Are routine ultrasounds safe?

Well, that depends on who you ask. It seems that the majority of medical professionals would say “Yes”. 

However, there is an ever-growing number of professionals and mama’s who are shying away from the idea of getting routine ultrasounds during pregnancy.

In this article, I will do my best to give you the facts and let you decide. As with anything, there are benefits and risks. As parents, it’s up to us to decide what we think is best for our families! It’s also important to talk to your healthcare provider and share any concerns you have with them.

Please note: I am not a licensed medical professional. You should always talk to your healthcare provider about any medical concerns that you have. 

What Is An Ultrasound?

So what is an ultrasound anyway?

Well, an ultrasound is done by a trained professional who uses a machine that transmits sound waves. These soundwaves travel throughout the body and bounce back towards the transducer (a wand like device that emits the soundwaves) once they hit a boundary between soft tissues. 

The sound waves that bounced back are what the machine reads to create the images of the body that you see on the screen during the ultrasound.

Pretty neat technology! 

Ultrasound testing is used for all sorts of things. But when talking about pregnancy, they’re used to monitor  growing baby and to determine if there are any problems during development. 

What Are The Types Of Ultrasounds?

There are several different types of ultrasounds, but they fall into two main categories…

Transvaginal Ultrasound: Most often used during the early stages of pregnancy. The transducer is placed inside the vagina to emit sounds frequencies and gather reflections.

Transabdominal Ultrasound: Used for the later stages of pregnancy, the transducer is placed on the belly and moved around to locate baby. This is the one that we always see in movies and where they use the jelly.

Within the Transabdominal ultrasound category, there are several different variants that can be used when trying to look for something more specific. 

• 3D ultrasound: Creates a 3D image of baby. This is typically done when more detail is needed to determine if defects exist within neural tubes or facial features.
• 4D ultrasound: Also known as a 3D dynamic ultrasound. The main difference with the 4D is that it is a motion video rather than a flat image of a baby. The 4D captures a more detailed image of baby’s body- especially their facial features. 
• Fetal echocardiography: This ultrasound is specifically used to look at baby’s heart and determine if there are any heart defects or abnormalities
• Doppler Ultrasound: More commonly used to look at movement within blood vessels. The best use for a doppler is to evaluate the blood flow of baby and also your placenta!

How Many Ultrasounds Do They Give And What Are They Looking for?

There is no official schedule for how many ultrasounds are given. Generally, though there are two routine ultrasounds. More are given if the provider believes there is a problem. 

6-9 Week Transvaginal Ultrasound: This one is used to learn several things… 

• Determine if there is a heartbeat, and how many- could be twins!
• Estimate the due date
• Check gestation is occurring where it should. Not tubular or ectopic.

18-22 Week Transabdominal Ultrasound: Provides a more detailed image and also baby is larger so there’s more to see! Things they’re looking for during this ultrasound are… 

• Locate the organs to determine if they’re developing properly
• Checking on the placenta location and if there is the correct amount
• Sex of baby
• Possible characteristics of Down Syndrome 

If there are additional questions about gestation, placenta location, or possible complications then more ultrasounds may be ordered in addition to the usual two.

However, studies are coming out that the number of ultrasounds given is on the rise and that pregnant women receive an average of 5.2 ultrasound scans while pregnant. 

This is a 90% increase since 2004! Far more than the 2 routine scans that we so often hear about.

For my recent pregnancy, I ended up having 4, so I can understand where the 5.2 average is coming from. 

What are the benefits of Ultrasounds?

Screening for deformities 

One of the biggest benefits of getting routine ultrasound screenings during pregnancy is that it allows healthcare providers to identify and diagnose potential problems early on with baby. 

Mainly deformities of organs, limbs, or tissue. This can be important information to know as early as possible. However one must be cautious of a misdiagnosis which I explain later on in my post.

