Pregnancy Tips & Tricks

[JustLikeMe]

I'm 7-8 weeks into my first it-looks-like-it-might-not-miscarry pregnancy.

I've been to the doctor and read plenty, but I've noticed you all know a lot about a lot, so I'm hoping you have some great tips for me.

Ideally, I'd like to start with 1st trimester info, but maybe we could move through tips on the different stages if everything continues to go well. So far, I've got heartburn, nausea, afternoon vomiting, incredibly sore nipples, fatigue, sweating and a handful of other fun symptoms. I'm doing a lot of the usual things for those, but I'm sure I'm overlooking a lot of stuff that works well!

What do you know that I should know?

 

[CherryBomb24]

the only symptoms i had my entire pregnancy was sore nipples, fatigue, sweating.
and cravings in the later months.
sore nipples - no ruff play, basically the only thing that i found helpful was laying in the tub and let the hot shower hit me.
sweating - ugh! enough said. During the summer months it sucked, but deoderant is a godsend. i carried around a hand held fan, and if i could - i was constantly washing my face and neck. Cold rag or towel to the back of your neck will help a lot with over heating even when your not preg.
Nothing you can relaly do about the fatigue accept eat right and try to stay as active as possible. Relaxing just makes the fatigue worse from what i could tell.

And cravings - - like i said more toward the end of the pregnancy - i had to eat big macs. i only ate one a week trying to stay semi-healthy, and a big mac = not healthy lol
My other was jalepenos and mushrooms fried in butter...soo yummy. those i savored with a nice baked chicken breast and only twice a week.
but anyway - i'm gettin hungry.

 

[wicked woman]

In my first trimester I was hospitalized for having 'morning' sickness 24/7. The doctor had me not have any liquids until 1 hour after my meals. Apparently that gave my food time to absorb some of the food since the liquids contributed to the nausea. Worked like a charm for me.

Congrats. Hope things continue to go well for you.

 

[satindesire]

Google is your friend!

http://www.google.com/search?client...hannel=s&hl=en&q=pregnancy&btnG=Google+Search

 

[call_me_Melody]

Listen to your body, especially if you know it well. If you find you are craving fresh fruit, eat fresh fruit. If you want honey mustard chicken with garlic mashed potatoes eat it. HOWEVER try not to use it as an excuse to eat 37 snickers... cause trust me you will be sorry you did after you have the baby it takes a lot of crunches to get rid of the nestle crunches.. hee hee.
Get enough rest, a nap in the afternoon is a really good idea if you can manage it. Drink lots of water, water is good for you and the baby. It's very easy to get dehydrated especially if you have morning (or all day) sickness.
Read all you can about what you want to know.
Dont' skip the sections on c-sections because "you aren't going to end up having one" it's WAY scarier to find out you need one mid labor and not know much about it, educate yourself on it just in case.
I used to love to look at the baby calculators... loved seeing what developmental milestones the baby had reached each week.

Either way, congrats, I will you a very successful and uneventful pregnancy!

 

[Cathleen]

Congratulations and best wishes for a healthy pregnancy and especially a healthy baby.


And welcome to Lit, JustLikeMe, Cherrybomb and Melody, it's nice to have you join in.

 

[JustLikeMe]

I'm sorry everyone, I've had spotty internet access for the past few days!

the only symptoms i had my entire pregnancy was sore nipples, fatigue, sweating.
and cravings in the later months.
sore nipples - no ruff play, basically the only thing that i found helpful was laying in the tub and let the hot shower hit me.
sweating - ugh! enough said. During the summer months it sucked, but deoderant is a godsend. i carried around a hand held fan, and if i could - i was constantly washing my face and neck. Cold rag or towel to the back of your neck will help a lot with over heating even when your not preg.
Nothing you can relaly do about the fatigue accept eat right and try to stay as active as possible. Relaxing just makes the fatigue worse from what i could tell.

