my 1st trimester survival kit

If you follow me on Instagram (@OrganicallyHer), then you may have seen that I am expecting! This is our first child and my husband and I are pretty excited to start a family. From the beginning of my pregnancy I started to feel different. Of course I had a general idea of what to expect, but feeling it is another thing. I’ll be sharing the main symptoms I experienced and what served as my personal survival kit for getting through those first few months!

My 1st Trimester Symptoms:

• Nausea: Started off as mild nausea, then progressed to being more intense as the weeks went by. Unfortunately, it did not strictly in the mornings, it would last the whole day. Despite the almost daily nausea, I surprisingly never had to actually throw up.
• Fatigue: Had many days where I felt like I was completely void of energy and dragging myself.
• Bloating: I felt bloated for much of my first trimester. It felt similar to the bloating I would experience during my cycle.
• Tender breasts: The very first symptom I noticed days before even taking a pregnancy test was tender breasts. My boobs felt a bit heavier to me and tender to the touch. This continued throughout the first month.
• Frequent urination: My trips to the bathroom did increase, but are no where near as much compared to my second trimester so far!

To help me get through the ups and downs of the first trimester, I found what staples helped me the most. I call these items my First Trimester Survival Kit. I’ll list below what they items were, how they helped and where you can find them if interested!

​My 1st Trimester Survival Kit

• Ginger chews: These were truly essential for me in calming my nausea throughout the day. Ginger is a powerhouse anti-inflammatory known for its ability to ease upset stomachs. I was able to consistently find a brand at TJ Maxx that was low in sugar since I would sometimes eat several of these a day. My favorite was the lemon flavor.
• Ginger tea: I'm a huge lover of both tea and ginger so this one was a no brainer. Another form of ginger to help soothe the nausea.
• Preggie Pop Drops: Similar to the ginger chews, I came across these drops when browsing through Buy Buy Baby. They come in an assortment of fruit flavors and are pretty tasty! I went with the organic version and it helped just as much as the ginger chews, so I would switch off between the two.
• Lime water & sparkling water: The citric acid in citrus is known to help aid digestion and alleviate an upset stomach. Squeezing fresh lime juice into my water helped me tremendously. For some reason, plain water did not sit well with me when I was nauseated. Proper hydration is of course even more crucial when pregnant so this was a daily item for me to help me get my water intake. I also tried lemon water which typically I'd enjoy, but it didn't provide the same relief. My other favorite beverage was lightly flavored sparkling water. The carbonation really helped break up the acidity to dull the sick feeling and the water intake was a plus as well. My go to brand was La Croix (no added sugars, harmful preservatives, etc.) and I drank so much of it that I'm still obsessed with it now!
• Miso soup: Every now and then I'd make a big pot of my Miso Noodle Soup and enjoy it throughout the week. Miso is a great source of vitamins and minerals such as B vitamins, vitamin K, calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc to name a few. My soup always made for a satisfying and soothing meal to calm my discomfort.
• Exercise: Okay so this one may seem odd for this list, but hear me out! Most of the time during my 1st trimester, working out had zero appeal given how sick and tired I felt. However, whenever I had those moments where I felt like I could actually get through a workout, it gave me such a positive boost! I actually managed to get through two 5k events (signed up prior to becoming pregnant) and had a great time. I ran a little bit here and there, but mostly walked. Other than that, some workout videos at home via YouTube were my go to when I wanted to get some movement in.

At this point, I’m in my second trimester so I’ve been feeling vastly better than I did at the beginning of my pregnancy. However, I still enjoy most of what’s on this list because they’re things that I’m just simply find of. Hopefully this can be helpful to you or someone you know who may be battling the trials of early pregnancy. Of course, always check with your doctor or healthcare provider before trying anything new, especially when expecting!