Determining Due Date

If done in the first trimester, ultrasounds are a great way to determine the due date of the baby. Especially if mom doesn’t have regular periods or can’t remember the date of her last menstruation cycle

Learning the Sex of the Baby

When I found out I was pregnant I was DYING to know if we were having a boy or girl. Greg wanted to wait it out till birth but- but I couldn’t!

Ultrasounds can easily and accurately identify what the sex of your little one is! 

What are the risks of Ultrasounds?

Despite the benefits of ultrasounds, there are some risks! All we can do as parents is weigh the benefits and risks of ultrasounds and decide what is best for the health and well-being of us and our children. 

There is no right or wrong answer- it’s what you decide is best for you! 

Long Term Effect Of Ultrasounds Are Unknown

Despite how often they’re given, very little is known about the long-term effects of ultrasounds on babies. The increasing use of ultrasounds on pregnant women is also concerning.

Ultrasounds can heat tissue which in some cases can create pockets of gas in body fluids or tissues. This is called cavitation.

As a result, the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine recommends that ultrasounds only be used when necessary. Additional Ultrasound sessions for “keepsakes” 3D-4D which is a growing trend are not encouraged. If you want a photo, it’s best to get it quickly during one of the routine sessions.

Ultrasounds have never been declared as “safe”

Just because there is no indication of a problem- does not mean that something is “safe”. In fact, most studies done to determine if ultrasounds are safe for use during pregnancy are based on old technology. 

According to a research paper in 2006 by radiologists at the University of California, San Diego. In 1992 at the request of manufacturers, the output by ultrasound machines was increased by eight time improve image quality!

What’s really concerning here  is that most safety studies were done prior to this 1992 change. 

The public is relying on old safety studies that are no longer valid. Today’s machine put out 8x more energy!

The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine recognizes this, but still stands by saying there is no true evidence suggesting that they’re unsafe.

They are often misinterpreted leading to unnecessary medical procedures

Ultrasound results are too often misinterpreted. A study done in France between 2006-2009 found that approximately 8-9% of patients were falsely diagnosed. The sad thing is that medical actions are then unnecessarily taken, sometimes even leading to aborting the baby.

If you’re faced with a diagnosis and are considering drastic medical intervention- it may pay to get a second opinion elsewhere.

Ultrasounds are not shown to improve outcomes in birth

This last point I think really brings everything into perspective. A study out of Great Britain explains that 

Routine ultrasound scanning does not improve the outcome of pregnancy in terms of an increased number of live births or of reduced perinatal morbidity. Routine ultrasound scanning may be effective and useful as a screening for malformation. Its use for this purpose, however, should be made explicit and take into account the risk of false positive diagnosis in addition to ethical issues.

What ultrasounds do usually lead to? More medical interventions. 

Are Ultrasounds Proven to Be Safe?

There have been no studies that I’ve been able to come across that prove ultrasounds to be safe for babies. If you come across any- please send them to me!

The only thing it seems we have to go off of is the absence of any problems. At which point it’s merely assumed that ultrasounds are safe.

All of the studies that were conducted on ultrasound safety seem to have been on machines from back in the 90’s that use 1/8th the amount of energy compared to the machines used today. 

Knowing all this, experts say to only use ultrasound machines when medically necessary, meaning no keepsake sessions!

I’ve said this already a few times but it’s worth repeating. You need to do what’s best for you and your family. Talk with your partner, talk with your healthcare provider, and do what you feel is best. 

I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing an ultrasound. But it’s important to know what risks come with it. Hopefully this article shed some light on this for you. 

Our personal decision on Ultrasounds

During my pregnancy I received 4 ultrasounds. 

• 5 weeks: I had some bad cramping and wanted to make sure it wasn’t ectopic
• 8 weeks: Standard ultrasound to confirm pregnancy
• 20 weeks: Standard ultrasound for anatomy and measurement growth
• 32 weeks: Growth ultrasound and provider also wanted to check on placenta fluid that they had noticed on the 20 week scan. 

