Tips and Tricks Each Trimester

Most beautiful adventure

Pregnancy is the most beautiful adventure your body will take you. When I was pregnant I had a pregnancy week by week calendar on my fridge with lots of tips and tricks. I want to share with you the most useful ones which can turn this adventure into an amazing journey.

Trimester ONE

Congratulations with the growing baby inside you! Maybe you already noticed some differences in your body and the first thing you can feel and notice is the change in your breast and nipples, from 4 weeks they can get more sensitive as they are holding more fluids.

Are you having morning sickness? Make sure you don’t have an empty stomach. Eat small portions with loads of zinc like wholemeal products, eggs, seeds, nuts, champions and with Vitamin B6 like banana’s, fish and milk.

Tired, Oh so Tired! Your baby is growing inside you and because of all the hormonal changes in your body you are tired and fatigued much quicker. This is very natural and you just give in, take time to rest, head to bed early in the evening, take a week off and recharge. If you’re not in lockdown, I also suggest to book a Pregnancy Massage, make sure you book with an certified massage therapist and get some well-deserved relaxation. Of course, I recommend this the whole pregnancy period around.

Tips for Dad’s

Your wife will be very tired in the first few weeks of pregnancy. This is due to hormonal changes in her body. You can help and support her to do more of the daily chores and be patient with her ups and downs! Rest assured, after 3 months she will have more energy.

Trimester TWO

You survived the first trimester and will be probably having more energy and urge to do more fun things. Your breast are bigger and your nipples will be darker.

As a result of the growth of your baby, your skin is extending. This can cause itchiness on your belly but also on your breasts. You can moisturize your skin with a nice lotion to prevent stretch marks like the Belly Oil from The Hermosa @ Co, this is a lovely moisturising oil which I sell in my web shop.

Women on average gain 12 kilos during pregnancy. Your baby takes only 3500 grams of these extra kilo’s.

Amniotic fluid 800 grams
Placenta (an organ that didn’t exist before!) 650 grams
Added Blood Volume mum 1250 grams
Breast tissue 400 grams
Uterus tissue 1000 grams
Extra Energy stores stores 2100 grams
Increased body fluids 2000 grams
Your Joy, (that’s your Baby!) 3500 grams
Total: apx.12 kilo’s

It's a myth that you have to eat for two. If you eat and drink a diverse and healthy, fresh menu you and your baby will get enough nutrients.

Make sure you get Calcium for the growth of the baby’s bones (e.g. milk and cheese), Iron for the extra blood volume (e.g. meat, wholemeal bread, wholemeal rice and macaroni, muesli, vegetables and fruits) Protein for the growth of your placenta, breasts and growth baby (e.g. milk, fish, meat, chicken, nuts and eggs) Vitamin C increases resistance and promotes iron absorption (e.g. veggies and fruit) Fibers prevent constipation (e.g. wholemeal products, veggies (cooked and raw) and fresh and dried fruit (Low-Fat)-Margarine for extra Vitamin A and D.

Your kidneys have to work extra hard during your pregnancy. To help them to do their job you can drink more than normal. Drink water, (herbal) tea (no sugar) or juices with no added sugar.

Tips for Daddy

Make sure you make pictures of the growing belly of the amazing mother of your baby. Every month a new picture will show you how your baby is growing.

Trimester THREE

Your baby is viable! If you give birth to your baby now it is viable although your preemie will have to go to the NICU. However, the best place for your baby to grow is inside you until it’s completely fully grown and labour starts on its own.

Growing a baby can put some extra strain on your body and can cause you pelvic girdle pains. Back and Pelvic Girdle pains are one of the most common complaints during pregnancy in the 3rd trimester. There are certain things you can do to minimize your pain.

• Safe exercise during pregnancy to strengthen your back and abdomen like walking, swimming, Yoga and Pilates.
• Improve your posture; using proper posture when working, sitting, sleeping. Good posture is crucial for optimal body function and lead to a better wellbeing.
• Heat and Cold Pack
• Nurturelife Pregnancy Massage; nurture your body with a regular pregnancy massage.
• Listen carefully to your body and do only what is feeling good for your body. If you are in pain, take a moment to rest or even do a small exercise like lying on the floor with your glutes against a chair and your legs in table top position on top of the chair seat. Your lower back is having a rest now and there is a good blood circulation to your pelvic area. You can do the several times a day for 5 mins.

Learning about the actual process of labour can help you and your partner to have a calm birth. If this is your first pregnancy 20 hours is considered normal for a first-time mother. For a second baby it will be shorter. If you join a labour course you also learn how to manage the contractions and what your partner can do to ease the pain and support you through the process.

The last trimester is a good moment to think about giving breastmilk or bottle milk. Researchers and World Health Organisation recommend women try breastfeeding and seek help and support from health providers like midwives, lactation consultants, baby health nurses or Australian Breastfeeding Association early days if it’s getting though. Know that your breastmilk is a complete food containing all of baby’s nutritional needs for the first six months of life and it’s by far the best choice you can make for your baby.

Tips for Dad’s

Read all the books you can get about pregnancy and labour. Your partner will appreciate your interest and that you want to be 100% prepared for the upcoming task.

Also, you can’t thank her enough for carrying your precious baby. Ultimately, no one else could have done this better for you!