First and foremost….congratulations! If you are reading this then you got that positive pregnancy test and maybe even have gone to the doctor or midwife at this point and are trying to prepare for a healthy pregnancy.
The first trimester is filled with lots of different scenarios. Maybe you are filled with excitement, joy, or maybe even fear. Symptoms can vary greatly in the first trimester with women and every pregnancy you have will have different symptoms.
I can say with all of my pregnancies I’ve had a very different experience…and I have 5 kiddos!
During the first 12 weeks your baby forms from a tiny little embryo to a developing body with a beating heart, forming organs and even tiny little hands and feet. I always thought about how amazing this process is and how great God is as everything during the pregnancy starts to take shape and form effortlessly.
By the end of the first trimester your baby usually measured about 3 inches and weighs about an ounce. That is a lot of work that is demanded from your body and this is a huge reason why you might be feeling extra exhausted.
The first trimester is also a time when anxiety can creep in. Maybe some moms are dealing with miscarriages prior to this pregnancy and are fearful that a miscarriage might happen again. Other times it’s just a general fear of something going wrong within that sensitive 12 weeks.
Even though some anxiety is normal, there might be a tipping point where it is not helpful for you or your baby. Yes there is a very real risk of all those things happening but also it’s important to remember that most pregnancies progress normally and around 25% end up in miscarriage which is really outside our control.
There are ways to support yourself with a community of other moms or friends that can help you emotionally during this time. Many doulas offer this support and if you need holistic support visit my online wellness clinic as I offer services for moms to be as well as postpartum.
Spiritual life
While western medicine often does focus on the diet of the mother and supplements most of the time, on spiritual terms as Orthodox Christians, we believe that the baby experiences what the mother experiences. Everything you feel, taste and experience has an effect on the baby’s soul.
Naturally our soul is very peaceful and joyful. There are many things that throw us off balance within the world that cloud our thinking. We get influenced a lot by our environment and the things we allow to come into our life.
Have you ever noticed how one persons affects you a certain way? How about a certain place? If you were living in New York City your environment would look a lot different than living outside the city on farmland. Just like a wet cloth put on top of a dry cloth will make the dry cloth wet the environment, people and things we consume has a tremendous impact on us.
Here are things that can increase your peaceful state during this time:
-Scents such as sandalwood, lavender, rose or jasmine.
-Eating organic foods with much vegetables, seeds, grains, milk, ghee and natural sweeteners.
-Uncluttered spaces with sights of icons, natural environments and open sky.
-Good friends with peaceful environments, prayers and gentle movement with self care practices.
-Listening to regular chant music with Russian Orthodox playlists or Byzantine chant also classical music. Spiritual discussions and uplifting conversations.
If you do not have any spiritual support I highly recommend getting in touch with your spiritual father or your local Orthodox parish to have you start a prayer rule or build a community.
Lifestyle
Hydrate
As much as possible stay hydrated. It is something that can be implemented as a habit with filling up a thermos in the beginning of the day and adding some electrolytes to it and sip throughout the day. There are many great herbal teas which can be infused overnight and then put into a thermos as well. Ones that come to mind are full of minerals and nutrients such as stinging nettles, alfalfa and rose hips. Do not hesitate to reach out for a customized pregnancy blend just for you.
Rest up
Sometimes this is easier said than done, especially if you are busy with maybe work or other kids, but remember when I said you body is demanding a lot from you because of how rapidly your baby is forming? How do you do this? Rest instead of pushing yourself. This is where naps can be implemented into your schedule, help can be hired out or dinners can be crockpot meals. On some days with my 1st trimester I would literally go to sleep at 7pm just to get rest and then go work at the hospital the next day only to take a nap during my lunch hour again. Get creative but…listen to your body when it’s telling you to rest.
Regulate your blood sugar levels
During the first trimester there can be huge food aversions. While sometimes it might feel like not eating is the ultimate answer to not dealing with nausea, regulating your blood sugar will actually help with morning sickness. Focus on foods that are nutrient rich and while you might feel like a picky eating toddler there are smoothies which you can make and other powders you can implement to help regulate that blood sugar levels.
Supplements
Prenatal vitamins
Hopefully you know that you should consider a prenatal for the duration of your pregnancy. While ideally you would get your nutrients from only food, today’s food is very different in terms of quality than it was back in the day. Focus on a prenatal that you can tolerate which is the best form of a vitamin meaning it’s not synthetic. I always preferred one that I can take once a day but then my stomach could not tolerate some brands and had to switch to one I could tolerate which ended up being 3x a day.
Probiotic
A probiotic will help support you and your baby’s gut flora. It helps to aid your digestion, boosting your immune system and supports overall gut health for both of you! You can find a good one nowadays available in most health food stores.
Homeopathy
When I was pregnant with my twins I was over 35 and considered a “geriatric” patient. The doctors did not foresee a healthy pregnancy and me being the stubborn one wanted to prove them wrong. Homeopathy has worked wondered in my own life and the health of my family and a cell salt protocol is something can be implemented during pregnancy. Check out the full protocol here if you’re interested.
Vitamin D/K2
Look into boosting your immune system with these vitamins, there are capsules and liquid forms for these. They may help decrease the risk of complications that might arise during pregnancy such as preeclampsia.
Omega 3
A powerful anti inflammatory brain boosting supplement for mom and baby. Studies show that omega 3s “as they are critical building blocks of fetal brain and retina.” While it is great for the baby’s development it also helps to stabilize the mood of the mom!
Supplements can be tricky with the 1st trimester as there are many aversions and specific wants for food during this time. Do not feel bad if you skip a day just remember that the next day you can start again.
Labs
If you are working with your doctor you can ask for certain bloodwork to be done. Generally during the first trimester your doctor or midwife gets a generic blood panel done as part of their protocol. But you can also order your own additional labs or your own bloodwork from Ultralabs.
If you have a history of thyroid issues then definitely look into your TSH/FT3/FT4 levels to make sure there is no risk for a pregnancy loss. Then there is the progesterone levels you can get done before week 8-10 as during the pregnancy weeks 8-10 the placenta takes over the progesterone production, but before that checking on progesterone can be helpful. Then the regular HCG levels also can be checked to make sure that the pregnancy is properly progressing.
Final thoughts
While the 1st trimester can be scary, you can start to focus a lot on your internal world and build up your spiritual life so your baby’s soul is formed in a positive way.
There are many supplements to consider in the beginning but also remember that you might be dealing with strong aversions which can prevent you from taking certain supplements everyday.
During your first visits with your doctor or midwife certain labs can be helpful especially if you’re dealing with low thyroid levels.
Always focus on organic foods and a peaceful environment which can be easier said than done, I know, but so worth it.
Sometimes you might need help and that’s ok! Get rest when you need it. Talk to your parish priest with any fears you might have and build that community if you can.
If you want a person to help you through this part of the journey with special blends of herbs, do not hesitate to reach out!
God bless you and yours.
