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When you find out you’re pregnant you may be very excited but really overwhelmed too. Even though the birth of your little bundle seems far off at the moment there is a ton of stuff you need to do to prepare.
I remember the first time I found out I was elated and totally shocked. It was an awesome feeling but I knew even though it was early on that I had to get to work. I wish I had read a post that told me what to do during each trimester and so I’m writing one for my readers 🙂
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Here’s a list of things to do during your first trimester to prepare you and get you on your way to being ready for baby.
What To Expect During The First Trimester
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Are You Sure You’re Having A Baby??
It’s important to confirm your pregnancy before you get too excited. This is definitely step number one. Most pregnancy tests are right but if the line is faint take another test two days later then get a blood test.
{ Here’s the best, most accurate pregnancy test you can buy }
**Are you looking for an online prenatal Course? My friend Hilary at Pulling Curls has a great online course for expecting mamas. It’s the best online. Check it out here.
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Tell Your Partner
Next, once you’re completely sure then go ahead and share the good news with those closest to you! How excited they’ll be, especially if it was planned 😉
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Take Your Prenatal Vitamin
Of course, you want to begin getting all the necessary nutrients for you and your babe right from the start. This is a really good prenatal vitamin that won’t make you nauseated { and that will be important }
Find A Good Obstetrician
Finding a really good Obstetrician is important. Most prefer a woman { I know I did }. Make sure to check the reviews online so you can get to know their practice and how their past patients have felt about them, then make your first appointment.
Research Insurance
It’s important to check your insurance coverage and make sure that you have all the benefits you need. If not you may have to purchase add-on insurance or perhaps you’ll qualify for temporary Medicaid depending on your income.
If you think you qualify for Medicaid you can go to your local health department and get a pregnancy test and then start your paperwork.
Check Your Maternity Leave Policies
You want to know where you stand right away when it comes to Maternity Leave so check your company’s policies but don’t tell them you’re pregnant right away.
Stop Smoking
Please don’t tell me you still smoke. But if you do right now is the time to quit because smoking has a very profound effect on pregnancy and your fetus. No excuses what so ever, just quit that.
Learn What To Avoid
There are quite a few things you need to avoid during pregnancy and it’s best if you learn early on. There are certain foods and certain activities like sitting in hot tubs that can be hazardous so don’t take any risks and educate yourself right away.
Start thinking About A Pregnancy Fitness Plan
It’s really tempting to just do absolutely nothing when it comes to exercise during pregnancy. You’ll be tired and you just don’t want to move.
But keeping up some form of exercise is vital to your own health as well as your baby’s. So get moving and create a plan.
It doesn’t have to be intense and if you follow through half the time with your plan then you’ll be good to go.
Schedule Naps
That’s Right. schedule your naps every. single. day. At least during the first trimester because you’ll be TIRED.
There’s nothing like ” Pregnant Tired “. It’s so intense and it was the very worst part for me during my three pregnancies. 6oclock in the evening bedtime anyone? Why yes, I’ll take that, and you will too.
My point is that you need to plan to rest A LOT. If you do it won’t interfere so much with your life.
Start Maternity Shopping
You can go ahead and start buying new clothes because by the end of the trimester your clothes will be pretty tight. So go ahead and indulge yourself and buy some cute things to wear in the upcoming months.
Just Relax
Just Relax mama and take a deep breath. It can all be That’s it for the first-trimester list. It’s all pretty simple at the beginning. Good luck to you and I hope you enjoy pregnancy as much as I did!
If you’re interested in taking an online prenatal course my Friend Hilary at Pulling Curls has the best one right here as I mentioned above.
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Wow, you made it through the first trimester! How exciting! Your body has changed so much and your babe will soon be here.
Let’s talk about this last bit of your pregnancy and find out what you can expect from here on out.
The third trimester is often when the pregnancy starts to get “real” for many people. You are well past the halfway point and you’ll be in the delivery room before you know it. This is when your baby really starts to become larger and more active and when you may notice some of the most drastic physical changes.
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*You may also be interested in 16 things to do in your third trimester to get ready for baby.
Here are some things that you’ll probably notice in the final three months of your pregnancy.
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What To Expect During The Third Trimester Of Pregnancy
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Stretch Marks
This is one of the most dreaded pregnancy issues for most women. It doesn’t happen to everyone but it does happen often… There’s not much you can do to avoid this, but some say putting on a really good moisturizer will help. After pregnancy using vitamin E and Retinoids can be helpful.
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Nesting Instinct
The Nesting Instinct can come on strong during the last half of your third trimester and it’s kinda fun. You can get a lot done during this period and it feels really good to be prepared. Enjoy it!
Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are a real bummer and they can hurt. There are Hemorrhoid creams like Dr. Coles Hemorrhoid Treatment, That will help to relieve your pain. You can also sit on a special cushion like Kieba Hemorrhoid Treatment Donut. They’re both found on Amazon.com
Leaky Breasts
As your Breasts prepare for breastfeeding they can begin to leak a bit. This doesn’t happen to every woman because often times milk comes in after the birth but don’t be surprised if it does happen to you.
More Weight Gain
Much like with the second trimester, you should try to stay at a pace of gaining about a half pound to a full pound a week. While the rate will remain the same, it may feel a lot heavier because you’re really growing now.
Frequent Urination
Due to the increased size of the baby, the head may be pressing down on your bladder causing you to go to the bathroom more often. You will likely be waking up in the middle of the night several times to urinate and might possibly leak urine when you sneeze or laugh. Try not to drink many fluids before bedtime so that you can sleep more soundly without interruption. You need that sleep!
Intense Dreams
Some people report having many vivid dreams during the third trimester. Doctors generally attribute this to the rapidly rising hormones in your body and it’s no biggy. Many women report having sexual dreams and orgasms in their sleep.
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More Fatigue
You will probably begin to notice that your fatigue levels are higher than they were during the second trimester, with even mild physical exercise tiring you out. The fatigue is usually not as bad as the first trimester though so at least there’s that.
To help boost your energy a bit, You can still remain active by walking every day and taking pregnancy yoga classes that are catered to help you stay healthy.
Braxton Hicks Contractions
These mild contractions are a way to prepare your body for real labor that will be coming in the future. At first, they’ll be milder than standard labor contractions and probably won’t come very regularly. If you notice them increasing in frequency or becoming more intense, call your doctor.
By the end of the third trimester, they may get slightly painful and be a little more intense. It’s a normal part of pregnancy.
Dropping
As you get closer to birth your tummy will start to drop some. This means you’re getting closer to the big day and the baby’s head is dropping and engaging in the proper position. It can happen for weeks or days before birth.
Shortness of Breath
Because your uterus has expanded to reach up to your rib cage, your lungs don’t have enough room to expand at this point. This may result in shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. You can help alleviate this through regular, mild exercise and propping your head up when you sleep.
Swelling
Your fingers, toes, hands, face, and ankles may all start to swell as a result of fluid retention. You can fix swelling in your feet by elevating your legs when you sleep. If you notice sudden swelling, it is important to seek immediate medical attention because this can lead to dangerous complications.
The third trimester is the most exciting trimester because you are very close to meeting your babe. There are many changes still to come in the final three months but it will be over before you know it so enjoy it while it lasts.
It will all be worth it in the end when you give birth to your precious boy or girl.
Cheers to having a healthy babe!
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