Mistakes Pregnant Women Make in The First Trimester
Becoming pregnant, especially for the first time, can cause new parents to feel feelings of joy, disconnectedness, romance, shock, depression and hope... all within the first hour. If this is you, congratulations! And welcome to the rollercoaster of parenting. To get you started, here are the top mistakes pregnant women make in the first trimester. 😉
Mistakes Pregnant Women Make in The First Trimester
Eat for Two
I'm not exactly sure where the phrase "eating for two" originated from, but within it is the assumption that pregnant women get to eat whatever they want and as much as they want. Yes, you need to eat more during pregnancy, but it's not by that much, if anything, during the first trimester.
During the first trimester your caloric intake doesn't need to increase, however, during the second trimester and the third the increase is around 300-500 calories.
Instead of focusing on counting calories I would focus on:
- eating 1-2 pregnancy superfoods each day
- eating protein at every meal and snack time
- never skipping a meal
- planning ahead for healthy snacks
Real Food for Pregnancy by Lily Nichols is my all-time favorite pregnancy book about food. I highly recommend it!
TIP: Try these energy balls for pregnancy to keep energy levels up and morning sickness symptoms at bay. They're so delicious! I prefer to eat them frozen.
Eat Too Little
Another one of the mistakes pregnant women make in the first trimester is eating too little. Prior to pregnancy the consequences of skipping a meal may have been insignificant, but not eating enough, frequently enough, during pregnancy, is a big trigger for morning sickness.
To minimize morning sickness symptoms, it's important to eat high quality foods paired with protein every 2-3 hours.
If you follow these tips you will minimize morning sickness symptoms, but also increase energy and of course, help your baby to grow healthy and strong.
Here's a list of snack ideas that can help alleviate morning sickness.
Go to the Doctor Too Early
With my first pregnancy, as soon as I began experiencing signs of early pregnancy and got a positive pregnancy test, I called my OBGYN. I kept asking myself, "What do I do?". Hahaha...
I think I was so overwhelmed, and since I'm such a "doer" I needed to do something to do make me feel at ease.
The reality is, there's really nothing to be done so early in pregnancy. There's no rush, no emergency. When you get a positive pregnancy test result, it's too early for an ultrasound, and there isn't anything your care provider can do for you.
Of course there are always exceptions, for example, someone that is using reproductive technologies, has health problems, or is a high risk pregnancy.
It is perfectly fine to enjoy the first weeks of pregnancy and do nothing! Buy a pregnancy journal or start one on your own with pregnancy journal prompts, spend time in nature, and begin taking a prenatal vitamin with folate. I recommend the Garden of Life prenatal, which is listed on my pregnancy resources. These three things would be a great place to start!
Go to the Doctor Too Late
On the other hand, another one of the mistakes pregnant women make in the first trimester is to go to the doctor too late. And when I say doctor, I mainly mean midwives or care providers that have small, limited practices.
If you have your heart set on using a midwife that has a small homebirth practice, you probably should call her for an interview or consultation as soon as you pee on a stick. There's a local homebirth midwife in my area and I know she's turned clients away solely because she was booked up.
If you're planning on using a big box OBGYN (just coined that term, ladies) there's absolutely no need to call early. Trust me, they'll take you!
PS - Here's a great post about how to know if it's time to fire your OBGYN. Keep this information in mind when searching for the right care provider.
Expect an Ultrasound
Another one of the mistakes pregnant women make in the first trimester is to expect an ultrasound.
In my opinion, ultrasounds should only be used when medically necessary. If there is no medical reason to receive an ultrasound, I would not partake.
The reason I say this is because the risks of ultrasound have not been fully researched. In one study it has been found that ultrasound increases the chance of left-handedness. It's not that left-handedness is bad, it's that something about ultrasound is altering our children's bodies. That concerns me!
Even the FDA cautions against it!
PS - After having repeated miscarriages, for future pregnancies I was all about ultrasounds. At that point I had an MTHFR diagnosis and ultrasounds were apart of my pregnancy protocol per my neonatologist. Seeing my baby growing healthy and strong was such a relief. I get the draw of ultrasounds! All I'm saying is to use ultrasounds with wisdom and discernment just as you would taking any supplement or medication during pregnancy.
Announce the Pregnancy
Announcing a pregnancy during the first trimester is a very personal choice, but I think most women don't consider what they're getting into with an early announcement, especially if they've never experienced a miscarriage before.
When I had my first miscarriage I was shocked! I thought that sort of thing would never happen to me. Others? Perhaps. But not me.
After I realized I was miscarrying, I was grateful that I had not announced my pregnancy on social media. I would have hated having to announce my miscarriage on there as well. It was difficult enough for me to contact the friends and family we had shared the pregnancy news with that the pregnancy had ended.
However, other women, perhaps the more extroverted ones, do not find announcing a pregnancy in the first trimester to be a problem. In fact, they report quite the opposite. They realize that an early public pregnancy announcement could translate to a public miscarriage announcement. Some women are grateful for the outpouring of support and find comfort grieving in public.