You can read more about My COVID-19 Natural Birth Story (And How It Didn’t Go To Plan)

Looking back on it I was pretty quick to receive that ultrasound at 5 weeks. Because I was a first-time mom not knowing what to expect I was worried something was going wrong. Next time around I won’t be so quick to get in for an additional ultrasound unless there is medical need.

In the future I’m still on the fence whether I’d opt out of the 8 week ultrasound or not. Even though there isn’t a huge medical need for it, it made my pregnancy seem “real” and I had that deeper connection with my little bean. But I think as my confidence as a new mother continues to grow that I’ll likely opt out of the 8 week ultrasound. 

After learning about the increased risks specifically around a 3D and 4D ultrasound, I can say that I will be avoiding them- especially if done just for keep sake photos.

So- are ultrasounds safe? Who knows….overall I think Ultrasounds are a great tool when deemed medically necessary. However the overuse within the medical community is concerning to me.

How about you- What are your thoughts on Ultrasounds? Do you think exposure should be limited? Or are you comfortable with going in for multiple scans during pregnancy?

The post Are Ultrasounds Safe? Consider The Risks Before Your Next Appointment! appeared first on Raising Them Naturally.

Well, it did eventually come- but so too did a bunch of other things!

Things that I had no idea were going to happen… 

So today’s post is a list of 8 things that no one told me I’d experience during the first trimester of pregnancy. 

Come to find out, these are all very common- meaning you’ll likely experience most of these yourself!

1.  First Trimester Morning Sickness Can Be ALL DAY Sickness

Morning sickness is something that most of us have heard about. So I wasn’t surprised when I started to experience it. 

But what did catch me by surprise is how often it happened…

Don’t let the name fool you!

“Morning” sickness happens more often throughout the day than just mornings.

I had it so bad I didn’t even want to get out of bed, or eat anything… 

But over time I learned how to cope with it and actually got through it pretty well!

I learned a couple of things along the way that I really think you’ll find useful!

I write about it in an earlier post-Surviving The First Trimester- 7 Tips Every New Mama Should Know.

Some are obvious, but there are a couple in there I bet you hadn’t thought of yet  

What causes First Trimester morning sickness?

So there are actually a couple of causes of morning sickness. The most obvious being… You guessed it..

Hormone changes…

Specifically the increased level of the Hcg hormone.

Hcg is produced in the body once an embryo implants itself on the uterus. The purpose of Hcg is that it signals to your body to continue producing progesterone. 

Progesterone is the hormone that turns menstruation on and off. By producing progesterone, the body stops menstruating. 

This stops your period, meaning the uterine wall stops shedding which protects the uterine wall during pregnancy.

Yay- no more periods! Who wouldn’t like that?!

Another thing that can cause morning sickness is the stretching of the uterine muscles. 

As those muscles begin to stretch it puts a strain on that area of the body which causes that sick feeling. 

Remember, just because I felt this really bad doesn’t mean that you will. 

Morning sickness and all aspects of pregnancy will be slightly different for each one of us mamas. 

But generally, we’ll all feel these things… sorry!

BUT!

I’ve been told that the first pregnancy is often the worst in terms of morning sickness.

Meaning that the second time around won’t be as bad- so we’ll see!

2. You Don’t Instantly Glow… Many Mama’s Get Pregnancy Acne

After I found out I was pregnant I was eagerly waiting for that pregnancy glow to hit!

But what hit instead was pregnancy acne…

I felt like I was back in high school… seriously!

Waking up in the morning looking in the mirror and seeing those pimples was disheartening…

I mean, what woman wants acne… it’s embarrassing!

Luckily, I was able to get a handle on it, and it did eventually pass.. Whew!

What Causes Pregnancy Acne?

So you’re going to see a common theme here…

Hormones!!

They seem to be at the root cause of a lot of these things on this list. 

During pregnancy, more progesterone is produced which causes the sebaceous glands within our skin to produce more oil.

Because more oil is being produced, this makes it easier to get clogged pores and have dirt trapped within the skin. 

But don’t worry- it’s not forever!

