My First Trimester - aka The Struggle
Looking back and thinking about the first trimester - the struggle was REAL. And I know it could have been worse, but it certainly wasn’t a walk in the park…
After finding out I was pregnant, it didn’t take long for the nausea to set in, and along with that came the fatigue. I was grateful that I only got physically sick to my stomach one time (at night of course, morning sickness most certainly isn’t just for the morning). But I had some pretty consistent nausea throughout those first three months. My typical morning routine started with my partner bringing me a piece of toast and a small glass of kombucha in bed, because it was near impossible for me to get out of bed without it.
As far as accomplishing anything during the day, well, that was also nearly impossible. I have the luxury to work from home, and also supplement my income with dog/house sitting requests. Thankfully, the majority of my 4 legged clients are very chill and just expect to have you lay next to them due to separation anxiety, or just plan enjoying the company of a human. Since I had zero energy in my first trimester, I was the perfect companion for them! Honestly, I do not know how any woman can work full time while pregnant. Sure, you can push through and do what you have to, but man oh man, I don’t know how I could have pushed through feeling the way I did.
Besides the consistent feeling of nausea, I was beyond exhausted! I’d get a load of laundry done, and then I’d pass out on the couch for a solid hour without moving. I could not believe how tired I was, especially when I could barely tell I was pregnant! That was my thing with the first trimester - feeling totally exhausted, sick, and not having many people know what I was going through internally, and trying to cover up what exactly was going on. That was one of the hardest experiences - keeping the secret (personally, I wanted to make sure I hit 20+ weeks before making any kind of an announcement, close family and friends excluded).
Besides the love of my supportive partner with daily toast and kombucha delivery, he also gave me acupuncture one morning when I wasn’t sure I could get out of bed. He’d given it to me one another time when I was in the beginning stages of a migraine, and I’d had great results. This time, it was a true life saver. I had one of my most productive days after that quick treatment, and was able to be more functional than I had been in awhile.
My thoughts on the first trimester? Be as easy on yourself as you possibly can. You are in the beginning stages of growing a human - and sometimes that’s hard to see from the outside, and if you aren’t telling a lot of people, it can make you feel more alone in the process. I definitely found myself going inward during that time, and only able to spend time with people that knew that I was pregnant, because “pushing through” the experience was just not an option for me. Eat what you can, when you can. Throughout the day, I survived on oyster crackers/saltines, and sparkling water… And some days, all I wanted was fried chicken! I couldn’t look at a vegetable without wanting to run to the bathroom, so I stayed away from them. And you know what? I survived! Thankfully, the veggie aversion dispersed in the second trimester (more on that later!).
And if you can, explore some holistic options like acupuncture to help with any nausea or discomfort. Find a friend to confide in if you need to - and remember, you don’t have to go through the process alone. Support is here when you need it!