And cravings - - like i said more toward the end of the pregnancy - i had to eat big macs. i only ate one a week trying to stay semi-healthy, and a big mac = not healthy lol
My other was jalepenos and mushrooms fried in butter...soo yummy. those i savored with a nice baked chicken breast and only twice a week.
but anyway - i'm gettin hungry.

Lucky you for having so few symptoms!

I totally need one of those handheld fans. I've thought about it, but have been hoping for cooler weather. When we got some yesterday, I was a lot better heat-wise.

Right now, I mostly want all the things I rarely like and have, like potato chips and sheet cake with disgustingly sweet, thick frosting. I'm allowing myself some of them, but in small/moderate amounts.

 

[JustLikeMe]

In my first trimester I was hospitalized for having 'morning' sickness 24/7. The doctor had me not have any liquids until 1 hour after my meals. Apparently that gave my food time to absorb some of the food since the liquids contributed to the nausea. Worked like a charm for me.

Congrats. Hope things continue to go well for you.

That's a great tip. I've started to pick up on that on my own since I drink tons of water, but it's good to hear I'm on the right track.

I'm currently nauseous in the morning for a couple hours and then it really starts around 3pm again. So I'm getting my one really nutritious meal at lunch, which is okay for now I guess (I figure I'll can make up for lost time nutrition-wise in a few months). It just limits what I feel like doing, since so many smells, lights and even sounds make the nausea worse.

Google is your friend!

http://www.google.com/search?client...hannel=s&hl=en&q=pregnancy&btnG=Google+Search

Yeah, I did manage to search and read a lot before I posted this thread, as I said in the first post. I can assure you my googling skills are excellent.

Thanks for the thought, though.

 

[CutieMouse]

100 grams of protein a day.

Protein is the building block for cellular growth, which means if you're eating a healthy diet (proteins, whole grains, lots of veggies and fruits), the majority of your weight gain will go towards growing the baby, and not your hips.

 

[JustLikeMe]

Congratulations and best wishes for a healthy pregnancy and especially a healthy baby.

And welcome to Lit, JustLikeMe, Cherrybomb and Melody, it's nice to have you join in.

Thanks, Cathleen!

Listen to your body, especially if you know it well. If you find you are craving fresh fruit, eat fresh fruit. If you want honey mustard chicken with garlic mashed potatoes eat it. HOWEVER try not to use it as an excuse to eat 37 snickers... cause trust me you will be sorry you did after you have the baby it takes a lot of crunches to get rid of the nestle crunches.. hee hee.
Get enough rest, a nap in the afternoon is a really good idea if you can manage it. Drink lots of water, water is good for you and the baby. It's very easy to get dehydrated especially if you have morning (or all day) sickness.
Read all you can about what you want to know.
Dont' skip the sections on c-sections because "you aren't going to end up having one" it's WAY scarier to find out you need one mid labor and not know much about it, educate yourself on it just in case.
I used to love to look at the baby calculators... loved seeing what developmental milestones the baby had reached each week.

Either way, congrats, I will you a very successful and uneventful pregnancy!

All of this seems like very good advice, Melody!

I'm definitely in the 'afternoon naps' phase right now. Even just a week ago I'd feel like I really needed a nap but found it impossible to get to sleep. Now I have trouble staying awake in early evening, and I feel much better for the hour or so nap I usually take.

I'm also trying to put off unhealthy cravings for a day or two, whenever possible. Most of them pass by then, but if I still really want something, I'll have a little bit (which is usually all I want). Chocolate has been off the menu for a week or two, which is so strange to me!

Has anyone else experienced getting full extremely fast, starting in the 1st trimester? I know it's typical to feel full after little food when the baby is taking up a lot more room, but I've never heard anyone mention not being able to eat much per sitting this early on.

100 grams of protein a day.

Protein is the building block for cellular growth, which means if you're eating a healthy diet (proteins, whole grains, lots of veggies and fruits), the majority of your weight gain will go towards growing the baby, and not your hips.