Oftentimes most mamas will see pregnancy acne go away in the 2nd or 3rd trimester. 

For others, it may not be until after your new addition to the family arrives. This is because your pregnancy hormones are balancing back out and returning to a normal level. 

Keep in mind, however, that eating poorly and living an unhealthy lifestyle will greatly contribute to how bad your pregnancy acne will be!

How To Help With Pregnancy Acne

To help with pregnancy acne there are several things you can do!

• Clean your face often using a soap-free cleanser. The reason for this is because soap will actually dry out your skin! Which will then act as a signal to your body to produce even more oil. Which is not what you want!
• Steer clear of sugar and junk food as best you can, and eat plenty of dark leafy greens. Remember- diet is usually key to everything.
• Drink LOTS of water! You should be drinking half your body weight in fluid ounces per day of pure-clean water. This gives your body what it needs so you can properly detox. 
• Lastly, try and get rest and reduce stress! Your body needs this time to heal and regenerate. This is especially important now that you’re growing a tiny human inside of you!

3. You Will Probably Have A Supersonic Nose

This is one that hit me suddenly and caught me by surprise!

I couldn’t be anywhere near the kitchen when my husband Greg was cooking with meat, eggs, or intense spices. 

One of my favorite foods- hamburgers I couldn’t eat anymore! 

During my pregnancy, I really leaned into a more vegetarian diet. Now that our son is born I’m able to eat more meat and protein-based meals.

But it’s still not like what it used to be.

What causes Mama’s nose to be supersonic?

You guess it!

Changing of hormones… more specifically an increase in hCG. 

An increase in the hCG hormone tightly correlates to a heightened sense of smell. 

How to cope with your new sense of smell

• One of the best things you do is to start looking into different foods to eat. One’s that aren’t as smelly. I found that I was able to be around more vegetarian dishes than ones that had meat in them. 
• Use unscented products. As a general rule, if it’s not a completely natural-based product- if there is a scent to it- a chemical was added to give it that scent. Think laundry detergent, hand soaps, candles, air fresheners- all toxic! 

An example of a great all-natural, unscented product that I love is Burt’s Bees Belly Butter.

• Get outside for some fresh air! This was a huge help for me and I was able to get some exercise as well! I talk more about this in my post about Surviving The First Trimester- 7 Tips Every Mama Should Know

4. Your First Ultrasound Probably Won’t Be Over The Tummy Like You See In Movies

After finding out I was pregnant- I was so excited to see my little guy with the ultrasound machine!

I had assumed that it was the over-the-tummy like what I had seen in movies and heard about from friends and family. 

But that wasn’t the case for my first ultrasound at 6 weeks…

In most cases, mamas will have their first ultrasound vaginally. 

The reason for this is because at that 6-8 week stage of pregnancy, baby is so small that it can’t be easily picked up with an ultrasound over the belly. 

The purpose of this ultrasound is to confirm you’re in fact pregnant by checking for a heartbeat. 

Risks of ultrasounds

Now I don’t want to get too much into this- as this will be another post all by itself. But I do want to quickly mention a couple of things… 

There a potential risks with using ultrasounds… 

I was not aware of this at the time I was pregnant as I was seeing my local OB-GYN office and simply following their recommendations when it came to using ultrasounds. 

For my next baby though, I’ll probably skip this first ultrasound. As it’s not considered necessary by many medical professionals and midwives. 

The point I want to make is that we don’t know if ultrasounds are completely safe. Just because we don’t see or experience many problems as a result of using ultrasounds- doesn’t mean they’re safe. 

Much of the risk assessment done on ultrasound machines date back to the 1990s. Today’s machines emit 10-15 times as much energy! 

Now, are there benefits to having an ultrasound done? Sure! Being able to detect issues earlier is usually a good thing.

I tell you this not to scare you away from getting an ultrasound- but simply to bring awareness to the issue.

As I learn more about pregnancy, giving birth, and now raising our first child- the recurring theme of “less is more” keeps coming up.