My advice? Wait until closer to the second trimester to announce a pregnancy. By that time you've likely heard the heartbeat and I've always heard that once you hear the heartbeat the chance of miscarriage goes way down. But of course, do what you most feel comfortable doing. There's no manual for this sort of thing.
SIDE NOTE: Just for fun, here is my first pregnancy announcement at 12 weeks, the next at 10 weeks pregnant, and the grand finale, my third pregnancy announcement at 10 weeks.
Share Belly Photos on Social Media
Seeing belly photos on social media prior to the second trimester always makes me giggle. Unless you're carrying twins, the uterus isn't large enough to be "showing" enough to warrant Facebook documentation of said pregnancy.
Likely, you're just documenting bloating or a food baby. LOL!
Exhibit A: My youthful, skinny, tight body. RIP abs. See how nothing really happens until the second trimester?
If you do share pregnancy belly photos in the first trimester, I get it, I do. To me it shows that you are VERY excited about the changes within you, which is super sweet.
PS - I think this photo is hilarious.
Overdo It
WARNING: If you are a type A, overachiever, modern, American woman, etc. you are extremely susceptible to overdoing it during pregnancy.
Many of us have the misconception that we need to be all things and do all things, even on into pregnancy and parenting. This is simply impossible.
To avoid burnout, schedule "self care" activities in your calendar. Just like it's important to take a prenatal vitamin every day, taking time to "not be productive", but taking care of yourself is just as or even more important.
Listen to your body, rest or nap when you need it. And if it helps, remind yourself that, today, you grew a pair of ears. And sometimes, that is enough (and is amazing).
TIP: Here are some general sleep tips to follow at any point in pregnancy to help you sleep better. I hope it helps!
Overbuy
I live in a very consumer driven society, and likely, you do too.
For example, after an initial pregnancy visit with my OBGYN I started receiving baby related marketing materials in the mail. (How did they get my information??!! And just for the record, ViaCord, I did not want your blood banking services. I always planned for delayed cord clamping instead.)
If you are expecting, you likely feel pressure to buy the latest and the greatest baby gear. The underlying message sent to new moms is the way to prepare for a baby is to buy baby things.
Sure, preparing for a baby is partly gathering gear, but it's so much more than that. Baby gear, clothes and snot suckers will fade away. But your birth, and how you were made to feel during it, will stick with you forever.
Don't believe me? Read the comments on my post about how to get through transition without an epidural.
Baby gear is necessary, but make sure buying baby things is balanced with quality pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum education and support.
In the first trimester, make sure to start researching childbirth resources and options in your area. Contacting a local doula is a great first step! Doulas are a wealth of information.
Mistakes Pregnant Women Make in The First Trimester
To recap, the following are common mistakes pregnant women make in the first trimester.
- Eat for Two
- Eat Too Little
- Go to the Doctor Too Early
- Go to the Doctor Too Late
- Expect an Ultrasound
- Announce the Pregnancy
- Share Belly Photos on Social Media
- Overdo It
- Overbuy
Don't make these mistakes! Don't be one of "those women"! Haha just kidding. We've all been there and made all the same mistakes. Just do your best. You can do it!
Many doctors do ultrasounds during the first trimester to check for proper attachment of the embryo to the uterus.
'In one study it has been found that ultrasound increases the chance of left-handedness.'
Really? You say it like it's a bad thing...
In the whole history of humanity there have been left-handed people. It even occurres in other species.
Hey! Don't get me wrong, being left handed is OK! My son is left handed and he's amazing!! The point I'm trying to make is that something about ultrasounds is changing our children... Clearly, we do not fully understand ultrasound and it's affects on our children. Left handed-ness is totally fine! It's the changing of our children that's not.
Okay. The recent studies if have seen can't tell for sure if it is damaging the baby. A doppler however is a higher risk as it causes more heat. And it's a shame to my oppinion that a lot of pregnant women use them at home.
Yes I agree!!
So ultrasounds are creating left handed children, “not that they are bad” but because “it’s changing our children” I’m not going to lie, I stopped reading after this point when all of your credibility went out the window. Ultrasounds or no ultrasounds, you my dear sound very ignorant.
I think we should stop telling expectant women what we think they should or shouldn't do and let them do what they think is right. stop making each other feel I adequate and start telling each other that we are amazing.
I agree 100%. Especially since everyone is different.
You must have many insecurities to be this negative. Your tone comes off as talking down to expectant parents. Not everyone has done this before.
I'm so glad you said this. I completely agree! She sounds condescending and pretentious.
As someone who experienced a miscarriage.... I 100% think she is just trying to be protective and help keep you grounded in case an issue arrises.. Thank you. I appreciate the carring in your advice.