This is a really tough one for me right now because the list of non-nausea-inducing foods is usually very small, but I expect I'll do better in another month or so. At this point, I'm kind of limited to lowfat dairy products, some turkey sandwiches and the odd Luna-type bar on the protein front. I hate that because I know you're right, but I've found forcing things that sound/taste yucky is a really, really bad idea right now (I made that mistake with chicken--which is typically my main meat protein--weeks ago, and haven't been able to try choking more down since ).

The whole grains and some fruits and veggies, well, that's a lot easier!

 

[Firebrain]

Drink buckets of water - it's easy to get dehydrated.

Eat plenty of iron-rich foods; pulses, green veg, red meat etc. - it's easy to get anaemic.

Both of these things cause headaches and tiredness, which make you feel more ill than pregnant. Bleugh.

If you find it really hard to eat good quality food, don't force yourself - just take a good pregnancy multi-vit. Baby will take what they need; it'll be you that ends up feeling worse off for it, unfortunately.

Swim. It's great for your back, which will be under a lot of stress in the coming months, and it burns the calories in a gentle way.

Sleep when you're tired, as much as you can. You're tired for a reason.

Heartburn/feeling full etc are caused by hormonal changes at this point. It's worth knowing that a lot of heartburn meds like Gaviscon can cause awful itching reactions, so if this occurs, change brands (I spent two months itching like mad before an accidental brand change fixed things).

Oh, and your baby will be able to hear you in the not-too-distant future, so stop swearing now

 

[HorrorKid]

may i just say,that although i have no advice to add, i love the title of this thread. made me giggle- in the nicest way possible!

 

[laZilla]

Google is your friend!

http://www.google.com/search?client...hannel=s&hl=en&q=pregnancy&btnG=Google+Search

Haha, I have to disagree! No offense or anything, but all my obsessive googling stressed me out during my pregnancy more than anything else. I think I googled things like "pregnancy + ambien" so many times and so late at night that the ambien never got me an ounce of sleep anyway.

Anyhoo, to the OP - congrats! And ask me anything, I have a 10 week old daughter snoozing in her swing at this very moment.

 

[DrRamulak]

Protein and water are a must. If you happen to be carrying more than one, don't be surprised if you suddenly crave the diet of a sabre-toothed tiger.

Listen to your body all the time. It's been trained to do this by 5 billion years of evolution.

Don't be surprised if your senses change - you may become very sensitive to smells!

If it's tough first trimester, know that most women have it much easier after the first 12-14 weeks. Not all, but most.

 

[Ravenwind]

When I was pregnant, I ate saltine crackers, tortillas (made toasty over the open flame on the stove), *very* lightly buttered white bread, plain white rice, baked potatoes with a touch of olive oil, and unbuttered/unsalted popcorn to stave off the nausea- any sort of light grains or starches that'd act as a 'sponge'... I had to stay away from butter, though, as it seemed to only make it worse. This might also help with the heartburn as well (I was lucky, and never had heartburn).

Speaking of food, don't feel guilty to satisfy your cravings... that was the worst part for me... seeing food commercials on TV made me insatiably hungry (at my worst, I ate a bowl of Froot Loops with gummy worms)... but don't let the "weird cravings" dominate your appetite; if you can, try to find a healthier alternative to sate the craving, or, if nothing else, have a little bit of the craving (like few bites) to fill the need for taste, and something similar, but healthier, to fill you up. Likewise, don't be surprised if you find yourself insatiably hungry, just remember to try to eat healthy (...normally I can only eat about 3-4 BBQ ribs, and a handful of an appetizer... once, while pregnant, I was able to eat a rack and a half of 'em, as well as 2/3's of an onion loaf, in one sitting... I eventually discovered lettuce is a great way to fill up for times like that).