Maybe that can be applied here to. Especially when looking at it through the lens of a natural-minded mama!  

5. Waking Up In The Middle Of The Night To Pee Isn’t Uncommon

Before I was pregnant I usually slept through the night like a baby (pun intended)!

But all that changed as I came closer to the second trimester.

I felt like I was running to the bathroom to pee every 20-30 minutes!

At night I was getting up at least twice…

Why the more frequent urges to Pee?

The answer again lies with an increased amount of hCG! Big surprise- I know…

hCG increases the blood flow to the kidneys which allows them to filter more efficiently. This is important because they’re now filtering for you and your baby.

With more filtration comes more urges to urinate!

Another reason is that the uterus is increasing in size which presses up against the bladder. Though this won’t really be a factor until the 2nd and 3rth trimester. 

6. You May Need To Purchase A Larger Bra Sooner Than Later

I’ve always thought I’ve had smaller boobs, so I was pleasantly surprised when I realized that they were starting to slowly get bigger! Whoohoo!

This is normal- they need to get bigger as they prepare to start lactating and producing milk for when baby arrives!

I recommend you purchase bigger bras early in pregnancy.

Have a comfy bra is so important! There are enough uncomfortable changes happening already- don’t let an uncomfortable bra be one of them.

I purchased wireless nursing bra’s and they work really well. 

Since you will need nursing bras anyway (if you are breastfeeding) this is a great option to go with because you’ll still be using them after baby arrives.

7. You May Notice Darker Veins All Over Your Body That You Didn’t Notice Before

Dark veins aren’t something that anyone wants, and it was something that caught me by surprise. 

But after a while, I learned to appreciate them because I knew they were important and benefitting my baby!

Why are the veins darker?

Darker veins are actually a good thing! It means…

• More blood is being carried to the placenta. This is important for growth and development.
• Increased blood volume throughout the body. Your body has to create more blood because you’re growing a little person inside of you!
• More blood needed to carry nutrients to the fetus. Blood through the umbilical cord is how important nutrients are carried to your baby.

Even after delivery, I still have darker veins on my chest. This is common, as there is still increased blood flow while breastfeeding. 

Darker veins is very common- so don’t freak out if you happen to have them during your pregnancy. In fact, about 20% of women even get varicose veins. 

8. You May Also Notice Some Belly Hair Appear

I have a ton of hair on my head…

However, I wasn’t expecting it to come in on my belly during pregnancy!

It isn’t a ton, but it’s noticeable to me. 

Increased hair growth on your belly is totally normal and is a healthy indicator that your hormones are working as they should.

What causes belly hair to grow?

Hormone fluctuation- specifically estrogen while you’re pregnant is known to increase hair growth. 

And not just on your belly either…

It’s also common for the hair on your scalp and fingernails to grow thicker and quicker as well!

I was pleasantly surprised just how well my nails were growing!

See? It’s not all bad- there are plenty of positives when it comes to being pregnant.

So stay positive mama and enjoy this beautiful, natural process- you got this!

It’ll be over before you know it, and you’ll look back on these days with a smile!!

What are some other things you’ve noticed during your first trimester that you didn’t know about or prepare for?

Key Points

• First Trimester Morning Sickness can be ALL DAY sickness

• You don’t instantly glow… many mama’s get pregnancy acne

• You will probably have a supersonic nose

• Your first ultrasound probably won’t be over the tummy like you see in movies

• Waking up in the middle of the night  to pee isn’t uncommon

• You may need to purchase a larger bra sooner than later

• You may notice darker veins all over your body that you didn’t notice before

• You may also notice some belly hair appear

The post 8 Things They Don’t Tell You About The First Trimester of Pregnancy appeared first on Raising Them Naturally.

But why?……

Because it can be hard!

Being pregnant, especially for you first-time mama’s out there is no walk in the park. 

Yeah sure, we all have those friends who say

“My first trimester was a breeze!”

But for the vast majority of us, it’s far from easy….. 

When I was pregnant with our son, I remember suffering from nausea, bad appetite, and increased sense of smell, just to name a few.

