(or at least I did...)
is that EVERYONE thinks that their suggestions are actually DIRECTIONS.
"Don't do this, do this, make sure to remember this, etc. etc..."
I really value my friend's advice and any experience theyv'e had, and I know everyone else means well, but it does get a little overwhelming.
A friend I met here in Washington through Houston had a baby about eight months ago, and she has been super helpful with suggestions and letting me know what to expect. It probably helps that we both have just about the same views on birth.
In case anyone is wondering, I AM planning a natural childbirth, and I CAN do it... it's all in the mind set. When people hear about my birth plan, they say "you should just go with the drugs."
I just have to nod a smile and say "I am sure some people are comfortable with that route, but I am more comfortable with having as much control of my body as I can while I am giving birth."
Now with that being said, I am not expecting a perfectly planned birth. I know babies come at the time they want, take as much or as little time as they want coming, and that courses can change through out labor. So I will be keeping an open mind, and being smart for the saftey of my baby and my body. But news flash, women have been doing it the natural way for years. I hear that you heal faster afterward as well. Anyway, I am hoping for the best, but am prepared for the worst, and these next seven months will be spent positively (:
So I am just going to give a brief overview of my first trimester experiences, and then I am going to do another post about my first ultra sound and meeting the midwife!
Morning Sickness.
If you know me pretty well, you will know that I could do anything to not throw up. I haaateeee it! So, before I got in the habit of snacking lots, (thats a helpful hint- Do not ever go on an empty stomach!) I would lay in bed unless I was at work. If I walked or stood too much, I would get motion sickness. It was frustrating because I could notice the house was slowly getting messier and messier. Luckily Houston would pick up my slack, but I remember thinking "What happens when the baby comes and I am still healing and having to nurse, tend the baby, clean, take care of myself, etc! If I can't even handle morning sickness..." But, Houston assured me he will pick up my slack, again (: plus I will get maternity leave so I will be able to heal and get the baby on a schedule.
Not planning on an easy parenthood, but I am pretty sure your will power changes especially when you have a little one depending completely on you (:
A first for me, and now my least favorite past time from the first trimester was getting sick out of the car, due to motion sickness. I would literally have just enough time to roll down the window before I lose everything. So embarrasing to be yacking out of a car in broad daylight! I would cry everytime I finished too, because I just hated it so much. All Houston could do was pull over and pat my back... poor thing has to witness that, I get sick watching people throwing up. But it's a nice reminder for him to know what I have to go through (:
My rememdies: Ginger ale was my best friend. Mentos are probably not the healthiest, but I would have those instead of those pregnancy pops. Snacking regularly, spending as little time in the car as I could, and staying COMPLETELY away from fast food.
Eating Habits
So they say you eat for two... That is not true. I started eating less than I normally do, probably for a few reasons. My liking in food changed, foods I loved like avacado, cheese, and cola I would avoid, so less choices in my diet, and over eating also caused me to feel naseated, and I would do anything to not be naseated.
Onions and anything else that had a potent smell did not help my sensitive nose...
Oh, that was one early sign for me, I could smell anything from a mile away!
I definitely made an effort to stay away from caffine, cooked eggs and meat very well done, and eat as healthy as I could.
I did have cravings fast though, which people mentioned they don't happen until later, well that was not the case for me!
I don't have multiple of the same cravings though, other than fruit mentos. Cravings were fried navajo scones, five guys cajun fries, and "gauc-n-roll" sandwich from my favorite restaurant in Utah, "Sages." Probably just my body telling me I am hungry, and something with my brain triggering that those were really good.
I can't really say because all those foods seem to have nothing in common. But when I craved them, I would literally almost malfunction because I NEEDED them. So weird...
Prenatals-
So, the lovely giant bottle with the red horse pills was a no go for me, even on my less nasueated days the iron in it would just ruin me. My nurse recommended flintstones vitamins! HIlarious to me, but awesome. They arent as good as I remember as a kid, but they are still yummy. I take two a day, it has folic acid and all the other nutrients you need in it, and if you are eating enough throughout the day you are set!
* disclaimer- please do not order an expired bottle of
vintage flinstones pills. I just liked the picture (:
Lastley, I'd like to say, if you are in your first trimester, and keep hearing the words, "Preganncy is a beautiful thing"....
Don't take it to heart.
I never wanted to be the lady that lets herself go when she has kids, but I definitely admit to rarely putting on makeup the first three months, I felt bloated and clumsy, and I had to burp a lot. (gross) It's ironic that you are doing the most womanly thing possible, yet you feel the opposite of womanly.
You are sore all over, have crazy mood swings, etc. To top it off you go into your first appointment, and maybe it will be different for you, but they drew 6 VILES of blood from my arm, and they made me give them a pee sample TWICE! Definitely not feeling so pretty. (Funny story, I've never had my blood drawn, and I cried the whole time. The nurse said it wasn't the first time but she was pretty sure the whole waiting room now thought that she was torturing me. I just dont like needles in my body! Okay!?)
I just wanted to say your not alone (: And that it will get better, I am already feeling less sick during the day and can actually clean around the house! I hear the the second trimester is the best, and I think that's when things start to get better.
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