Maternity Gyan from a FTM!

Now that you have confirmed your pregnancy either via a home pregnancy kit or a urine test at the hospital, many congratulations! 

I know it is very exciting to find yourself pregnant but trust me when I say it will take a few months to realize the full meaning if it is your first time. After I had my pregnancy confirmed, I started reading up online about things to look out for in the first trimester.

Though I never ended up having the very expected nausea during my pregnancy, following are a few tips I found online and followed anyways to help prevent nausea.

1. Eat healthy food in smaller portions and do not overeat.
2. Get some fresh air if you feel nausea as soon as you wake up. It is common to feel it in the early mornings because of empty stomach. So have a light snack like baby carrots or nuts handy next to your bed side.
3. Stay hydrated.

Other things to start or continue doing throughout pregnancy are the following.

1. Take prenatal vitamins everyday.
2. Take a daily dosage of 1200 mg of calcium either through supplemants or milk and other dairy products.
3. Eat healthy food with daily servings of fruits, vegetables, greens and protein.
4. Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. It is better to avoid sugary drinks. Pregnancy turns your body into an incubator raising your body temperature higher than your non pregnant peers. So dress accordingly especially if you are heading towards a summer born baby.
5. Do not indulge or reduce if you are already into junk and sugary food. This is important to avoid having gestational diabetes.
6. Start exercising early with 30 minutes of walking for at least 4-5 days a week. Note: This depends on how well you are feeling and if your doctor has cleared you for exercising.
7. Remember you can no longer take pain killers or other medications without consulting your doctor as now everything you consume can affect the baby. So avoid if possible to be in places or with people who can get you sick. 
8. Read up online on how the baby grows each week. I highly recommend installing the 'What ToExpect' app where you are automatically assigned to a group with other 'mommy-to-be's having their due date around the same time as yours. App compares your baby to a fruit/vegetable every week of your pregnancy with expected weight, length along with other baby developments.
9. Stay active around the house and at work unless doctor has advised to rest.

Pregnancy Misconceptions

1. Pregnancy does not mean eating for two people. So please avoid overeating.
2. Pregnancy does not mean resting and lying on bed most of the day. Unless advised by doctor or you are feeling too weak/tired, continue doing your regular household chores while avoiding lifting anything too heavy. Plus, walk 4-5 times every week for 30-60 minutes each.
3. Only things to avoid while eating are under cooked meat, under cooked egg, non pasteurized dairy products, sea food with higher mercury content. All theories about avoiding fruits like guava, jack fruit can be ignored as any fruit is good. Make sure anything you have is had in moderation and do not over eat it in quantity or multiple times a day.
4. Even if you have never exercised in your lifetime, you can start walking as the simplest exercise during pregnancy. It is important to be in a healthy and fit state throughout your pregnancy.
5. Do not over obsess about gaining the recommended pounds of weight. I initially did obsess and started eating more in my first trimester to make sure I gain the recommended weight in each trimester. As long as you are eating healthy and exercising, you will automatically put on the weight. Plus, majority of the weight gain happens in the last trimester.  

Clothing

Initially, I made the mistake of buying a shirt with one size up but it took me whole 8 months to get into that shirt without it falling off my shoulders. Plus, it never really fit well. So stick to maternity clothing which comes in the same size as your regular clothing size. 

Some of the maternity wear essentials.

1. Maternity Clothes: I will not recommend buying too many maternity clothes as you can manage well by wearing more of skirts, dresses and shirts if you don't grow too big in the first 2 trimesters. But I definitely recommend picking up a couple of maternity jeans as you want to avoid wearing anything too tight around your waist or below. Some comfortable yoga pants for your walks and yoga/pilates sessions. 
2. Brah! Extender: Bra Extender Band Breathing Room: As it is too early to start buying nursing bras, this bra extender turned out to be super useful till the very end of pregnancy.
3. Cotton Panties: Switch to cotton panties as you will start having heavier discharge during your 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Also, start doing kegel exercises early.
4. Footwear: You will need a good and comfortable footwear for your long and regular walks. Plus, most of the pregnant ladies have swollen feet and ankles at later part of pregnancy due to excess fluid in the body. 

Things to do before the big day!

I would recommended doing the following by week 34 to be on the safer side. 

• Attend a birth/labor/delivery class
• Attend a breastfeeding class
• If you are working, talk to your HR and figure out a maternity leave plan
• Buy and install car seat
• Finalize your baby registry. Make sure you have the baby essentials bought and ready at home.
• Pack up your hospital bag.