If you’re a new mom-to-be in your first trimester of pregnancy, then these pregnancy tips are perfect for you! New moms are always looking for the best tips, checklists and advice. They want a healthy baby, and a healthy and stress free pregnancy. I chose the best pregnancy tips for you that will help you feel more confident and prepared for your new adventure. They helped me as a new mom, and now I want to help you through this journey. With my first pregnancy, I felt overwhelmed with all the things I had to do. All I really wanted to know is if what I was doing was healthy for my baby and me. One thing I knew for sure was that I was going to learn and grow as my pregnancy advanced. After each pregnancy, I felt more confident and prepared for what was to come. So congratulations! Now it’s time to celebrate your great news!
8 Great Pregnancy Tips for New Moms in First Trimester
These 8 pregnancy tips are what worked best for me. I realized after experiencing 4 different pregnancies that these tips not only helped me take care of myself, but they helped me feel prepared and confident for the remainder of my pregnancy. Follow these tips and forget about the stress! I’ve got you covered!
Pregnancy Tip 1: Take a Prenatal Vitamin
The first tip I have for you is to take a prenatal vitamin. This is a great tip for new moms if they have never taken a prenatal vitamin before. According to the Mayo Clinic, it is best to take one before you are pregnant to start building your folic acid, but starting in your first trimester as soon as you get that positive is also beneficial. Prenatal vitamins have all the vitamins and minerals you will need during your pregnancy including calcium, folic acid, and iron, which is important for proper fetal growth. Find a good organic whole food prenatal vitamin without artificial colors or preservatives that provides all the vitamins and minerals you need. Speak with your health care provider about which prenatal vitamin is best for you.
Pregnancy Tip 2: Choose a Health Care Provider You will Love
The second pregnancy tip I feel is very important for success in your first trimester is choosing a health care provider that you’ll love and feel comfortable with. You have many options and it’s important that you are confident with your choice. The best way to choose is by knowing what type of birth you want. Do you want a natural unmedicated birth, the epidural, a home birth, or a birth at a hospital or birth center? Think about what you want and select a health care provider that will be right for you. Here are some health care providers you can choose for your birth:
- Obstetrician-Gynecologist: An OB-GYN is a medical doctor who specializes in pregnancy, childbirth, and women’s reproductive system. OB-GYNs have graduated from an accredited school of medicine and have completed a four-year residency in obstetrics and gynecology. An OB-GYN team will see you throughout your pregnancy and most likely you will be able to meet them all. On the day of your birth, you will see the OB-GYN that is on call on that day.
- Family Practice Doctor: A family practice doctor is who you go to for your health issues. You can go to your family practice doctor to confirm your pregnancy and your doctor may even be able to see you throughout your pregnancy. Make sure to ask if that’s who you want at your birth.
- Midwife: Midwives are nurse practitioners that have had special training in midwifery and can provide obstetric care. They work with obstetricians if there is ever a problem with pregnancy, labor, or delivery. If you have a low risk pregnancy, this is an option for you. They assist deliveries in hospitals, birth centers, or homes.
Pregnancy Tip 3: Make a Prenatal Appointment
Once you have figured out who you want as your health care provider, give them a call and make an appointment. Some clinics start seeing patients at 7 to 9 weeks. If you call too early in your pregnancy, they may have you call back as you get closer to the 7 to 9 week mark. Make sure you know when the first day of your last period was since this is a question that you will be asked to figure out how far along you are and your due date.
Pregnancy Tip 4: Prepare For Your First Prenatal Appointment
When I went to my first prenatal appointment, I had so many questions. I wanted to do my best to have a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby. I wrote down a list of questions to ask my doctor and I won’t lie, I felt a little silly taking out my long list, but this was important. Here are some questions that may help you feel prepared for your appointment and more confident during pregnancy:
WHAT FOODS SHOULD I AVOID?
There are some foods that are not safe to eat while pregnant. Some foods include raw meats, fish, eggs, and sprouts. Others include high mercury fish and unpasteurized cheese and dairy.
