Surviving the 1st Trimester

Surviving a Miscarriage

2011-04-05T12:05:00.000-07:00

No one really wants to talk about it. More times than not people just brush it under the carpet. But miscarriage is real and carries very emotional and physical pain. My husband and I lost our first two babies due to miscarriages. Our losses were only 5 months apart from each other. The first one (who we nick named Lima Bean) left us at 9 weeks gestation. That miscarriage was called a missed miscarriage. My body was 9 weeks pregnant but Lima Bean stopped growing at 7 weeks. A missed miscarriage is when the baby dies but the body keeps on going as if the baby is fine. Sadly, there is no known reason why this happens. Our second loss (who we nick named Baby Heart) left us at 6.5 weeks gestation. At 5 weeks we went in for a sonogram to check development and heard the heart beat. But one week later I began bleeding and was diagnosed again as suffering a miscarriage. This time, my body let go without medical intervention. The pain that comes along with a miscarriage is very real. It is not only physically painful but also emotionally. With our first loss I was having contractions two days after we found out our baby was gone. I was told that when your uterus is not yet expanded to full size, contractions can be worse than with a full term labor. That comment held true with us. Ways to help heal? Talk about your feelings. Do not keep them inside. Find a support group, even ones online, and speak with women and couples who have gone through it. Do not let anyone tell you to move on. It is not that easy, and no one should tell you that. It was your baby...... not theirs. Keep hope alive. Many women miscarry and there is no medical reason behind it. Although you would not know this as it is such a taboo topic. Pooker, my oldest daughter, was our third pregnancy in 11 months. Her sister, Kit Kat, was conceived when Pooker was 10 months old. It can happen to you. Find a doctor who you trust. A doctor who listens to your concerns, fears, ideas, and what ever else is so important. We were lucky enough to have one such doctor. (Two actually......) A doctor who understands you, takes your history seriously, and is proactive is very important. If you can not find someone to talk to...... please feel free to contact me. I had a special friend listen to me and it helped that she suffered like we had.

restless legs?

2009-08-04T06:50:00.000-07:00

Okay so this may not be a "first trimester" thing... but are you suffering from Restless Leg Syndrome at night? This article is helpful. I have found using a heating pad for 30-45 mins right before bed helps my legs and ankles. Use the heating pad in bed while your legs are covered up with your blanket. This will help the heat stay in one spot. If you have a large enough heating pad you can wrap your legs and ankles up in the pad. They say leg stretches can help too... but the only thing so far that helps me is the heating pad. GOOD LUCK LADIES!!!!

gotta go?!

2009-06-09T12:32:00.001-07:00

Are you finding yourself going pee much more now? FUN HUH?! Try this little trick to help you go fewer times at night (and during the day)... Lean forward when you are "going", it will help apply a small amount of pressure on your bladder so you can empty it more. Good luck!! ( I am still going up to 5 times during the night!)

Second trimester and still sick!

2009-05-26T08:50:00.000-07:00

You expect to enter into your second trimester and be CURED from your first trimester sickness! SURPRISE it may not end that quickly! Don't be worried though. In most cases your morning sickness will start to fade away, but some unlucky women still throw up right into labor! Just continue what you have been doing.... and pray it will end soon! Remember.... SLEEP, DRINK, SLEEP! Good luck mommies!

pregnant and have a toddler!

2009-05-04T08:50:00.001-07:00

You find yourself in your first trimester and you have a toddler?! Maybe you have a newly turned 12 month old (like me) and in the thick of your morning sickness! What do you do, when all you want to do is lay down? There are ways to still pay attention to your toddler and get some rest for yourself. Try laying on the floor while your toddler plays. This can become a new game with the two of you. Just be careful that your bouncing toddler does not get too playful with your belly. You can sleep (or rest) while your toddler is napping. Most toddlers still take 2 naps during the day... so this may be a great time for you to rest your sleepy bones. If you feel just too exhausted or dizzy.... do not be afraid to ask for help. There have been a few times I have called my husband to come home early due to dizziness... there is no sense in putting yourself or your toddler in danger. Hang in there!

tooth paste causing issues?

2009-04-20T09:38:00.000-07:00

Does brushing your teeth make you sick? Try changing tooth paste flavors. We went through 4 different flavors before we found one that I could stand. Even smelling it on my husband's breath made me sick! Not kidding. He could be on the other side of the room and I could smell his breath as he talked! He was beginning to think I hated him!!!!! But I found cinnamon flavored worked well... but try and see which one works for you. Also try brushing your teeth 10-20 mins AFTER you eat. That may help you not gag so much.

out of breath?

