3 Things NO ONE Tells You About The First Trimester!
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3 Things No One Tells You About The First Trimester
Hello classic crew, and welcome to another exclusive article for my Substack newsletter! I’m still reveling in being able to share all of my thoughts about this pregnancy with you all. It feels so wonderful to tell you that we will be having a baby in just a few months!
Pregnancy is a funny time. Anyone and everyone has advice to give you, but sometimes, the major things get glossed over! I thought I knew all about it from seeing friends and family go through it, but I was wrong. There was so much I learned from my own experience, which makes sense since every woman and every pregnancy is different.
Today I wanted to share with you three things that no one told me about the first trimester. These three facts tend to get lost in the shuffle, and I think they would have been really helpful to know in advance. If you have been pregnant or currently are pregnant, share something you think we should know about the first trimester in the comments below!
The loneliness of the first trimester. The first trimester is hard physically in so many ways…but what really makes it difficult is how hard it is emotionally. Of course, your hormones are going crazy as you are literally growing another human inside of you, but there’s the worry and anxiety of not knowing whether the baby is healthy or not. This is especially difficult if, like me, you previously had a miscarriage. You know the risks associated with the first trimester; you know what the worst outcome could be.
With that in mind, many women choose not to announce their pregnancies until after the first trimester, when the risk of miscarriage is negligible. What all of this means is that the first trimester is lonely. You aren’t sharing your huge news with anyone, you feel sick much of the time so you’re homebound, and you’re just waiting, counting down the weeks until you know you can really be excited and confident in your pregnancy.
Even though there are plenty of wonderful milestones in the first trimester, getting through it is definitely a recipe for loneliness. So what can you do to feel better? Share with your family. Talk with your husband. Try to make fun date nights at home watching movies and ordering whatever it is that you’re craving. And prayer. Recognizing God’s role in all of this really does help bring peace.
How to count the weeks of pregnancy. On more of a technical note, let’s discuss the weeks of pregnancy! Did you know when you’re counting what week of pregnancy you’re on, you’re actually two weeks off? Let me explain.
Doctors like to count from your last missed period rather than the day of conception because your last missed period is a more certain date. Therefore, when you’re four weeks pregnant (AKA, right after you take a pregnancy test), you’re actually only two weeks along! What’s amazing about this is the realization of how quickly the baby actually grows.
Instead of the baby having fingers and toes at 11 weeks, the baby has fingers and toes at 9 weeks. That’s crazy to think about, isn’t it? In just 9 weeks, what started as a zygote made of one sperm and one egg is now turning into this tiny human! It gives me goosebumps just to think about.
The power of positive thinking. Like I said, the first trimester is rough. Depending on the woman, you feel sick all of the time and it’s difficult to make the experience feel special when you’re stuck on the couch all day. But I was so grateful to be sick. Whenever I felt ill, I knew that the baby was still growing! Even now, when I’m not feeling great, I turn to Jacob and say, “Baby’s working so hard.” Reframing my struggle as baby’s growing pains makes the whole process so much more doable.
After having a miscarriage, feeling sick felt like a blessing in disguise. Every ache, every pain, every nauseous moment was a symbol of my baby’s health. And that made the first trimester so much easier. I know that being sick stinks – but the power of positive thinking enables you to look at what’s going on and remember the purpose of it. You are growing a child in your womb – you are doing the most natural thing in the world. And that makes it all worth it.
I hope you guys enjoyed this article! If you did, make sure to share it with your friends and don’t forget to leave a comment below 😊
Quote of the Week:
““You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” - A.A. Milne
NEW VIDEO: What It's Like To Be 16 Weeks Pregnant! // + Thrifting, decluttering makeup...
Classic Style Inspo
I found this dress at the thrift store! Can you believe it?? And it still had the tags on it! Sweater dresses are a wonderful staple in your closet for fall (and great for pregnancy!), so check out your local thrift store and see what they have available. It’s thrifty and sometimes you’ll find some great hidden gems!
Things I’ve Been Loving: Tinted Mineral Sunscreen
During pregnancy I try to avoid chemical sunscreens. With that in mind, this is one of my favorite mineral sunscreens because it has a bit of a tint and doesn’t leave a white cast!
Welcome to Classically Abby!
I'm a wife, mama-to-be, opera singer, entrepreneur, YouTuber, and your guide to becoming the classic woman you've always wanted to be! Follow me on YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter to see how! And together, let's be classic.
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It’s amazing to think how quickly the baby grows! I love that you were able to turn something uncomfortable into a more positive/bearable experience simply by changing your mindset. It’s empowering! 😃
Also, your sweater dress is beautiful! Personally, I don’t feel comfortable in them, but I’ve always found them to be stylish and a great way to show a woman’s figure without being too immodest.
You better start practicing your Brahms Lullaby!!