miscellaneous
There are a few pregnancy symptoms that no one told me about. It took late-night Google searches to make sure I wasn’t going insane or experiencing symptoms not related to pregnancy.
- Restless legs: They tell you to sleep before the baby arrives but don’t tell you about the restless legs. If you’ve ever had your legs jump while you’re trying to fall asleep, that’s what this is like. Except it can go on for extended periods of time.
Do yourself a favor and get an acupuncture mat to walk on. This helped me more than massages and soaking my feet in hot water and helped me to go back to sleep faster.
- Back pain: Do yourself a favor and get a massage gun. Not only does it help with the excruciating back pain, but also with achy feet and restless leg issues previously mentioned. Since you’re limited to side sleeping, the increasing weight from a growing baby will cause discomfort.
- Nasal rinse: Sinus congestion was the absolute worst experience for me in my second trimester. Some doctors may recommend medications to ease discomfort, but I didn’t want to risk it. Usually my nasal rinse and a warm rag on my sinuses after saved me and made grocery time a lot quicker.
Postpartum care
It’s important to talk about birth plans here. No matter what your birth plan is, prepare for your worst-case scenario too. Know the healing process for all of the above and buy the necessary items to accommodate for your postpartum recovery. If things don’t go as planned, have a Walmart pick-up ready when you’re discharged from the hospital with the things you need.
Things I can without a doubt recommend…
- Adult diapers: Yes, I know. Not ideal, but they’re so worth it. No matter what method of delivery you have, you’ll bleed. Get the diapers and don’t be ashamed. You have to change another human’s diaper and discard it; make it easier on yourself and do the same.
- Heating pad/some sort of warm compress: Your whole body is adjusting back to normal. Your organs and your uterus are going back to their usual places and size. It isn’t the most comfortable, and a warm compress will help.
- Waist trainer: I have noticed great improvement and a rapid decrease in abdominal pain since I started wearing my waist trainer in intervals of 30 minutes to an hour throughout the day. Of course, speak with your provider about this beforehand.
- Snacks: Have multiple high-protein snacks and shakes ready to be consumed. You need to regain strength and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Sitting down for a full meal may be a lot, and multiple small meals and snacks throughout the day can be a better fit for you. A lot of the focus is on the baby right now but be sure to keep yourself and your health prioritized, too.
- Compression socks: Your body is going back to normal and that extra fluid takes time to leave. Compression socks will help reduce swelling and promote blood flow.
If you have any tips, feel free to share! I hope these help you to have a calm and manageable pregnancy.