2009-04-20T06:41:00.000-07:00

Are you finding yourself out of breath just by walking from one room to another? This is from the Progesterone hormone in your body. It is believed to be the rise in Progesterone that causes this. Progesterone is an important hormone that supports your baby while you are pregnant. Low levels can result in miscarriage (like our first two pregnancies.) I know I get out of breath VERY easy. If you are like me... try to keep it easy. However if you are going somewhere that requires a lot of walking... see if you can use a wheel chair. I did this while at a recent trip to an Aquarium and it helped so much! So if you are out of breath...think of it as a positive sign that all is well!

extra saliva?

2009-04-14T13:46:00.000-07:00

Do you wonder where the extra saliva come from? I know I find the need to spit most of my saliva out just so I don't feel the need to throw up! This article may help you understand where it is coming from. Excessive salivation is called ptyalism or sialorrhea and is more common among women suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness. Although experts do not know for sure what causes this yucky problem, they believe hormonal changes might be part of the reason. Sadly I have not found anything that makes it go away.... however cinnamon gum does help. Try chewing half a stick at a time. Do not be ashamed to keep a spit cup near by!

can't get comfy?

2009-04-14T06:18:00.000-07:00

Are you finding yourself tossing and turning at night? Try placing a pillow in between your legs while you are laying on your side. Placing a pillow between your legs helps keep your hips at the same height. Or you can purchase a pregnancy pillow. I bought one and it really did help support my WHOLE body.

Morning sickness that lasts ALL day

2009-04-13T08:45:00.000-07:00

Why is it that some first trimesters are "worse" than others? I am 9 weeks preg right now and suffering through some of the worst morning sickness ever! My OB put me on Zofran to help ease the "ickiness." But it is no miracle cure! I have found eating every 1.5 - 2 hours seems to help. Not big meals... just small snacks... like triscuits, rice cakes, cheese, chips, ice cream pops (you get the idea.) Also try not to drink liquid with your meals. That can sometimes make you feel sicker. Once you have found a food that helps.... STICK WITH IT! Right now I am all about frozen waffles. yummmmm! Some ladies also find sucking on hard sour candy helps. Like Lemon drops or sour skittles.

feeling dizzy?

2009-04-13T07:29:00.000-07:00

Come on... raise your hand! The feeling of falling over can hit at ANY time and take you by surprise! Try to sit or lay down and rest for a bit. Even taking deep breaths in and out may help. I found lifting my 11 month old seemed to make me feel dizzy more often. So I only lift her when there is no one else to help me. I also found this article at BabyCenter had some really good information! Some tips to help:

Lay on your left side, as this helps maximize the blood flow to your heart and brain. This will help keep you form fainitng and might even slow the dizzy feeling.

Do not stand up too fast. When you sit, blood pools in your lower extremities (your feet and lower legs). If your body isn't able to adjust when you stand up, not enough blood returns to your heart from your legs. As a result, your blood pressure drops quickly, which can leave you feeling faint. This can happen to people who aren't pregnant as well.

Adviod laying flat on your back. In your second and third trimesters, your growing uterus can slow the circulation in your legs by compressing the inferior vena cava (the large vein that returns blood from the lower half of the body to the heart) and the pelvic veins.Lying flat on your back can make this problem worse. In fact, about 8 percent of pregnant women in their second and third trimesters develop a condition called supine hypotensive syndrome: When they lie on their back, their heart rate increases, their blood pressure drops, and they feel anxious, lightheaded, and nauseated until they shift their position.

When I was a child I was diagnosed as having Vasovagal episodes. This can also be a problem during pregnancy. Vasovagal syncope Some people get dizzy when they strain to cough, pee, or have a bowel movement. These actions can prompt a vasovagal response (that is, an effect on your circulatory system by your vagus nerve) — a decrease in blood pressure and heart rate, leading to dizziness and fainting.

Good luck Mommies!

When you can't drink water!

2009-04-13T07:21:00.000-07:00

Your doctor is telling you to push water right? Well what happens if you can't stomach the clear tasteless beverage? You can try to suck on juice pops, drink juice, or even (my favorite right now) sweet tea. I try to choke down at least 2 glasses of water a day and the rest I drink what ever I can. The colder the water is the easier it goes down! Sometimes even ginger ale won't even go down! The key is not to get dehydrated.... and to be smart. Stay away from caffinated drinks, like soda and coffee. These can be safe in moderation, but do not rely on them as your main source of liquid.

Morning sickness

2009-04-13T06:50:00.000-07:00

Are you feeling at your worst when you first get out of bed in the morning? Try eating a piece of toast with light butter, and waiting about 5-10 minutes before starting your day. This may not be the OMG cure.... but it may help you not feel so sick. Good luck!