First Trimester
I had been tracking my cycle and fertility for some time (I highly recommend the book “Taking Charge of your Fertility” for anyone looking to better understand their cycle, or for those choosing natural family planning), so when we decided to start trying for a baby - I was paying close attention to my chart - so I would be able to find out exactly when we conceived. I took a pregnancy test 12 days post ovulation and saw a faint positive, so I took an additional test every couple days for a week, and the lines grew darker each time my LH (luteinizing hormone) rose! You only really need one positive to know, but I just couldn’t believe it was real. I kept it to myself for another 12 days before telling my husband, since I wanted to surprise him in a fun way (future blog post). I went in to see my Dr., and they confirmed my pregnancy - which gave me so much more peace about it.
Pregnancy has numerous similarities for most women and yet each women’s experience is so unique. These are some first trimester symptoms that I experienced. Some common, some not, and a few that are not frequently talked about - it is important to know they are totally normal!
Cramps - Weeks 3 - 12, I experienced mild period like cramps often.
Breast tenderness - This was intense! Crossing my arms, laying on my stomach - even getting dressed. If I barely bumped them, it was so painful. This lasted throughout the first trimester and into to second.
Itchy nipples - No one tells you about this one, and it drove me absolutely bonkers. It was so uncomfortable and I couldn’t find any way to relieve it.
Bloating - The false early “baby bump” that made me self conscious more than anything. I struggled to disguise it, hoping no one would ask if I was pregnant before we were ready to announce it.
Nausea - Morning sickness (aka ALL day sickness). Thankfully, I never actually vomited - but I was constantly on the verge, and when you feel sick, it is the only thing you can think about.
Spotting - If you have any amount of bleeding during pregnancy you should contact your doctor or midwife. However, it is very common and not always a reason to be concerned. I spotted at 9 and 12 weeks (later determined to be “break through bleeding”. which means that these were dates I would typically have started my period).
Libido - This can mean either higher or lower libido, and it is very common when you have significant hormonal fluctuations.
Headaches - If you have headaches while pregnant you should talk to your Doctor or midwife, but again - this is a very common first trimester symptom, and is a result of hormone surges. These were most severe for me weeks 11-13.
Heightened sense of smell - This affected me, and lead to a few food aversions. Red meat was a no-go in our house from weeks 6-10, as well as weeks 8-22. One of the most heartbreaking things, I was nauseated by the smell and taste of coffee.
Cystic acne - Thanks again hormones! Dang, this was painful - no mater how clean I kept my face, or how well I hydrated, this remained a struggle.
Gas - Uncontrollable gas all day, every day. A symptomatic result of bloating.
Fatigue - Weeks 3-15, I was tired ALL THE TIME. No matter how much sleep I got, I was constantly exhausted.
Now some common symptoms that I expected to have, but did not experience:
Cravings - Not once in my whole pregnancy did I “crave” anything.
Mood swings - I thought for sure I’d be a blubbering mess, but I was hardly ever irrationally emotional.
Heartburn - Not a trace of it (and my baby had hair).
My first trimester tips:
Give yourself lots of grace! Your body is working hard to duplicate cells over and over at a rapid rate, and it is okay to take a nap when you need to.
Stay active if you’re able to, even just a short cardio workout at home, or a walk every day. Staying active will set you up for fitness success throughout your pregnancy.
Try everything for nausea. What worked for me was eating a pouch of applesauce before getting out of bed in the morning, high protein snacks every two hours, and smelling peppermint essential oil saved me on several occasions. Though, I personally cannot consume ginger - it is often a huge relief for an upset stomach.
High quality plant based prenatal vitamins. From the moment you find out you’re pregnant, or ideally when you start trying to conceive you should be taking prenatal vitamins (I love & recommend these prenatal vitamins & fish oil supplements).
Document as much as you can! Take bump pictures weekly - I used the Baby center app for my photos. Journal all your symptoms and feelings about the process so you can look back on them later and reminisce.
Research, research, research! Start reading books about pregnancy, labor, delivery and breast feeding before time escapes you (I will have a book recommendations blog coming soon!).
Pick a care provider that supports what you desire for your birth. If you are unhappy, or do not feel well cared for, know that it’s never too late in your pregnancy to switch providers.
Lastly - ENJOY every moment. It goes by too fast in retrospect!
