Second Pregnancy | First Trimester Recap
I am sharing my experience and best tips with morning sickness, emotions, food aversions, sleep, and natural remedies that have helped me during my first trimester.
As I write this, I am 16 weeks pregnant with my second child, and the baby is the size of an avocado! I’m officially in my second trimester (stay tuned for a second-trimester update soon), and things are changing daily! But I want to share the real truth about what this journey has been like for me and some useful tips to help you through your first trimester.
I found out I was pregnant with my first child Sage on March 2, 2020 – just nine days before the World Health Organization officially declared a pandemic. Being Pregnant for the first time during a worldwide pandemic was very stressful. During my pregnancy with my first child, I felt like life stood still, and everything was magnified. The whole experience was isolating and put my mental health on overdrive.
This pregnancy has been very different. A lot of it has been good and in some ways, a little more difficult. Not to be a downer, but not enough people talk about the first trimester. I’m sending you a virtual hug if you’re in your first trimester! It can be challenging, but you will get through it.
Nausea and Morning Sickness
My “morning sickness,” aka “all-day sickness,” started at 7 weeks. Almost overnight. I did not realize that I could feel such intense nausea for this long. I’ll be honest there were a lot of tears; this time around, my “morning sickness” has been so much worse than it was with my first pregnancy.
When I was pregnant with Sage (my first), I experienced nausea but not so much vomiting. My morning sickness also only lasted weeks 6 – 12. During this pregnancy, my morning sickness was next level. I was so nauseous and vomiting. I may have vomited once when I was pregnant with Sage. I don’t think a day went by in this pregnancy that I wasn’t vomiting.
Things That Helped with My Nausea
- I would use ginger capsules for headaches instead of over-the-counter medicines. Ginger capsules also helped me with my nausea.
- Seabands are great. They help with the sea sickness feeling by using pressure points.
- Ginger Tea, I would cut raw ginger and boil it in water, creating a tea.
- Making sure that I didn’t eat and drink together
- Ice water with lemon
- B6
- Freezie
Food Aversions
During my first trimester, I quickly realized that certain foods were not for me anymore! Anything with a strong, pungent smell and flavour was a no-go. When I was pregnant with my first, I could eat certain foods, and I would eat them over and over again. During this pregnancy, I would crave a particular food one day, and the next day I would think I never want that food again.
My list of foods I could eat was getting smaller and smaller, and finding foods I wanted to eat was becoming very challenging. It got to the point where I would dread every mealtime because I didn’t want to think about food. (but I was also starving).
Food Cravings
During my first pregnancy, I didn’t crave much junk food at all. It was primarily fresh food (yogurt, cucumber, granola, fruit and cheese). This pregnancy it’s been the complete opposite. For the longest time, I didn’t even want a smoothie, vegetable, or anything homemade. I couldn’t even think about eating a vegetable. I only wanted to eat poutine (french fries and cheese curds topped with brown gravy if you’re not Canadian). I also craved egg salad as a late-night snack before bed (don’t ask, ha ha).
Foods I’m Loving
- Poutine
- Egg Salad
- Protein
- Pepperoni sticks
- Blueberries
- Melons
- Annie’s Mac & Cheese
- Bagels with cream cheese
- Peanut Butter & Jelly Toast
- Taco Bell (I had the most random cravings from fast food restaurants)
- Rice
- Oatmeal
- Lemon Cottage Eggs
Fatigue
In terms of energy…SO TIRED! It is very different being a parent of a toddler while pregnant. When you’re tired and want to lay down but also have a toddler with so much energy to entertain and take care of is a lot. I had a lot of mom guilt during this first phase of pregnancy because I didn’t have enough energy and If I moved too much, I would get sick. I just wanted to lay on the couch for the first few weeks and not move.
