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Let’s face it, whether it’s your first pregnancy or you’ve done this a few times before, the first trimester is no walk in the park. Seeing the positive test is one of the most wonderful things I have ever experienced, and I cannot wait to meet our future bundle of joy! However, between the morning sickness and the fatigue, pregnancy symptoms can make the process a bit more challenging those first few months.
I was fortunate enough that my symptoms were moderate during the first trimester. I’ve known some of my friends who had a much tougher go than I did. But that definitely doesn’t mean that every day was sunshine and rainbows. However, there were a few key essentials that made my first trimester symptoms a bit easier to deal with.
Preggie Pops
Preggie pops were one of my go to’s for dealing with morning sickness – whenever it happened to pop up. We were only sharing our exciting news with immediate family, but it is not easy to hide when you feel nauseous 24/7. These were amazing for being able to hide in my purse and grab any time that queasy feeling was starting to pop up. Did I mention they taste absolutely delightful too!
Ginger chews
Studies have shown that ginger is one of the best natural remedies for nausea and upset stomachs. I happen to like the taste of ginger, although the spice of the candy may be a bit overwhelming for some. However, if you do enjoy the spicy taste, these ginger chews are another great option for dealing with morning sickness. If your first trimester happens to be in the winter – this was the case for me – I really enjoyed making a tea out of the ginger chews. This way there are no unknown herbs that may be unsafe, and it is still delicious and comforting.
ginger ale
These mini cans of ginger ale were great to bring in the car with me anytime I had to travel for work or fun. Maybe its a flashback to when my mom used to give me ginger ale when I was sick as a little girl, but I still find it comforting when dealing with an upset stomach. Being pregnant, I wanted to avoid too much sugar in my diet, which is why I loved the mini size of these cans.
Goldfish crackers
Stopping myself from ever having an empty stomach was a must for managing morning sickness symptoms. And yes, that included eating something the moment I woke up and was still lying in bed. I know a lot of women suffering from morning sickness stick with saltine crackers since they are plain and rarely upset the stomach. I started with Saltines as well, but after a few days of climbing into a bed full of crumbs at night, I knew I needed a better snack to keep by the bed. Enter the idea of goldfish crackers! This suggestion actually came from my sister-in-law (who recently had two amazing twin boys <3 ). Great taste, settled my stomach, and no crumbs; definitely a win in my book.
Water Bottle
Staying hydrated during pregnancy is an absolute must! Any water bottle that will encourage you to drink more water is a great option. My go-to for this pregnancy has been this water bottle. The color selection is awesome! And I like the 32 oz. size, so I am not having to refill it so often throughout the day. A must for my water bottle choice was that it had to have a straw. I wanted to minimize the amount of water I sloshed all over myself when running around from place to place during the day.
Sparkling Water
I have always been a sparkling water fan, but I think my fandom has grown since becoming pregnant. Still hydrating like regular water, sparkling water offers a little more variety in beverage options without adding any additional sugar to your diet. I also found that the carbonation helped calm some of my nausea throughout the day. There are so many brands and flavor options – my favorite happens to be the Waterloo black cherry – that you could most certainly find one that works best for you.
Stretch Mark Lotion
You may not be showing yet, but I started using this stretch mark lotion as soon as the pregnancy test was positive. Compared to other lotions, I’ve found that this one has really helped avoid any itching or stretch marks in my skin as I have gotten further along in my pregnancy.
Prenatal Vitamins
A prenatal vitamin will help supplement your diet to ensure that your growing baby is getting the essential nutrients that they need. There are multiple options on the market for prenatal vitamins, but three of the essential nutrients to look for are folic acid, DHA, and iron. Most of the gummy formulations do not contain iron, so be sure to carefully read the labels. Iron can also lead to constipation, which is why I alternate every other day between a gummy prenatal and the pill prenatal that contains iron. *Be sure to check with your healthcare practitioner that your prenatal vitamin is meeting all of your needs.* I had a blood test done looking at my iron levels to make sure that I was still meeting my daily needs when alternating, and with a well-balanced diet, my iron levels were right where they needed to be.
Maternity Bras
It may seem early to invest in any maternity clothing, but trust me when I say you will not regret purchasing a few maternity bras. With the surging hormones comes very tender breasts, and if you’re like me, they grew a cup size within a month. Maternity bras are infinitely more comfortable and help support your changing body. I like these ones from Amazon, they are reasonably priced for a 3-pack, and will also work as nursing bras after you deliver.
Pregnancy Journal
With all of the overwhelming things you may be feeling, a pregnancy journal is a great way to reflect on this amazing time in your life. There are multiple styles of journals out there, blank pages, writing prompts, etc. I’ve really enjoyed this pregnancy journal – it’s been amazing to reflect on everything that has been going on over these last few months. And I someday hope to share this with my son/daughter, just as my parents shared my baby book with me once I found out I was expecting.
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