For the sore nipples, I used this one stuff from St. Ives... I don't remember what exactly it was anymore, but there's this one lotion I use now for general use, FresH2O, it has a really pleasant cooling sensation and increases moisture in the skin... You might find it helps. Or, if nothing else, ice in a washcloth, or a warmed wet washcloth, also helps (depending on the particular soreness you're feeling). ^_~

For the fatigue... take naps. Seriously, don't try to fight the fatigue... you will be seriously lacking in sleep for the two years or so after your baby is born, so get as much rest as you possibly can *now*, while your time is still yours.

Sweating... deodorant is your best friend. ^_~ Not just under your arms, but any place on the body where you suddenly discover that your body likes to sweat. If you have no qualms on lying naked in front of a fan, get a roll-on or a gel over a solid or a spray... the cool air hitting the liquid feels incredibly good.

If you happen to be carrying more than one, don't be surprised if you suddenly crave the diet of a sabre-toothed tiger.

QFT. I had twins, and that is *exactly* what it's like.

 

[Eilan]

When I was pregnant, I found that my body chemistry changed so much that I had to use deodorant soap. When I'm not pregnant, I can get away with something gentler. Of course it didn't help that three of my four children were born during the hottest part of the summer.

Of course, what works for you during your first pregnancy may not work the next time(s) around. I'm still amazed at how different my pregnancies were.

Congrats to JustLikeMe and any other expectant mamas out there!

 

[JustLikeMe]

Drink buckets of water - it's easy to get dehydrated.

Eat plenty of iron-rich foods; pulses, green veg, red meat etc. - it's easy to get anaemic.

Both of these things cause headaches and tiredness, which make you feel more ill than pregnant. Bleugh.

If you find it really hard to eat good quality food, don't force yourself - just take a good pregnancy multi-vit. Baby will take what they need; it'll be you that ends up feeling worse off for it, unfortunately.

Swim. It's great for your back, which will be under a lot of stress in the coming months, and it burns the calories in a gentle way.

Sleep when you're tired, as much as you can. You're tired for a reason.

Heartburn/feeling full etc are caused by hormonal changes at this point. It's worth knowing that a lot of heartburn meds like Gaviscon can cause awful itching reactions, so if this occurs, change brands (I spent two months itching like mad before an accidental brand change fixed things).

Oh, and your baby will be able to hear you in the not-too-distant future, so stop swearing now

Yep, I'm a big water drinker anyway, so staying hydrated isn't an issue. I have found it necessary to moderate the way I drink in the past couple of weeks, since too much too fast is a sure way to make me throw up.

Hopefully I only have a few more weeks of nausea to go before I can add more healthy foods into my diet. Right now, I'm still mostly into grains and dairy products. Brown basmati or jasmine rice with a little butter and salt always sounds good! On the bright side, chocolate, most sugars and junk food have almost totally lost their appeal, so I can't be doing too bad with a couple of food groups, a good multivitamin, B6 and fish oil capsules.

There's a prenatal water fitness class nearby that I'm going to check out, along with yoga.

I've been doing pretty well with Zantac and Tums for the heartburn, and hopefully those will continue to work without side effects! I'd be absolutely miserable without them.

Haha, I have to disagree! No offense or anything, but all my obsessive googling stressed me out during my pregnancy more than anything else. I think I googled things like "pregnancy + ambien" so many times and so late at night that the ambien never got me an ounce of sleep anyway.

Anyhoo, to the OP - congrats! And ask me anything, I have a 10 week old daughter snoozing in her swing at this very moment.

Agreed! I do google stuff like medications and supplements a lot to make sure I'm not planning on taking anything harmful and can make good decisions, but besides that and other basic research, I have to just walk away and let nature take its course. I could easily obsess over the possible outcomes if I let myself research this like crazy!

Protein and water are a must. If you happen to be carrying more than one, don't be surprised if you suddenly crave the diet of a sabre-toothed tiger.

