Everything going on womb-side may be hidden, but that doesn’t mean you’re not feeling it. In fact, you probably feel completely exhausted. Here are more first trimester survival tips to get you through the day.
This is one time in life when you should give yourself permission to rest. Your second trimester is probably going to bring back a lot of energy, and in your third trimester you go crazy with nesting. Your house will look better than it ever has!
So lower your standards right now! If you have older children and partner who can help out, now is the time to recruit them, but it’s okay if you don’t.
Rest, Rest, Rest
Put your feet up! If this is your first baby, shamelessly kick your feet up, plant yourself on the couch, and rest. Read a book or take a nap. Stay in your jammies for an extra couple of hours… or get in the habit of taking an afternoon nap.
Your rest is really important. You may be surprised at just how tired you are and just how many extra hours you can sleep in a day. It’s totally normal. You wake up, eat breakfast, and then have an irresistible urge to go back to bed.
If you’re working or going to school you might not be able to get as much sleep as you’d like to, but you should try to rest if at all possible… whenever you can! Go to bed early if you can’t nap or rest during the day. Your body is really going to crave it.
If you have older children, now is the time to totally babyproof the den or a bedroom. Then you lie down and let them play around you 🙂 You can read them a few books featuring pregnant mommies to help them understand why you’re not quite as active as usual.
Don’t feel guilty about this time. Like all situations in life, this will pass, and your children are not going to suffer from you needing some extra sleep. A special box of toys that only comes out for an hour or so while you doze is a nice treat for younger children. Older children can be given a new book, coloring books, etc. to help them through these few short weeks of not having you quite as hands-on.
It Can Wait
Again, the housework can wait. Use your dishwasher liberally – or use paper plates. It’s not the end of the world if you give in to a few conveniences.
I do recommend that you find a point in the day that you usually feel good to make sure that the fridge and cabinets (as well as your cooler, if needed) are stocked with snacks that will get you through the next day feeling okay.
Also get snacks for your kids in order at this time. Other things that can be done:
- Sandwich fixings organized
- Slow-cooker meals assembled in the fridge, ready for the slow cooker in the morning
- Meals defrosted from the freezer
- Salad veggies chopped and ready
Otherwise, let things go. When you emerge in the second trimester a few weeks from now you may find some extra dust on things, but it’s OK. It doesn’t mind the wait.
Put It Away
Put anything you can away. Counter-top appliances you don’t often use, decorative towels and knick-knacks in the bathroom, etc. If you have toddlers and preschoolers, pack away most of their toys. Keep only beloved ones out!
This minimizes what you have to take care of and clean up. You can rotate these once a week at a point where you’re feeling good if you want to change these up. It’s a lot easier to pick up only a few toys and books and put them in a basket before your husband gets home.
You can also put away throws and pillows, paper, scissors, glue, etc… all those things that seem to cause a huge mess and clutter in the house.
About Exercise
Some moms find that getting up and moving makes them feel a lot worse. But others find that it helps. I find that it’s easy to avoid exercise, but if I take a gentle walk or a gentle prenatal exercise routine in the morning, I usually feel better.
Try a walk in the early evening to see if it helps you. If you find that it does help, make it part of your daily routine (at whatever point of the day works for you). It’s easy to make excuses and leave it out, but if it really helps, really do it!
I’m not talking about power-walking or bouncing gym routines. Just get out and take a stroll. The fresh air and movement can help you feel a lot better.
Related Articles
- How to Survive Your First Trimester: First Steps (Part 1 of this series)
- Tips that helped me have a great first trimester
- Having a Healthy, Natural Pregnancy
[raw]
<--- Replace Socializeit--->
[/raw]
Photo by Nate Grigg