In today’s blog post, we’re going to cover 7 tips that I think will go a long way in helping you make it through this important transitional time.  

7 First Trimester Tips!

1. Maintain or Establish an Exercise Routine

This one is really important. Exercise and moving around does so much good for your body!

You don’t need to go all out. Instead, focus on getting your heart rate up. Maybe go for a brisk walk, hop on the elliptical machine, if it’s warm out go kayaking or for a swim!

Your goal here is to get your heart pumping a little bit. If you happen to break a sweat- even better! Sweating is one of the best ways your body detoxes and gets rid of chemicals and toxins. 

A word of caution though….

You don’t want to overdo it and exercise too much. An important thing to ask yourself before you start exercising while you’re pregnant is…

Did I exercise regularly before I became pregnant?

If yes, then you can continue to exercise at your normal pace for some time yet. But if you hadn’t exercised before you became pregnant, then you’ll want to slowly ease into it. 

Getting daily, routing exercise really helps with two things during your pregnancy

Nausea 

And…

Constipation

These are both very common things for pregnant mamas to have. Even something as simple as getting out for a walk really benefited me. 

When I was nauseous, I would get outside for some fresh air and walk the dog. It not only helped to settle my stomach, but it also cleared my head and kinda helped me “reset”.

If you find yourself stressed and overwhelmed, put on those yogas and get that body moving!   

2. Maintain a Balanced Diet 

This one was REALLY tough for me, and I know it’s tough for a lot of pregnant ladies out there too! 

Eating healthy can be hard on a normal day, but throw in some pregnancy cravings, and Woah! Look out!

Throughout my entire pregnancy, and especially during my first trimester I craved lots of different foods.

But mainly,

carbs

And LOTS of them…. 

I also ate a lot of ice cream and chocolate.

Ladies, take it from me. This is not the way you want to go. Junk foods can have a negative impact on you and your baby.

Not only does junk food make you feel like crap, and more sleepy- it also doesn’t provide the nutrients that your little nugget needs to grow healthy and strong! It drags you down, and your baby with it. 

It also can affect your state of mind.

I know that when I eat healthier- I feel better!

Some foods to focus on

I don’t want to get too sidetracked on what types of foods to eat. As that will be a whole other blog post sometime soon. However here are some quick things to think about. 

Dark Leafy Greens 

• Kale 
• Spinach
• Broccoli

Just to name a few….

Kale and Spinach are two great superfoods. These are both super-rich in Folate which you and your baby need lots of! Getting natural Folate is WAY better than taking the synthetic version- Folic Acid.

A word of caution- make sure you always buy organic spinach and kale. These two items are consistently on EWG’s Dirty dozen list for pesticide residue. 

If you’ve never heard of the “Dirty Dozen”, EWG is a company that analyzes the food at the grocery store. They come up with a list every year of the top 12 items that contain the most pesticides. 

I highly recommend you print it off and stick it on your refrigerator. That’s what we do.

This helps us to highlight which items absolutely should be bought organic and others that maybe aren’t as important if our budget is tighter that week for groceries.  

If you don’t like dark leafy greens, look for a green smoothie recipe. My husband and I do this often and it really helps us increase our raw, leafy green intake.

The next important thing that you need to ensure you’re getting enough of is….

High-quality proteins

• Chicken
• Beef
• Fish 

These should all be consumed in moderation, keep in mind that we Americans generally eat WAY too much meat. 

Take a moment and look at your dinners this past week, have you been eating meat every night? If so, try switching to just 4 or 5 nights a week. 

There are PLENTY of amazing vegetarian recipes out there that have plenty of good protein in them as well. 

It can be pricey, but always try to buy the best quality meat that you can afford. Organic, wild-caught, pasture-raised, grass-fed- you get the idea.

If you reduce your meat consumption to only a few nights a week, it becomes much more feasible to buy higher quality meat anyway! 