Listen to your body all the time. It's been trained to do this by 5 billion years of evolution.

Don't be surprised if your senses change - you may become very sensitive to smells!

If it's tough first trimester, know that most women have it much easier after the first 12-14 weeks. Not all, but most.

I don't know when they can tell if it's one or multiple fetuses, but my first ultrasound at about 7.5 weeks showed one little heartbeat. Neither of us have any multiples in our families as far as we know, so I don't think that's a likely outcome.

A sharpened sense of smell is always one of my first symptoms. Most of the time it's incredibly annoying, but oh well.

 

[Firebrain]

Just Like Me - check your fish oil capsules as I think a lot contain vitamin A, which you should be avoiding in pregnancy. Make sure your multivit is a pregnancy vit for the same reason.

 

[JustLikeMe]

When I was pregnant, I ate saltine crackers, tortillas (made toasty over the open flame on the stove), *very* lightly buttered white bread, plain white rice, baked potatoes with a touch of olive oil, and unbuttered/unsalted popcorn to stave off the nausea- any sort of light grains or starches that'd act as a 'sponge'... I had to stay away from butter, though, as it seemed to only make it worse. This might also help with the heartburn as well (I was lucky, and never had heartburn).

It hasn't helped with my heartburn so far (although it can get worse when I'm hungry), but it does help with the nausea a ton.

I guess I'm fortunate that, with most grains, I prefer the healthier version to the refined one. Like the other day I was driving home and had to stop at three places just to get a cheddar cheese sandwich on good, whole-grain bread w/ a little mustard and mayo. Tortillas sound good now, too!

For the sore nipples, I used this one stuff from St. Ives... I don't remember what exactly it was anymore, but there's this one lotion I use now for general use, FresH2O, it has a really pleasant cooling sensation and increases moisture in the skin... You might find it helps. Or, if nothing else, ice in a washcloth, or a warmed wet washcloth, also helps (depending on the particular soreness you're feeling). ^_~

I'm sure this is relatively short lived, but for now I'm alright as long as the nipples aren't stimulated. I have to wear a bra to bed, or they'll rub on the sheets and I'll toss and turn all night. Still, I should probably start moisturizing them now to ensure I go into breastfeeding with the healthiest nipples possible.

Sweating... deodorant is your best friend. ^_~ Not just under your arms, but any place on the body where you suddenly discover that your body likes to sweat. If you have no qualms on lying naked in front of a fan, get a roll-on or a gel over a solid or a spray... the cool air hitting the liquid feels incredibly good.

I don't have qualms about removing clothes, but I am trying to use antiperspirant as sparingly as possible because I don't think it's terribly healthy for me or the baby.

When I was pregnant, I found that my body chemistry changed so much that I had to use deodorant soap. When I'm not pregnant, I can get away with something gentler. Of course it didn't help that three of my four children were born during the hottest part of the summer.

Of course, what works for you during your first pregnancy may not work the next time(s) around. I'm still amazed at how different my pregnancies were.

Congrats to JustLikeMe and any other expectant mamas out there!

Speaking of chemistry changes, I'm on my second yeast infection in as many months. And my vagina has done a 180: I used to want to orgasm before sex, but now that seems to make penetration incredibly painful. I have no idea what's up with that, but it's definitely going to call for some experimentation and finger crossing!

If all goes well, there shouldn't be a next time. We think we're well equipped to handle one; two, max, if the stars happen to align. Within 5 years of our first, there's going to be some snipping!

 

[JustLikeMe]

Just Like Me - check your fish oil capsules as I think a lot contain vitamin A, which you should be avoiding in pregnancy. Make sure your multivit is a pregnancy vit for the same reason.

Done! I brought both (plus my Cal/Mag/Zinc) labels to my doc, and she signed off on them. These fish oil capsules are just purified, wild, cold-water fish oil.

You're right, though - the vitamins I was taking before I found out had way too much Vitamin A.