I’m enjoying the second trimester especially since I don’t even have episodes of heartburn. Must be this baby is going to be bald : ). But I had been thinking of several things that I still wanted to add concerning the first trimester and specifically how to survive it.

My ‘morning’ sickness never went away during the day, and it worsened in the evenings. It started just before 6 weeks and got worse from 8 weeks to 11 weeks. It slowly calmed down during the daytme but was still bad at night until 14 weeks. Mine wasn’t just nausea but stomach pain. Although I was more sick than I had been with any other pregnancy, it certainly was not hyperemesis gravidarum. Everybody is so different and each pregnancy can be so different, but I can share my experience with you and maybe it can be of some use. What helped me to cope with nausea?

• quart jars full of water with lemon (very heavy on the lemon juice)

• vitamin D drops (long Michigan winters leave one pretty depleted)

• coconut water (I added juice or steeped my herbal tea in it)

• eating small amounts of food at a time

• closing my eyes

• caffeine in the afternoon

• pressing a pillow tightly against my stomach

What did the first trimester look like?

• lots of joy

• everything smells bad

• a pooch

• can’t sleep because I’m so hungry

• tired

• excitement

• telling friendly customers at Costco

• so tired

Cravings during the first trimester?

• corn flakes

• bagels

• oatmeal

• Korean

Aversions during the first trimester?

• fried food

• tea tree oil

• all candles

I hope this is helpful for you if either you or someone you know is entering this difficult stage. Even if they’re on the other side of feeling terrible, maybe this can give you something to talk about : )

with love, Damaris