Over the years I've done a few of these and it's evolved so much. So I figured I'd do another one this go around. If you were to look at my list suggestions from my first pregnancy to this one, you'd probably think they were written by different people. I've changed so much as a mama over the years and I've definitely become more health conscious and holistic minded. But, I'm grateful for that change. The more you learn the better decisions you can make! And if this is your first pregnancy, you may feel like you have no idea where to start. Well I'm glad you landed here because we are going to cover all the things!
The first trimester is....well a doozy. Some unicorns out there don't have any symptoms, but the majority of women have a handful of downright difficult or just annoying symptoms.
Here are the things that helped me throughout the first 14 weeks as a holistic minded mama.
Please note that this posts contains affiliate links where I may earn a commission. All opinions are my own.
1. Preggie Pops or Ginger Chews
Morning sickness is one of the most complained about first trimester symptoms, and often times one of the first to show up. It can be hard to function in your day to day life when you constantly feel sick to your stomach. This pregnancy the car was my worst enemy. Every time we got to driving, I wanted to simultaneously cry and throw up at the same time. Preggie Pops came to the rescue! They took the edge off to the point where I felt like I could semi function. I also love that they don't contain artificial dyes! Ginger chews are another great way to keep morning sickness at bay, plus I think they tsaste yummy!
2. Sea Bands
When things really started to ramp up with my morning sickness, I'd wear sea bands to avoid throwing up. I would keep them in my bag and anytime we were about to get in the car, I'd pop them on. I was skeptical at first, but they really did help. The way they work is by putting a set amount of pressure on a certain pressure point located on your wrist to help with nausea. Bonus is they don't take up much space, downside is they aren't the most attractive to wear. They look like sweatbands haha.
3. A Binge-able Show
This isn't really a "thing" but it helped me so much to have a show I enjoyed that I could relax and watch when not feeling my best or feeling dog tired. Not only that but it also helped time pass. For some reason time seems to slow down in the first trimester.
4. Comfy Yoga Pants or Joggers
Having stretchy, comfy pants is a must! The bloat is real in the first trimester and even though you may not have a bump yet, you may also not fit into your jeans comfortably. It's best to be as comfy as possible. Other great options are flowy dresses and skirts!
5. A Quality Prenatal (without iron)
You may have read that last part and thought WHAT?! Hear me out. There are a few reasons why I'm not a fan of iron in prenatals. They can upset stomachs (which are already upset thanks to morning sickness). They can also interfere with absorption of other minerals like zinc and copper. I also don't believe in blanket supplementation. There are plenty of women who can get the iron they need from diet alone and don't require supplementation. If you do, I would find a separate iron supplement. Make sure to take it with vitamin C and without calcium. For example with a glass of orange juice. This is my favorite brand that I currently take. Also please know this is not medical advice this is based on my own experience and research. Make sure to take to a trusted provider about any decisions. A great podcast to listen to about this subject is this one!
6. All the Pillows
This one seems like it would be more of a second trimester thing, but honestly I found it most comfortable to have stacks of pillows around me, in between my legs, you name it. I prefer the bigger sham like pillows. So somewhere between a body pillow and a standard sleeping pillow. Plus it saves you money from buying a pregnancy pillow that you'll only use for pregnancy.
7. Essential Oils
I think having a few on hand to help with various pregnancy symptoms is so helpful. Not only would I use them topically but also to smell and diffuse. Some of my favorites include:
- peppermint
- lavender
- ginger
8. Nutritious Foods and Snacks
This is a huge one! Especially when you're having food aversions or just feel nauseous all the time. I focused on things like grass fed meat sticks, grass fed cheeses, organic fruits, bone broth, and protein smoothies. Really anything that I could pack in that would be nutrient dense while also being simple or easy to make. I survived on a lot of organic rotisserie chickens from Whole Foods. But really the important thing is to eat what you can. Yes, make healthy choices when you can, but sometimes all you can stomach is ice cream, and thats ok!
9. A Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Hydrations is key! If your throwing up, it's even more important. Make sure to drink as much water as you can. Having a water bottle by you at all times helps. I love this one, and have it by me all the time.
10. Quality Electrolytes
Replenishing electrolytes is so important. In order for your body to work optimally you need to make sure you are taking in some electrolytes. This is a great brand to just dump into your water. But you can also make an adrenal cocktails as well which are also great!
11. Herbal Teas
Having peppermint or ginger tea on hand was helpful for me to ease digestive upset or nausea. Make sure to talk with your midwife or trusted provider and ask about which ones are safe, there are a few that should be avoided in pregnancy.
12. Grass Fed Tallow
It's never too early to slather that belly up with tallow. It helps to hydrate the skin that will be growing, and helps prevent stretch marks. This is one I love, but I also make my own which is fun to customize!
13. Red Light
Red light therapy is one of my favorite tools. It helped a lot with the mood swings I was having in the first trimester thanks to that influx of hormones. This is the brand I have and I love it!
