While finding out that you are pregnant could be the absolute best news of your life; it can also feel completely terrifying. How did you feel?
There are many remedies that your doctor or midwife may recommend, but just be sure that is something that works best for you. For example, some women will feel worse with certain triggers, so if you’re morning coffee isn’t helping then ditch it for the time being.
For millions of women, becoming pregnant is the start of an exhilarating and often exhausting ride into motherhood. There are elements to pregnancy that are unexpected, surprising and often not discussed by anyone except other women who have experienced similar.
But those trimesters soon fly past and before you know it you’re well on your way to delivery and the next part of the adventure. In this article we take a look at what you might really expect during pregnancy and what you really need when you pack your bag ready for the hospital.
The First Trimester
Many women don’t even realize they’re pregnant for the first few weeks. So, this initial trimester can feel like it flies past. During this time, a lot of parents-to-be decide not to tell anyone except those closest to them where you’re most likely to encounter an early stage miscarriage, if that were to happen.
This is also the part of your pregnancy where growth is the most rapid. The embryo grows at an extraordinary rate, and by six weeks you should be able to hear a heartbeat.
Your body is also going through some extraordinary changes; and let’s be honest, not all of them feel particularly comfortable. This is very often the stage where morning sickness sets in and you’re likely to feel more tired than before as your body adapts to growing your new bundle of joy.
During this time, it is important to allow yourself plenty of rest, even if you are working and fighting morning sickness. It’s important to note that even though it is called, morning sickness, it can affect you at any time of the day or night.
Second Trimester
During the second trimester, many women start to feel like they have some energy back. At this time, your baby is still developing at an impressive rate. For example, your baby is growing hair and fingernails. And, towards the end of this trimester they’ll be responding to light, sound and touch and even start blinking.
Your baby bump will start to become more noticeable. You will also start to feel a little more pregnant and a little less like you’re imagining things because your body may be responding to the pregnancy is several different ways.
Some common symptoms women tend to experience include indigestion, heartburn,
cramping in your legs, hemorrhoids, etc. Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned but understand much of this is a normal range of pregnancy side effects.
Typically before the third trimester, it’s important to be thinking about your birthing plan and specifically where you want to deliver your baby. Common options include the hospital, birthing pool, or home delivery. Whatever you choose, just be sure to have your partner or a close friend or relative with you during those final moments as you head into labor.
Third Trimester
If you’ve been using a pregnancy resource such as Mustela’s pregnancy checklist you’ll probably be thinking at this stage about what to pack should you be heading to hospital for the birth and what you might need to have close to hand if you’re birthing at home. There’s no harm in getting this prepared now so divide your packing into two sections: you and the baby.
You will need several pairs of pajamas, comfy clothes, slippers, sanitary pads, snacks, drinks and your phone charger as a minimum. Also pack some entertainment that can distract you if you’re waiting around a while. Pack your toiletries and include your favorite shower gel and some lip balm and moisturizer as hospital environments can quickly make you feel dehydrated.
For the baby you’ll need to pack dependent on the season but as a minimum you’ll need some newborn nappies, onesies, sleep socks, hats and socks. If you’re driving home make sure you know how to fit your car seat before you leave for the hospital to save time and energy when you’re both exhausted.
Besides all the preparations and planning, this third trimester is the final push for your baby. He or she has grown big enough now that moving around is becoming a little harder and that movement may slow down. Again, If you have any concerns do talk to your midwife or doctor as soon as possible.
The Fourth Trimester?!
Yes, some have added in a fourth trimester! When your baby is finally born many experts claim the initial bonding takes place over this “fourth trimester”. They further state that the first three months after the birth is a special time for parents and baby to start getting to know each other.
You will hear that some babies sleep through early on but for many, many parents out there a restless, cuddly baby who is up regularly in the night is quite normal. It will take a while for your little one to get the hang of night and day so be patient and take any offers of help you can.
If you are breastfeeding you might want to have breastmilk readily available so that your partner can take over. The same goes with bottle feeders, take it in turns to make sure everyone gets at least a few hours’ rest.
If, after six months, your baby is still struggling to self-settle then there are plenty of gentle sleep training ideas out there and a little research will turn up one that suits you and your baby.
Final Thoughts
Pregnancy can be a daunting journey and while some women sail through the process, there are others who end each day feeling exhausted, ill and anxious. So, it’s vital to take time to look after your mental as well as your physical health during pregnancy.
If you’re on your own and don’t have anyone around you to give you the support you need, then talk to your midwife or doctor, who should be able to put you in touch with a support group in your area.
If you can stay physically active during your pregnancy your body is more likely to cope better before and after with the physical effects of pregnancy. That doesn’t mean you need to hit the gym but rather take some walks and get out in the fresh air when you can, both good for your mental as well as your physical health.
Just know that every pregnancy, every woman and her baby is unique so enjoy those times spent gazing at your growing bump and feeling every prod of your bundle of joy.
