“The Best Is Yet To Come...."

When I found out I was pregnant I immediately took to the internet. I wanted to know everything I needed to do to prepare for pregnancy and having a baby, especially how to deal with the constant feeling of nausea.

I was surprised to find out that there isn’t much you can really do in the first trimester but rest. Your body is changing to help support a growing baby so you don't want to over extend yourself! What I did find it helpful was to read about other women’s experiences so I wanted to share some of my own useful tips for those first three months.

With that said, here is a list of the 9 things that helped me survive the first few months of pregnancy.

1. Ginger

 You’ve probably heard of morning sickness, but if you’ve been pregnant then you already know that it's akin to more of an all day sickness. I had heard of other women throwing up during pregnancy, but I was not prepared for the constant, underlying nausea that I felt for the entire month of January. I spent an entire day on the couch once thinking about all of my favorite foods and how much I didn’t want to eat them until I finally landed on pad sew from Thai Express.  After which I immediately called my boyfriend demanding it for dinner or I was likely going to starve to death. (It's hard not to be dramatic when you're a hungry pregnany woman :p)

So even though it might not sound particularly appetizing, ginger can be extremely helpful with this. Usually I’m not a big fan of fizzy drinks but on days when the nausea was particularly bad, one of the only things that helped was a can of Canada Dry Ginger Ale. It got me through a couple of long car rides and dinners when I didn’t want to eat anything on the menu. 

Soda has an extremely high sugar content, so if you want to opt for a little less sweet Ginger Tea or ginger hard candies are equally good. I even found that most hard candies and mints would help keep the nausea at bay for a few hours.

2. Water

It might go without saying, but still extremely important throughout your entire pregnancy - Drink water! And lots of it. Even if you didn’t drink a lot of water before becoming pregnant, now is the best time to start. Get a cute water bottle and carry it around with you everywhere. I found in my first trimester I was extremely thirsty anyway so it wasn’t a problem. It even helped with the nausea. 

Your body is building up the amniotic fluids surrounding the baby and trust me you don’t want to find yourself dehydrated. I unfortunately had a bladder infection in my first trimester and when you’re already feeling crappy, it just makes everything feel worse.

The recommended water intake per The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is 8 to 12 cups (64 to 96 ounces) of water every day. An average water bottle is about 20 ounces so you want to make sure you’re filling it up at least 3-5 times per day.

3. Prenatal Vitamins

Everyone is going to start asking you if you’re taking your prenatal vitamins. Even my hygienist at the dentist asked. Prenatals help to ensure you are getting the necessary vitamins to help you grow your baby, specifically folic acid which will help prevent birth defects. 

My doctor didn’t seem too concerned with the brand that I purchased, but she said it’s important to ensure that you’re getting the daily recommended amount of folic acid. The mayo clinic recommends 400 - 1,000 micrograms (mcg) per day.  

There are other vitamins you can look for on the label such as vitamin C, D, magnesium, iron, calcium and choline, but you don’t want to just rely on one pill to get all your nutrients through your pregnancy. Make sure you’re also getting vitamins through your foods, beverages and other means (like getting that much needed vitamin D from the sun!).

4. Bath Salts (Magnesium)

Speaking of vitamins and minerals, something I simply cannot live without, especially through the first trimester, was a warm bath with epsom salts.

Epsom salts are chock full of magnesium which can be absorbed through the skin. Soaking in an epsom salt bath helps to relax you, reduce stress, and, though not scientifically proven, can act as a laxative. I can’t say for sure, but I know that I felt 100x better the day after taking an epsom salt bath. Though I was constantly tired, drinking water, eating healthy and relaxing in a warm bath definitely took the edge off. 

If you’re not a bath person there are other ways you can add magnesium into your routine. We tend to expend a lot of magnesium when we’re stressed so talk to your doctor or health care provider to ensure you are getting the right amount of magnesium you need.

5. Coffee Alternative

Before the pandemic, working in a corporate office I found myself drinking 2-3 cups of coffee a day. Sometimes more on those late nights at the office. I started to notice the negative side effects on my body and mental state. So when I started working from home I cut back and limited myself to a cup here and there when I could enjoy it. Like a treat at Starbucks or a specialty brew on the weekends with a hearty breakfast and new episode of Saturday Night Live. 

I wasn’t surprised to hear health care providers recommend limiting caffeine during pregnancy. 

While there isn’t any hard evidence that coffee is bad for you and your growing baby, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that pregnant women limit their caffeine consumption to less than 200 mg (about two, six-ounce cups) per day. 

I still think that’s a lot so I  decided I was going to do my best to drink as little coffee as possible, which meant finding some suitable alternatives. If you’re looking to cut back on coffee too, here are a few of my suggestions. 

1. Herbal tea - make sure to check which teas are ok and which are to be avoided. I know my go to when I was nauseous was peppermint. 

2. Chai tea - though black teas still have caffeine they have significantly less than a regular cup of coffee. If I did have chai tea it was just once in the morning for a little pick me up.  

3. Moon milk - moon milk is often warm milk mixed with spices like cinnamon and turmeric. It’s typically recommended to drink before bed but it might also be nice before an afternoon nap if you can sneak one in.  

4. Maca latte - if you like the warming morning ritual of coffee then you might like this Cacao Maca latte alternative. I mixed the ingredients in a tightly sealed tupperware so I could easily scoop 1-2 tbsp in hot water or milk in the morning. Bonus if you have a milk frother to turn it into your new favorite latte. 

Don’t be too hard on yourself if you do find yourself reaching for a cup of coffee now and again. Being pregnant is extremely exhausting so it can be a nice pick me up. But remember you’re tired for a reason and you want to make sure you give your body lots of rest!

6. Crackers

I’m adding crackers to the list because when I was feeling nauseous there wasn’t much that I wanted to eat. Nutrition is important at any stage of your pregnancy, but it’s really hard to be super nutritious when your body can only get water and plain foods. Crackers is just one of those neutral foods that most women find they can stomach. I kept a box of my favorite crackers with me for a month straight, especially in the car when you need something to sustain you for a bit. These are not as helpful as the ginger but they are great for filling your stomach.

7. Sleep

Ok this should probably have been #1 on the list but sleep is so important, especially in those early stages. Everyone kept telling me to get as much sleep as I could and since it was also the middle of winter during my first few months I took advantage, stayed home and slept. Granted I wasn’t too much fun but it’s only a couple of months. You will get some energy back in the second trimester!

8. Lemons

Before getting pregnant I was on a bit of a health kick. I found out that I had a candida overgrowth which was causing me quite a few health problems. Thankfully, I had managed the problem before getting pregnant but I was determined to keep it up. 

One of the things that helped immensely, and is good for nausea as well, is lemon water. Drinking a glass of water with a squeeze of lemon has many health benefits, particularly for your gut. It might not be for everyone but I recommend giving it a try.

9. Entertainment

Being exhausted didn’t always mean I was tired enough to sleep, just lazy enough to lie on the couch for full days straight. I wish someone would have warned me about how lazy I would have become and I might have been a little more prepared. Borrow books from the library, download games on your phones and find some binge worthy TV shows. I ended up doing a lot of reading and research on my phone which is why I decided to start a blog so I could do something with all this newly acquired knowledge.

And remember, it's only a few months! It will get better :)