I remember the night we found out we were pregnant like it was yesterday. I surprised my husband with a mug that read “Dad we love you,” and from that point, it was a whirlwind of emotions. As a first-time mom-to-be, I embarked on a journey of reading, watching videos, and researching to prepare myself for the unknown ahead. Very quickly, I entered this new chapter of my life, filled with excitement, questions, and emotions, I expected the glow of pregnancy, a cute baby bump, and quirky cravings my husband and I could laugh about. However, my first trimester unfolded quite differently from what I had imagined.
Here are five unexpected experiences from my first trimester that I wish I knew about pregnancy that reshaped my perspective on motherhood:
1- Morning sickness: Not just in the morning
I don’t know why it’s called morning sickness when it can strike at any time during the day. I remember sitting on the bathroom floor one evening, battling nausea and vomiting, triggered by various scents. From coffee to perfume, my heightened sensitivity made it challenging to conceal my pregnancy from those around me. To make matters even more confusing, nausea can come at any time during your pregnancy, not just in your first trimester.
While not everything offered relief, a few remedies did provide some form of comfort:
- Anti nausea wrist bands – While they didn’t work all the time, they were definitely helpful while I was on the move. By applying pressure on your inner arm, they are meant to provide relief from nausea and are an inexpensive tool you can try.
- Ginger Tea – Ginger tea is known for its anti nausea effects and can help provide instant relief. Try to use fresh ginger instead of the tea bags, because some ginger labeled products don’t actually use real ginger, which won’t provide the same sense of relief
- Salted crackers – One of the few things I could eat. Here’s a tip: Keep salted crackers next to your bedside. Sometimes you will want to have them first thing in the morning to ease your nausea
2- Baby bumps might take longer to make an appearance
Contrary to what I expected, I was actually losing weight my first trimester due to my “morning” sickness. At first, that worried me, but when talking to my doctor, I found out that it is actually quite common. Always check with your practitioner if you have any concerns, but chances are a little bit of weight loss is perfectly safe your first couple of weeks.
3- You might not experience cravings: I did not crave pickles and chocolate
Unlike Phoebe from FRIENDS craving meat, I didn’t experience any specific out of the ordinary food cravings. As soon as we got pregnant, I expected (and wanted) to wake my husband up in the middle of the night and send him on a random supermarket run. When that didn’t happen, I worried about the reasons behind my lack of cravings. I later learned from my doctor absence of cravings can be a positive sign, indicating a balanced and well nourished diet.
Again, every pregnancy is different and while you might be having a lot of cravings, it doesn’t necessarily mean your body is lacking any type of minerals or vitamins! Always check with your practitioner before jumping to your own conclusions.
4- You’re not always riding the emotional rollercoaster
Pregnancy hormones can lead to fluctuating emotions and have you experience good days and emotional ones. While some days were emotionally challenging, with tears flowing over the last slice of cheese, other days were filled with joy and contentment. Understanding these changes and having a supportive environment is key in ensuring you’re able to overcome any kind of emotions you face. That can be especially hard in the first trimester, when you’re still keeping the pregnancy a secret!
5- Bathroom breaks are more frequent that I would have liked
If it wasn’t for vomiting, it was for peeing. The need for frequent bathroom visits only got worse as the pregnancy progressed. In my last weeks of pregnancy, I woke up several times at night for a bathroom run – as if my body was getting prepared for the upcoming sleep disruptions. One thing that helped reduce the night wakings (in those first few weeks) was limiting my fluid intake before bed. This only worked for a while though, and when baby’s head started growing, more pee started flowing!
Remember that every pregnancy journey is different and unique. Your symptoms might be very different than the ones I faced. You might not have any nausea and start showing from your 2nd month. You might also crave all sorts of foods but not feel like an emotional wreck. Regular consultations with your healthcare provider are essential to ensure a healthy pregnancy.
The truth is, every pregnancy journey is different than the other. But the one thing I can always recommend is to listen to your body, in every trimester. You know best. Rest when your tired, eat when your hungry and always remember to celebrate YOU! Acknowledge that your body is doing incredible work.
