Surviving Early Pregnancy

I have two beautiful healthy little miracles.  I love being a mom.  I love getting up each morning (ok, maybe love is a strong word) and being excited to see what new things we can learn together throughout the day.  Each day is an adventure and I wouldn't trade my life for anything.

To say that it's always been a smooth road would be an exaggeration.  Both of my pregnancy had their ups and downs, leaving me wondering what I had gotten myself into.  Pregnancy can be really rough on the body and sometimes it can make you wonder if you're really ready for motherhood.

These are just a few of the things I've survived and learned in my own journey:

*Back Pain was my biggest problem in my first pregnancy.  I had injured my back in a sledding accident while we were pastoring a youth group.  Miserable experience.  I became pregnant with my son weeks after that incident.  My back has never been the same.  For awhile I was popping Tylenol every night before my doctor had a fit about it.  I came to rely heavily on my body pillow as it seemed to be what best kept my body in alignment.  Invest in one; you won't regret it.

*Nausea was my nemesis with my second pregnancy.  Back pain became the least of my worries.  Chasing a 2 year old and being sick left me feeling absolutely drained.  I came to rely heavily on morning sickness pops, seasickness bands, and ginger drops.  Lemon ginger tea was also a staple in my diet.

*A quick protein snack in the mornings was a must.  I always munched a couple of saltines and a handful of peanuts immediately after getting out of bed.  The nuts were perfect and I kept a jar in my office at work.  Small nutritious snacks throughout the day kept my energy level up and kept the bottomless pit full.

*Both of my pregnancies I had sugar spikes and would pass out.  Snacking became essential.  So did communication with those around me.  My warning symptoms included: ringing in my ears, light-headedness, nausea, "spacey feelings," people sounding far away, and finally passing out.  I had a friend that I spent a lot of time with in my first pregnancy.  She knew that if I passed out, I was fine, just needed to go home, rest, and have a snack when I came to.

*Rest, rest, rest... I was always grabbing a cat nap when I could.  Sleep was never long enough.  At first I felt guilty for not going out every time someone called me.  Or being available to complete a project every time I was asked.  But sometimes it's ok to say no and take some extra time to rest.  Remember: you are growing a human being.  It does take a lot of work.  Your body is working, even when you're sleeping.

*Finally don't be afraid to approach your doctor for prescription medicine if the nausea becomes too much.  With my second pregnancy, I couldn't handle it any longer.  Nothing kept me healthy.  I always felt sick.  All medications have side effects so you have to judge whether it's worth it to you or not.  I chose the cheaper medication, but was often drowsy.  So I only took it when it was absolutely necessary.  Consult your doctor about your options.

As always, I'm not a doctor.  I'm just a mom sharing for my own experiences.  However, these are the things that worked for me and I hope will work for you too in your own journey.

Tell us... how do you survive early pregnancy?