Surviving The 1st Trimester Part 2
Here we go!
Anxiety:
I've said it before: pregnancy can be stressful. Although the VAST majority of women carry to term and have complication-free pregnancies and births, the fear that you'll be one of the unlucky ones is a very real part of the first trimester. There's hardly a bump, and you won't feel the baby move until about a month into the 2nd trimester. Sometimes it doesn't seem real yet, which can make you feel even more anxious.
As someone who has a history of losing loved ones to unexpected loss, I entered this pregnancy apprehensively. Having a baby with my partner has been a dream of mine for a few years now, and I was so scared that something would go wrong. At times, I was a mess! But I learned how to cope.
As I've mentioned before, reading pregnancy books often worsened those fears. Cutting back on the amount of research I did helped a lot. Here are some other things that helped to lessen my anxiety:
+Seek out positive stories.
I reached out on a local Facebook group to ask moms to share their positive birth stories, and what resulted what a wealth of inspiring retellings. So often society likes to show us all the negative sides of birth and pregnancy, portraying them as something to be afraid of, rather than be excited about. But that's BS! Like I said, the odds are in our favour. Actively search for the good, and you'll find it.
+Don't be afraid to create a positivity bubble, and protect it.
Shortly after I announced to a few friends that I was pregnant, the horror stories began rolling in. I would be feeling great about the amazing creature growing inside of me, and then a friend would tell me about someone they knew who had a terrible outcome. The wheels would start spinning in my head, and almost instantly I would start worrying that the same fate would happen to me.
Eventually I had to be assertive and ask my friends to not share these stories with me. There is absolutely no need for them. Yes, there is a small chance that something could go wrong, but if that were the case, I would deal with it then, just like I've dealt with every other difficult thing I've experienced. There is literally ZERO point in expecting the worst. It just steals today's certain joy.
+Take control of what you can.
I have to say, I've been pretty impressed with myself this pregnancy! I have been so proactive with regards to my health and my prenatal care. I have booked doctor and midwife appointments as soon as I can when any issues arise, I have been doing a lot of researching with regards to my birth plan, and I have been (mostly) eating well and taking high-quality supplements.
With pregnancy, like most things in life, there are many factors that we can not control. However, there are a lot of things we can do to produce the best outcome possible. Do those things! Although those 40 weeks can sometimes seem like a lifetime, it will fly by, and you don't want to get to the delivery room with regrets. As the old saying goes, don't put off til tomorrow what you can do today. Trust me, you'll feel like a pregnant powerhouse if you take charge.
+Get caught up in the good stuff.
I created my baby registry pretty early. Some might think that's crazy, but it's been a fun process, and it helped me to feel connected to my baby. We also picked out a name fairly early on, and before the first trimester was over, I had decided where I will be giving birth. We already have a pretty big stash of cute baby stuff already, too!
The pessimist might say not to do these things in case something goes wrong. I refuse to think that way! Making all these plans is my way of living in faith and believing that everything will be okay. Honestly, it helps! Expect the best, and it just might happen.
Hopefully these tips will help you to enjoy an anxiety-free first 90 days!
Now, as a bonus, here is a collection of random first trimester tips to help you out:
+it's totally normal to want to sleep 12+ hours a day. There's nothing wrong with you, and you're not being selfish. Sleep whenever you need to! Seriously, naps will be absolutely crucial during this stage.
+you can tell people you're pregnant whenever you damn well please! (Although, you might want to discuss this with your partner first.) A lot of people say to wait til after the first 12 weeks, but if you wanna share sooner or later than that, it's completely up to you! This is YOUR pregnancy!
+research what foods you can and can't eat and try to stick to it, but if you slip up, don't beat yourself up. Yes, it's stressful, but you'll most likely be okay.
+be as present and mindful as you can be for ultrasounds, especially the first few. There is NOTHING like the feeling of seeing your little bean onscreen for the first time! You'll want to remember this moment.
+it's *probably* safe for most pregnant people to clean out kitty's litter box if you wash your hands thoroughly afterwards, but I won't tell your partner if you make him or her do it instead, citing pregnancy as your reasoning.
+you might get the "pregnancy glow," or you might look like a pimply, bloated mess. Both are normal!
Hope you enjoyed these tips, and I hope you have an amazing, peaceful, and happy pregnancy!
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