What to avoid- or at least greatly minimize consumption

• Anything that’s processed or comes in a crinkly package! 
• Greasy Fast food
• Alcohol 
• Sugar

Avoiding junk food is tough, and I’m not saying you can’t eat a little bit here and there. You have to live too! Find a balance that works for you. 

For me, it’s the 80/20 rule. 80% healthy, and 20% not so much. 

3. Nausea help- Ginger and Preggie Pops

Alright, nausea is a big thing for so many pregnant women out there- myself included.

The two things that helped me the most were

Ginger candy and  Preggie Pop Drops

Ginger Candy

For those of you who like spicy food- ginger is a great option! Ginger has long been known as a great way to reduce inflammation, and in our case- ease stomach pain and nausea. 

I’ve always bought something like this. They’re low in sugar, have fewer preservatives, and taste great! 

Another option is to make your own ginger candy! My husband LOVES ginger so I’ll be giving this a try. I’ll be sure to link the recipe I used back on this post so you guys can try it if you’d like. 

Preggie Pop Plus

Preggie Pop Drops is a good option if you don’t care for ginger. I always carried a few of these in my purse when out and about and actually prefer them over Ginger Candy. 

They work well and the sugar content isn’t too bad if you limit yourself to just a few a day. 

Preggie Pop Plus even contains vitamin B-6 which is great at helping with nausea. 

These won’t completely “cure” your nausea, but they certainly take the edge off and help you get through the day. 

Pro tip: keeping saltine crackers next to your bedside table can be really beneficial. I did this and ate some every morning to help with nausea as soon as I woke up… even before getting out of bed, so I had something in my stomach. This really did help!

4. Drink! Water- And Lots of it!

They say a person can last a few months without food. But without water- it’s just a few days. 

Guys, water is important! It makes up 60% of the human body!

As your body builds and develops your tiny human it needs that water for embryonic fluid, to build tissue, and improve your digestion so your body can feed baby sufficiently 

Water is needed to maintain life, but it’s also needed to build it too. 

You should drink clean water- filtered water. Not out of a plastic bottle. Stick with glass. Plastic bottles contain harmful chemicals that you and your baby don’t need. 

If you do choose to drink from plastic…

Please NEVER leave a plastic water bottle in the sun or heat of your car and then drink from it!! 

How much water to drink?

People often ask

“How much should I drink?”

A good rule of thumb is half your body weight in fluid ounces per day. 

This may seem like a lot, but it’s what your body needs. Water is so important for your own body, but it’s especially important for the little one that’s growing inside of you. 

I’ve also found that when I drink enough water I’m able to stay awake and more alert– so there’s a bonus for you! 

Yes, you’re going to have to pee more often, but you’re pregnant- you’re going to be going to the bathroom a lot anyway. You might as well be hydrated while doing it! 

Many pregnant women complain of constipation. If you’re one of those people, then please make sure you’re following the half your body weight in fluid ounces guideline!

Proper hydration is key in helping to overcome constipation.

5. Start Assembling a Team that can Support you

Guys this is a really important one. Pregnancy and giving birth is hard, and there’s really no way around that. The best thing you can do is take it one day at a time and build a strong support team around you.

Don’t wait until your third trimester!!!

Find people who can support you and your plan for your pregnancy and birth. You shouldn’t go through this journey alone. Seek out an OB-GYN or midwife who agrees with and will support your birth plan! 

Don’t have a birth plan? Well, you need one! 

Consider using the template we created below. This will really help you- I promise. Having a birth plan is a great way to organize your thoughts. 

For those of you who are wanting a natural birth then you should absolutely do a detailed birth plan.

This template lays out everything you need when it comes to planning your special day and what your preferences are when baby arrives!

You need a professional in your corner who “gets it” and knows what your expectations are. 

I made the mistake of not going with my gut and went to an OB-GYN office that I ended up not exactly liking. Their methods and beliefs of how to prepare for and deliver my baby didn’t match up with mine. 

This made things more challenging than they needed to be when it came time for me to give birth. 

