15 week bump
After the pure joy, excitement and "oh my gosh, are we really having another baby?" moment that my husband and I experienced in the beginning of this pregnancy, all I could think about is how badly I wanted to blink my eyes and be in my second trimester. I mean the first trimester is for the birds.... seriously! I LOVE being pregnant, I embrace all of the little things that come with it, but I am a major sicky in the beginning, and it just sucks.
I was truly worried about how bad it would get. Could I still be a good mom to my 3 year old? Will I drive my husband to hate me? Am I being lazy? I would just tell myself that I need to push through it and deal, but my body shut that down real fast.... I literally couldn't get out of bed some days. I remember we found out we were pregnant just before we went to Disney in September, and I just kept asking God to keep me feeling good for the trip so I could enjoy it with my family. He did just that! Literally on the flight home, I started feeling that good ole nausea that you know is from a growing human, not a bad piece of meat.
As I reflect, it is really easy to say that the first trimester "wasn't that bad". I think God designed it that way so we "forget" and keep having kids. Sigh..... My husband travels for a living (he tours doing music), and even when he is home, he has writing sessions that go late and other commitments. I am so grateful that he was home for the majority of my sickness. SO GRATEFUL! Our moms both work during the day, and we have yet to put Amara in childcare. All that to say, I couldn't just fully depend on family that I am most comfortable with. However, we made it through! The hardest part for me was just not having an ounce of energy for my daughter. Getting up to brush my teeth ( which I didn't do most days) was a hardcore chore for me.
Here are MY tips for making it through the first 3 months ( or longer for some of us :) :
Let people help you!
It is sooooo hard to just let someone take my child for me or come over and be in my house when it is a disaster and I look like I am on my last leg. Trust me.... I get it! However, your friends ( especially other moms who have been there) are such a great tool during this time. If they didn't want to help.... they wouldn't offer. Let them bring you those things you need (milk for your other child that can't be bribed with juice anymore) that you couldn't pick up at the grocery store because you didn't have the energy to go.
Listen to your body:
I can't take prenatal vitamins. They really upset my stomach/system, so I literally take kid gummy vitamins to get my folic acid. I crave coke when I am pregnant.... yes it has caffeine, and probably isn't the healthiest of things during the beginning, but it settles my stomach like no other. I like fries and everything else salty. My stomach would lose it if I tried to eat a sweet of any kind. I can sleep allllllll day. I get most of my energy ( which was still very little) in the late night hours. It was so important for me to just let my body do its thing. I just kept telling myself that it was just a phase, and all of these hours of tv that Amara was watching wouldn't ruin her. Right? There were no instagram posts of me eating a health salad or a juice from Whole Foods. You are not out to impress anyone.... just keep yourself alive! Haha! I tried meds to take away the intense nausea, even though I am highly opposed to taking even a headache medicine if it is unnecessary. I was desperate. The meds helped, but gave me a lot of weird side effects that were almost worse than the actual nausea, so I stopped.
Take lots of naps:
A nap a day is essential for me. Even as we are entering the second trimester, I continue to nap when Amara naps in the afternoon. Did I mention how grateful I am that she still naps? :) It just makes the 5-7 o'clock window much more doable. Normally, I am dragging around that time.
Don't "make more" for yourself:
You guys.... this has been my biggest lesson. There is so much that I was even doing for Amara that I didn't have to do. Me being in the bed a lot the last 3 months has really forced Amara to be more independent, and it has made me realize that things can still go on without me having my hand in every. little. step of the day. I am still embracing this lesson as my pregnancy goes on. I cannot carry her everywhere and every time she asks, or grab every little toy for her or get her a snack RIGHT when she asks. All of that has been a good lesson for both of us.
Drink lots of water:
I struggle with this on a daily basis... pregnant or not. However, during this pregnancy, nothing as truly quenched the crazy thirst I will get in the middle of the night like water. I helps me fight dizziness, headaches, and even slight nausea at times. I am really trying to make a conscious effort to increase my intake daily.
Don't cut bangs if you don't already have them:
Yeah, just don't do that.
I have really enjoyed watching other mamas-to-be on Instagram and/or blogs that I follow. So much has changed even in 3 years, so it is fun to see what new products are out there, what they have chosen to differently the second time around, their style and so much more. Here are some of my favs to follow right now:
Naomi over at Love Taza
Brooke from Somewhere, Lately
Sarah Shabacon ( IG name sarahshabacon) from I Wear the Headress
Amy at Little Hip Squeaks
Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere
Thanks for reading! Have a beautiful weekend friends!!
-J
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