CAN I DRINK COFFEE?
I love coffee, and I was told by my doctor that one cup a day is fine to drink, but I try to stay away from anything that can affect my pregnancy. Especially in my first trimester. Some studies have linked more than 200 milligrams of caffeine a day with an increased risk of miscarriage and low birth weight. Check to see how much caffeine your favorite drink has. Also, remember that chocolate has caffeine too. Talk to your healthcare provider to see what is right for you.
ARE MY CURRENT MEDICATIONS SAFE?
If you are currently taking prescription medicine, let your healthcare provider know to see if it is safe to take during pregnancy. Some prescription medicine may affect your baby so you may have to stop taking it or switch to one that is safe. Do not stop taking your medicine without talking to your healthcare provider first.
WHICH OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATIONS ARE SAFE TO TAKE?
There are times when we have headaches or very bad heartburn during pregnancy. These symptoms are normal and we can usually tough them out. I tried to stay away from any over-the-counter medicine during pregnancy because I didn’t want it to affect my baby in any way. If you feel you need to take over-the-counter medicine, talk to your healthcare provider for a list of medications that are safe to take during pregnancy. There are many that we need to stay away from to protect our baby.
CAN I EXERCISE DURING PREGNANCY?
Exercise is so beneficial for both you and baby during pregnancy, and most exercises are safe to do. Don’t work harder than you can and stay hydrated. Some safe exercises include walking, swimming, yoga, and squats. If you didn’t have a routine, it’s never too late to start. It may be difficult to start if you have morning sickness, but you can always start once you feel better. Always talk to your healthcare provider before you start any exercise to get the details about safety.
CAN I DYE MY HAIR?
Hair coloring is pretty safe, but I like to wait to get my highlights done after my first trimester of pregnancy just to be safe. With highlights, the color is placed on strands of your hair, not the scalp. Base colors do touch your skin, but according to the American Pregnancy Association, small amount of dye is absorbed through your skin leaving little that would reach the fetus. If you’re still worried, talk to your healthcare provider.
WHAT INGREDIENTS IN SKIN CARE PRODUCTS SHOULD I AVOID?
It is always best to use an organic or natural skin care product without unnecessary ingredients whether you’re pregnant or not, but some ingredients that you should hold off on are Retinol, also known as Retin-A or Retinyl Palmitate, Benzoyl Peroxide or Salicylic Acid, Hydroquinone, Parabens, Phthalates, Toluene, Formaldehyde, Aluminum Chloride Hexahydrate, and Chemical Sunscreens. They may be harmful to your baby so read the ingredients because even organic and natural products may contain a harmful ingredient.
IS IT SAFE TO HAVE SEX DURING PREGNANCY?
If you have a healthy pregnancy, it is safe to have sex throughout your entire pregnancy. Your baby is very well protected by the amniotic fluid. In the beginning, you may worry if you’ll hurt your baby, but your baby will be just fine. Some light bleeding or cramping may occur after sex, but it’s always a good idea to contact your healthcare provider if that happens.
ARE YOU THE DOCTOR THAT WILL BE AT MY BIRTH?
For two out of four of my births, my doctors were able to be there for the deliveries of my babies. I felt lucky for those births because there was a chance they wouldn’t be on call that day. At the practices I was going to, doctors did rotations so we can meet all the doctors and get to know them. Sometimes, the doctor you see will not deliver your baby so try to meet all of them and get to know them. Ask your doctor how it works at their practice.
WHEN CAN WE DISCUSS MY BIRTH PLAN?
If you have certain requests for the day of your birth, then you need to discuss your birth plan with your healthcare provider as soon as you can. I know some doctors want to wait until after 20 weeks to discuss your birth plan, but it is best to know early enough if your doctor has the same views. Every birth is different and sometimes your birth will not go the way you want, but it is always good to prepare.
WHO CAN I CALL IF I HAVE QUESTIONS?