Agree, I thought this article was going to be more about “what NOT to eat” and “what activities NOT to participate in”. This article is just basically “how to NOT get made fun of by judgy people”
Very good article! Thank you for sharing YOUR experiences; yes, everyone is different, but it's reassuring to know that people who have gone through childbirth share THEIR experiences and guidance. Most 'study based' articles are written by 'experts' who have not been through pregnancy and childbirth so the 'facts' are opinion based anyway. If someone doesn't like what they are reading, they can choose to read something else 🙂 Thank you, again, for sharing your story! AND I, too, have MTHFR and have suffered losses, so it was refreshing to read that information from someone with the same condition.
This is the most negative article I have ever read.... especially reading as a first time mother. I am flabbergasted that you would even post this.
Totally agree !!!
I'm barely seeing this post just now from pinterest and I totally agree! The one thing that bugs me is the whole "posting belly's too early"... that we're posting just bloating and that it's not the actual baby?? First off, every woman is different. I'm not fit like her, I have a bit of a stomach so at supposedly 12 weeks I looked like I was at 16 or 18 weeks. I say supposedly because I had a silent miscarriage I never knew about. I was supposed to be at 12 weeks by the way my uterus was stretching but the baby stopped at 9. By the time I went to the doctor (no one would see me until I was 12 weeks) it was too late. Sure, I announced my pregnancy early and I posted my supposedly "bloated" belly but miscarriages can happen at any time. This post is not one I would show new mothers. Very ignorant post indeed! I'm going to be pregnant soon again and I dont give s shit. I'm announcing, posting and going to see the doctor however and whenever I want. Life is short and I'm going to let my baby LIVE.
Wow. Some of the comments here make me wonder whether we are reading the same article... I found it informative and very "you do you". Also, I'm surprised to hear the bit about ultrasounds possibly not being 100% safe! Although I don't think I can/will stay away. First time mom here. Thank you.
I was thinking the exact same. The part about the belly made me laugh because after the first kid, you pop much sooner regardless of how in shape you are. Definitely wouldn’t describe this as the ‘most negative article that I have ever read’. That actually makes me giggle. We just live in a world where everyone is offended over everything all of the time ! Lol
As an expecting mom of baby #4 I agree and disagree.
Here's my advice.
Eat healthy, rest, take all the pictures you want, tell anyone you want, research and find a doctor who you like (it's hard to switch, especially if high risk later) and enjoy this special time.
I've had more miscarriages than live births. Every pregnancy has been high risk and a miracle. I hated being alone in my previous miscarriages, because no one knew. This time we told everyone we wanted as soon as the double lines appeared (3 weeks). I refuse to hide and feel like it's taboo. If we miscarry again, I'll be surrounded by love and support. That's so important.
Please take the positive and leave the negative of this article. I don't think the author meant to have it sound negative.
I completely agree! I'm pregnant now with baby #6 and I have had two miscarriages between #3 & 4 due to MTHFR. I told everyone right away because I need lots of prayers! Oh, and when you have had many pregnancies the baby bump shows up much sooner - I could totally take baby bump pictures in the 1st trimester...but I won't. No social media post for me! Even though I don't necessarily agree with everything in the article, I certainly don't think it was negative at all. Just sharing experience which moms all love to do!
After a lot of research (out of my own personal fear) I've found that the studies you mention leave a lot to be desired & that ultrasounds are totally safe. The settings used on the machines indicate as much. Just look for the TIs - thermal index for soft tissue. It would have to be at a 2 to be doing anything significant, but it's usually set below 0.5.
I would recommend doing your own research as well before telling people to beware of ultrasounds.
The whole belly pics point is hilarious.This is my 3rd and While I also started really skinny and with a flat belly,I assure you,my first two I was showing early too. At 12 weeks I look like you at 19 weeks. All women are different.
I really don’t consider most of these as “mistakes”. Everyone’s pregnancy experience is different. I consider this article less “helpful information” and more someone’s ignorant opinion.
This article was not enjoyable to read, to say the least. Very condescending. Talking about sitting on Facebook laughing when women post their first trimester belly pics is so RUDE. My Lord, let women be without judgment! It is their pregnancy.
There are times when as soon as you know you are pregnant you should call you doctors, for example I have underactive thyroid condition and one of the first things that need to happen is that my medication needs to be increased and r gulag bloods need to be taken to ensure my levels are in a safe area. So although healthy young females might not need to head straight to the doctors, some of us should and need to to avoid things such as miscarriages.
I really do like your articles and there is so much useful information but do wish you would cover things such as being a first time mother in your forties and what I've mentioned above, having a preexisting medical condition which could become severe when pregnant.
I seriously like that suggestion to plan "self-care" activities. It's so true that it's easy to get caught up in the idea that we need to be perfect and be able to do everything on our own. That's why I figure that planning self-care is a good idea.
I did my research. You can still delay cord clamping and use viacord (or some other cordblood/tissue banking) and if you delay cord clamping and there’s not enough blood to store (rarely happens) they refund you! My cousin has cancer for the second time in 21 years. My dads side of the family is full of cancer. I’m taking every step.