First Trimester Staples

Welcome to the Pregnancy Necessities Carnival!
This post was written for inclusion in the Pregnancy Necessities Carnival hosted by Parenting God’s Children. Today, participants share what they simply cannot live without during their pregnancies or simply what to gather for their upcoming new addition. Please see the full list of links to the other carnival submissions at the end of this post. Enjoy!
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I want to preface this blog by stating that, at no point, was I a “cute pregnant girl.” This especially applies to my first half of pregnancy, because I was violently ill 24/7. If I wasn’t actually throwing up, I was in what I labeled, “vomit purgatory.” Purgatory is basically where you are hovered over the toilet praying to finally throw up and be done with it, but you never actually do. Specific smells set me over the edge. I lived off orange juice and peanut butter sandwiches. I had waste baskets placed everywhere around the house.

I used to look in envy at women who would look pregnant. Until I was about 25 weeks, I just looked like I had said, “yes, please” to one too many cupcakes. There are some things though that I swear by that helped take the edge off of things. I label the following list my “First Trimester Staples.”

• Sea Bands. Best $10 I’ve spent. I know it’s supposed to put pressure on specific wrist points to ease nausea associated with things like motion sickness (or pregnancy.) I was very grateful that I found these, and wore them pretty much all the time.
• Preggo Pop Drops. For one, they taste good. (Especially the orange, but like I said before, I had a serious orange flavored craving all the time.) They were also great to keep in my purse for that awkward moment when you’re sitting in an important meeting, and someone unwraps a ham sandwich next to you, and you don’t want them to see you dry heaving. It took my mind off being sick momentarily, and put a new taste/smell in my mind.
• Ginger pills. I despise the flavor of ginger. I found an herbal supplement at Whole Foods and took them in a pill form. Much easier.
• Belly bands. I know that this doesn’t really fall into the sickness category, but let me tell you these things were/are a good send! I woke up one day, and literally couldn’t button my pants. It happened overnight! I slipped one of these bad boys on, and away I went. Actually, I still wear them daily, as I am nursing and it is a bit more modest from the side and back (the parts that my hooter hider doesn’t hide all the time.)

The laughable part about all of this though, is when I see a pregnant person now, I smile and cannot wait until I’m pregnant again (don’t worry! It won’t be too soon!) I miss my pregnant belly (even though I felt like a whale and couldn’t see my feet.) I miss feeling her tiny feet kick me from the inside, and wondering whose nose she will have (answer: Daddy’s)

I may not be as sentimental about it, however, when I am sleeping on the bathroom floor for 20 weeks straight, once again.

Women everywhere will cringe that I did, indeed, find myself pregnant and barefoot in the kitchen...about to put buns in the oven. On accident! (While drinking a ginger ale at 10 weeks pregnant) My supportive friend clicked a picture in hopes that one day, I would laugh over it.

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Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants!

• The Pregnancy Happiness List — That Mama Gretchen is half way through pregnancy number two and is spilling the beans on her pregnancy must-haves!
• What A Pregnant Woman Really Needs — Jennifer Hybrid Rasta Mama reflects on what items she could not live without during her pregnancy as well as those she wishes she had.
• Cravings of Another Kind — When reflecting on what made her pregnancy enjoyable, Adrienne at Mommying My Way discovered information is what she craved most of all.
• The Pregnancy Necessities — Kym at Our Crazy Corner of the World shares her top ten must haves for pregnant women.
• The Expectant Mom‘s List of Breastfeeding Stuff to Buy, or Not — Alicia at Lactation Narration shares a list of 10 breastfeeding products that the expectant mom might want to have on her shopping list, or not.
• Pregnancy Necessities with a Toddler In Tow — Amyables at Toddler in Tow lists several simple things that make pregnancy while parenting an older child much less stressful and more enjoyable.
• Ten Tips That Helped Me During Pregnancy — Kat at {Almost} Every Moment shares ten things that helped her get through her three pregnancies!
• First Trimester Staples — Megan BB from The Memoirs of Megan shares her first trimester “must haves”
• The Pregnancy Must Have — Jennifer at True Confessions of a Real Mommy shares the ONE thing she used almost daily, through all three pregnancies and suggests to all pregnant moms.
• Where to Find Cute Maternity Clothes — Lauren at Hobo Mama reviews which maternity clothing stores to hit or miss.
• My Pregnancy Support System — While there are many material things that are nice to have during pregnancy, Dionna at Code Name: Mama’s true essentials were her family.
• Ten Essentials for a HAPPY Pregnant Mama — Sarah at Parenting God’s Children is half way through her third pregnancy! She shares the things she‘s found to be essential to a happy pregnant mama.

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