Remember, these professionals work for you. You’re hiring them to do a job. If you don’t like what they’re doing- fire them and find someone else! That doesn’t make you a bad person or a failure. 

 You’re the mother and in charge of the situation- not the other way around. 

Yes, they’re professionals and are there to advise you. But at the end of the day, it’s your decision. 

Once you have a professional who you trust, and whose values align with yours– don’t stop there! Find more people to add to your support team. Friends and family are great and can be a tremendous help. Both during pregnancy and after birth. 

My family lived across the state, but luckily my inlaws were right down the road from us. They were HUGE when it came time to come home from the hospital and take care of baby. 

Perhaps you should consider a doula!

Doulas can be a wonderful help, during and after pregnancy. We hired some doulas and they were invaluable to us especially those first few weeks after birth.

From how to breastfeed, to bathing, or anything in-between- I’d highly recommend having one in your corner.   

Guys, caring for a little one is a 24-hour 7-days a week job. It can wear on you after a while- so find a team who can help share that load with you. Don’t go at it alone!

My last piece of advice when assembling your team is – don’t wait! Do not wait to start bringing your team together. I know that you’re in the first trimester and your big day seems so far off. 

But I’m here to tell you….

It’ll be here before you know it! 

So start now- you’ll thank yourself later. 

6. Listen to your body

Now to me, this is an interesting one and one that I often pushed aside and ignored until I learned how important it was. 

The human body is an amazing creation, but it needs constant upkeep and maintenance- just like your baby will after they’re born!

When my husband studied natural health and healing he learned that the body has an innate intelligence. 

Our bodies know best. 

It knows what it needs, and what to do with the materials that you give it. Like clean food, water, and a good night’s rest.

You may feel extra fatigued in the first trimester. I’m normally a night owl and found myself literally falling asleep at 7 or 8 pm. 

Our bodies have the ability to build a tiny human- all on their own! Stop and think about how amazing that is. 

What I’m trying to say is that….

• When you’re tired- get some sleep! Preferably 7-9 hours per day. 

• If you’re hungry- eat some good healthy food!

• When you’re thirsty- make sure you drink half your body weight in ounces of water per day.

• If you feel stiff and lethargic get out and get some exercise. 

Don’t fight it, listen to your body… it knows best!  

Now, more than ever because your body is going through some incredible changes. Especially for you first-time mamas out there. This is all new to both you and your body. So pay special attention and give your body what it needs so that it can support you and your baby.

7. Don’t be too hard on yourself! 

This last tip I think is probably the most important…. 

Mama’s we’re not perfect, we’re only human. 

Maybe you ate a ton of junk food and feel guilty, or maybe you set goals for yourself that you aren’t accomplishing. 

Guys- you aren’t alone- we all fail sometimes. 

But we cannot get down and beat ourselves up! This is something that I know many of you do, including myself. 

Resist the temptation, because the minute you get down and start beating yourself up, it becomes so much harder to pull yourself up. 

Your pregnancy is going to have so many ups and downs. And guess what? Raising kids you’ll experience the same ebb and flow of emotions. 

Take it one day at a time, and when you fail- tell yourself you’ll get back up and try again tomorrow. 

This is also where having a great support team around you as we mentioned earlier really comes in handy.   

You are literally made for this- you can do it! 

To sum it all up- your first trimester will be tough at times. But remember, your body was built for pregnancy! You can do this!

It probably all seems really overwhelming- and that’s totally normal! Remember to break it down piece by piece and work your plan through day by day. 

Remember to…

1. Exercise 
2. Eat Healthy
3. Combat nausea with Ginger and Preggie Pops
4. Drink lots of water
5. Assemble your team to support you
6. Listen to your body and what it needs
7. And most importantly, don’t be too hard on yourself

If you can do these things, you’ll make it through your first trimester just fine. After a while, you may even surprise yourself and wish you could go back and do it all over again!

The post Surviving The First Trimester- 7 Tips Every New Mama Should Know appeared first on Raising Them Naturally.