For my first pregnancy, I had a ton of questions. I didn’t know if some symptoms were normal and I was so thankful to have a nurse line to call. Find out if you can call a nurse or your healthcare provider if you have any questions. You may also be able to send an email if it’s not urgent.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON NATURAL CHILDBIRTH, EPIDURALS OR C-SECTIONS?
The answers to these questions may help you with your birth plan. If you plan on having a natural unmedicated birth, then your doctor needs to know. Ask about c-section rates, and pain management. Do your research on your different options. I like to know what options I have before choosing because during labor, you may want to make a quick decision.
ARE MY SYMPTOMS NORMAL?
Our bodies are changing so much everyday with new symptoms you have never experienced. Our belly may hurt, you may get a sharp pain down your back and leg, or light bleeding. If you have a doubt, always talk to your healthcare provider. It’s hard to know if your symptoms are normal if this is your first pregnancy. You’ll get your piece of mind once you know your symptom is normal.
Pregnancy Tip 5: Eat a Healthy Diet for a Healthy Pregnancy and Baby
First trimester of pregnancy is so important because your baby develops its brain, spinal cord and all of its organs. That is why healthy eating is a must. Healthy foods help our baby’s growth and development, so it’s a good idea to pay attention to what you eat. If you can, try to eat as many whole foods as possible. Fruits, vegetables, breads, grains, proteins and dairy. During pregnancy, we need an extra 300 calories a day and eating a variety of foods along with your prenatal vitamin will help to get all of the vitamins and minerals you need for the day.
Pregnancy Tip 6: Exercise in First Trimester for Morning Sickness Relief
Exercise benefits both you and baby in many ways. During your first trimester of pregnancy, it may be difficult to exercise if you have morning sickness, but walking, which is low impact, can actually help relieve morning sickness for some. I tried walking everyday before my morning sickness kicked in around week 6 and continued once I felt better around week 12. Exercise is safe if you have a healthy pregnancy, and if you want to start, talk to your healthcare provider to see what exercises are safe for you.
Exercises that are safe during pregnancy are:
- Prenatal yoga
- Walking
- Swimming
- Squatting
- Low impact aerobics
- Using a birthing ball
Benefits of exercise during pregnancy are:
- Better sleep
- Improves mood
- Increases energy
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Promotes muscle tone
- Reduces backaches
- May prevent gestational diabetes
- Easier labor
Pregnancy Tip 7: Buy a Pregnancy Book in Your First Trimester
One of the first purchases I did during my first trimester were pregnancy books. You can find many books with topics on baby’s development, managing labor, natural birth, and healthy diets. I learned a lot by reading a little at a time and I looked forward to reading each one every night. The books I purchased also helped me know if what I was going through in pregnancy was normal. Even after my third pregnancy, I would still go back to my favorite chapters to remind myself that it was all normal.
Pregnancy Tip 8: Enjoy Each Moment of Pregnancy
The last pregnancy tip I have for all you beautiful new moms is to enjoy each moment of pregnancy. Your first trimester of pregnancy can feel overwhelming at times because pregnancy symptoms take over our body, and we realize that soon we will be caring for a little human being! You may ask yourself if you will do a good job, and you will. You just have trust in yourself. I’ll be honest with you, first trimester for me with all my pregnancies were not fun and I never enjoyed it the way I wanted to because I was always feeling sick. I didn’t let that stop me from taking baby bump photos when I was able to. That made me feel better because I knew it was temporary and I would be holding my baby at the end of this journey. So take belly pics and find a special album to place those photos in.
Another part of first trimester that made me a little nervous was the planning. I wanted to make sure I had everything my baby needed. If you feel nervous, don’t worry, just know you have more time to plan. You don’t need it all in your first trimester. Take it day by day, follow these tips, and enjoy each moment. It is truly amazing what your body does. One day you’ll look back and miss feeling those baby kicks and the thought of having your baby growing inside of you. I hope these 8 great pregnancy tips will help you feel better prepared and confident for the months to come.
What things are you doing to feel confident and prepared for your first trimester of pregnancy? I’d love to know! Enjoy this special time!