A Big Milestone

It’s still early on in my pregnancy, but I have passed the “big marker” of the first trimester!  WOO HOO! Things are looking clear for the road ahead.  Considering a pregnancy is 40 weeks, I am trying to take everything in stride.  “Enjoying” pregnancy is a word I would beg to differ with, however, with no morning sickness in the first trimester, and an increase of energy on the rise (most days) I guess it is a suitable word; I’m just concerned about the days to come…

Measured baby and waving baby views

Now that everything is out in the open and I am starting to show, the next big question everyone has is “are you going to find out the sex of the baby?”  The answer is a definite NO….just kidding, it’s a YES!  How could a planner like me not want to find out the gender!  With trying to keep everything in stride, this is the next goal I have laid out.  Only 5 more weeks until we find out!!!  PLUS I will reach another milestone at that same time – I will be HALF WAY THROUGH!!!! Hallelujah!  My husband, his grandfather and half of the family is rooting for a boy.  If it is a boy, he will be the first to carry on the family name; what a task!  Me? I really don’t care one way or the other – seriously.  I would be happy with either.  I have two friends who are also pregnant and they are both having boys, so ideally, it would be great if they were friends, but then all my other friends have girls and they are only one or two years older, so that would be great if we had a girl.  Some women lean one way or the other and I am torn right down the middle.  There are so many great characteristics about each gender, I am just glad to know that either of them is brewing in me!

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Morning Sickness – The Do’s & Don’ts

Firstly, why “morning sickness”? Who termed it morning? Why not afternoon or evening because it can happen any time of day! Although there is no clear answer why nausea happens during pregnancy, it is believed the cause is hormonal changes.  My friend Chloe is recently prego and voila – nausea just around her 6^th week as most doctors would say. Fortunately she reassured me for when I get pregnant that “it isn’t too bad” and by mid-pregnancy I would be fine.

According to AmericanPregnancy.org, “More than half of all pregnant women experience morning sickness. Many health care providers think morning sickness is a good sign because it means the placenta is developing well.” The good news is that morning sickness doesn’t harm you or your baby, but if you are experiencing excessive nausea or vomiting, then talk to your doc because it may be hyperemesis gravidarum, a rare complication that results in a poor intake of fluids and food (and your wee little one will be quite hungry!).

Here are some DO’s and DON”Ts to help ease your morning sickness:

Do:

• Eat small meals as this will help keep your blood-sugar level steady and will keep your stomach filled
• Drink fluids a ½ hour before after a meal, but not with the meals
• Of course drink fluids also during the day to avoid dehydration
• Eat soda crackers 15 minutes before getting up in the morn (Snacking on easy-to-digest foods, such as whole wheat toast, baked potatoes, pasta and fruit)
• Ask someone to help cook for you or with you and open the windows if the smells are bothering you
• Rest, rest, rest during the day!
• Avoid warm/hot places
• Natural remedies can help – Sniff lemons or ginger, drink lemonade, or eat watermelon to relieve nausea (it works!)
• Eat salty potato chips (they have been found to settle stomachs enough to eat a meal)
• Safely exercise – it helps you sleep at night and relieve stress
• Get out of bed slowly
• Avoid greasy foods

Don’ts:

• Do not lie down after eating
• Do not skip meals
• Do not cook or eat spicy food

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