Extreme Fatigue While Parenting
I’ve struggled with morning sickness and pregnancy in the last couple of months, so Daddy has become Sage’s favourite, as he’s doing almost everything for her. (I’m tearing up writing this) It’s okay; I want her to love and like us both. It’s just been emotionally challenging for me. I just finished breastfeeding her (Blog post coming soon), so we went from her needing me all the time for milk and cuddles to now, when Matt leaves the room or the house, Sage says, “Where’s my daddy?” “I want my daddy.” I’ve felt rejected, which is silly. I think I just took it to heart. I would try to console her, and she would cry for Daddy. It’s been hard overall; battling these feelings while also nauseous has been hard on me.
Skin Changes
During my first trimester, my skin was so congested. I have had a few random breakouts, even on my back. Not only did I feel like crap, but my skin looked so dull, dry and congested. It was probably because I wasn’t on my skincare regimen, or it could be that I wasn’t eating well, but my skin was not having it. With my first pregnancy, I felt like my skin, hair, and nails were glowing. (Living their best life) This time around has not been that way at all. It’s been the complete opposite.
Body Changes
Being conscious of how my body looked was something I didn’t go through with my first pregnancy. During this pregnancy, I have been very insecure with my body. With your second pregnancy, everyone says you’ll start to show so much sooner (This is so true). During my last pregnancy, I didn’t tell anyone online until I was five months pregnant (I was hardly showing). With this pregnancy, I started showing so much sooner. At 13 weeks, I looked pregnant. Now that I’m 16 weeks, I feel like I look like I’m 20 weeks pregnant. It’s been messing with my head, making me feel like I’m doing something wrong (I know this sounds silly), but I keep thinking, is it because I’ve been eating too much poutine? (just kidding but really… lol).
I’m also carrying much different this pregnancy. With Sage, I carried much higher; with this pregnancy, I feel like I stick out more and the baby is sitting lower. I feel a little insecure about my bump in this pregnancy. (I know that this sounds silly) This is common, and I know I’m not alone. As my pregnancy has progressed, I’ve already been feeling better with my bump and in my new body.
Exercise & Movement
Now that I’m feeling better, I’ve started to move my body again. Moving my body has helped my mental health (Not feeling like a blob on the couch all the time). In my first trimester, I didn’t work out at all. Even walking was hard, and I didn’t want to move. When I was pregnant with Sage, I constantly moved and walked daily. I’m just now getting to the point where I’m craving that movement, and I feel good enough to exercise.
Mental Health
I had a lot of anxiety during my first pregnancy. I talked about it a little in Finding Out I’m Pregnant. When I was pregnant with Sage, there were just many unknowns, and it was a scary time in the world (global pandemic). This time, it has been a lot different. I have done a lot of emotional work leading up to this pregnancy. I’ve felt more at peace with this pregnancy and less scared about the unknown. (It does pop up, but it’s still different). Every pregnancy is so different, but my mental health is in a better place overall. This time, I have more tools in my toolbox that I can reach for when I feel off.
It Gets Better
If you are pregnant in the dark depths of your first trimester (You’re not alone, and my heart goes out to you!) The first trimester can be isolating, and many new mothers underestimate the first trimester. Just because you can’t see your bump doesn’t mean your body isn’t making massive changes.
Every pregnancy is so different, and give yourself grace and remind yourself that you are growing life. It will all be worth it in the end, and this is only temporary, and you will get through this!!
I’m so excited to continue to share my pregnancy journey with you. If you’re looking for more pregnancy content, make sure to check out First Trimester Recap and Pregnancy Tips For The First Trimester and The Healthnut Healthy Pregnancy Guide from my first pregnancy with Sage.
Also, I would love to know if you’re pregnant or have been pregnant – and one thing that helped you out throughout your pregnancy! Let me know in the comments!
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You’re so strong, just incredible. Having a toddler and being pregnant – you are such a superwoman.
I have a 7 months old and am starting my next round of IVF next week. It’ll be a frozen transfer this time and I’m quite worried that I won’t be able to lift my daughter in the next three months in order not to lose my next baby. So I totally understand when you say you had some mum guilt. Your post gives me motivation to get through this next few months.