I announced my pregnancy in a previous post and I know everyone’s pregnancy journey is different. Some women experience every symptom you can think of while others have no symptoms at all. I was somewhere in between. I experienced nausea on the daily, loss of appetite, fatigue, and food and smell aversions. It took some trial and error finding what worked for me. However, I was able to find some things that I feel every woman can benefit from in some way. Keep reading to find out my top 5 things you need for your first trimester.
*While I do have a science background, I am not a licensed healthcare professional. What I am about to say is based upon research that I’ve done prior to and since becoming pregnant. I encourage you to speak with your healthcare provider before trying any new supplements, foods, or anything else.*
These things you need for your first trimester are in no particular order.
1. Prenatal Vitamins
It’s recommended that you begin taking prenatal vitamins at least one month (some say 3 months) before becoming pregnant. Not all prenatal are created equal though. Some key nutrients to look for are folic acid, choline, calcium, vitamin D, iron, and DHA.
I started out by taking the SmartyPants Prenatal Gummies ($22.99 at Target). I’ve since switched to the SmartyPants Prenatal Multi Capsule ($19.99 at Target). I made the switch because the capsule contains vegetarian omega-3 DHA from algae while the gummy has omega-3 from small fish and lacks iron.
As a bonus, you can usually find a coupon in the Target app in if you’re a rewards member!
2. Foods that Contain Ginger and/or Lemon
Whenever I felt the nausea coming on, I would reach for something that contained ginger or lemon. Many times I would have something that contained both. I never gave the Preggie Pops that I see a lot of expecting mothers talk about a try. I did try another candy that is marketed to help with nausea though and they didn’t help at all.
The only things that helped were smoothies that contained ground or fresh ginger, ginger chews like the ones made my Prince of Peace ($4.31 on Amazon at time of posting), or homemade ginger tea with lemon.
I also found that seltzer water with lemon, specifically the True Lemon Water Enhancer ($6.48 on Amazon at time of posting), eased my stomach tremendously!
3. Saltines Are Your Best-friend
There were some mornings where I felt horrible if I didn’t eat something before getting out of bed. I started keeping a pack of saltines on my nightstand. I ate a few before letting my feet touch the ground. When I did that, I noticed that my nausea was more manageable throughout the day.
I also kept some in my purse. That way I had them when I felt nauseous between meals or at random times throughout the day.
4. Stay Hydrated
Water was my best friend! Ice cold water to be exact. It’s easy to become dehydrated, especially during pregnancy. So it’s a good idea to purchase a nice-sized insulated water bottle, if you don’t have one already. I was using a 40 oz water bottle and filling it up twice a day. However, my husband recently bought me a stainless steel 64 oz water bottle from Amazon ($35.99 with an additional 10% off at the time of posting). It comes with two different lids, two straws, and a carrying case!
The one caveat to this is that some women have a hard time keeping anything down, even water. If you find that you have persistent nausea and vomiting, you may be suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum (aka HG). Please seek medical attention as this can lead to dehydration, weight loss, and electrolyte imbalance.
5. Comfortable Shoes
My, my, my, what a difference comfortable shoes make. My job requires me to move and walk around quite a bit so it was imperative that I found a pair of shoes that helped ease foot pain/aches. Two of my favorite shoes are my from Nike and Adidas. I know there are more comfortable kicks out there but I already own these and I keep them in heavy rotation.
If you spend a lot of time in the house, I HIGHLY recommend these slides that from Amazon (price varies by size). They have a thick sole but are soft, lightweight and comfortable. Not only are they something you need for your first trimester, but they’ll be helpful throughout the remainder of your pregnancy and beyond.
Have other suggestions?
Are there any items that you would recommend to expectant mothers or items you feel are needed in the first trimester? Let me know in comments!
