The first trimester of a pregnancy brings so many changes your body that sometimes it can be really hard to adjust, especially for a first time mother. Your raging hormones can affect you in ways to be expected such as tiredness and morning sickness and some that are not so predictable, including constipation and acne. Luckily, there are ways to lessen these and help you cope with all of the various changes to ensure that your first three months of pregnancy go by as painlessly as possible.
Constant Tiredness
While you might think tiredness would be a symptom in the later months, the start of pregnancy is also plagued with constant exhaustion. Your body is not only dealing with your hormones going haywire, but also with the developing cells of your baby which are multiplying at a stunning pace.
If you are working and/or already have children, this can become a significant issue. The best ways to deal with constant fatigue is to make sure you get enough sleep by going to bed at least an hour or two earlier than your usual schedule. Also, use any breaks during the day to their fullest by relaxing and, if you can, close your eyes for a few minutes for a power nap. Also make sure you eat both healthily and frequently throughout the day to keep your energy levels topped up for both you and your baby.
Morning Sickness
One of the toughest issues in the first trimester is deceptively called morning sickness. In fact, the feeling of nausea usually accompanied by vomiting is not limited to any time of day, and can really make this already trying period even tougher. To combat nausea, make sure to eat five to six smaller meals throughout the day, in lieu of the usual three more substantial meals. Also, adding ginger to your diet has shown to be helpful in settling your stomach while drinking mint tea can a lso do wonders to keep you from feeling sick. Finally, sucking on hard candy or lollipops, some of which are now made specifically for pregnant women, will both sweeten your day and help relieve the symptoms.
Slow Digestion
It is not often discussed so it might come as a surprise to first time mothers, but constipation goes hand in hand with the first trimester thanks to the progesterone hormone which slows down digestion. There are several things you can do to ease this unpleasant side-effect. Make sure to eat foods that are rich in fiber, which includes a healthy serving of fresh vegetables and fruit each day. Stay hydrated throughout the day by continually drinking water, be it at home or when you are out, by keeping a water bottle on you at all times. In addition, do not skip on exercise. You do not have to go all out, but even going out for fifteen minute walk in fresh air can be really helpful.
Headaches
Having constant headaches at a time when using most pain killers are not an option can be a huge problem. Luckily, there are other solutions that can help relieve this. First, you need to talk to your doctor and ask if there are alternatives to the usual pain management pills that are not dangerous for your baby. He or she might recommend Tylenol, or some other alternatives. In addition, feel free to help yourself to some caffeine. A small amount will not harm your baby, but will help relieve the pain by helping blood flow through your veins more freely. If you can manage to get a few minutes of rest, use it to lie down and apply cold compresses to your head.
Skin Issues
Just when you think that skin issues were thing of the past from your adolescent years, pregnancy can cause the return of dreaded acne with a vengeance. Making it even worse, there are very limited options available to treat acne caused by pregnancy. Besides staying well hydrated, the best way to deal with a bout of pregnancy acne is to invest in some new concealer makeup. While not a perfect solution, you need to remember that it will not last forever and the little bundle of joy that is about to become a part of your life, will make it more than worth the temporary inconvenience