Are These 1St Trimester Symptoms Normal?

With my first pregnancy I was sick from the second I found out right up til delivering her - but then w/my second no morning sickness, no heartburn, it was bliss. I've been told that each pregnancy affects us differently so just try to do what you can to go w/it. I practically lived on Tums w/my 1st & I swore she'd have a full head of hair because that's what I was told w/the heartburn (old wives tale) - she was bald! You may want to cut back on any food/drink w/a high acidic level like orange juice - & also check w/your primary care dr. Good luck!

I took my prenatal vitamins before bed (with a snack) to avoid stomach issues. Iron can cause constipation, but since you are not taking that, I'm not sure what other specific symptoms the vitamins cause. I would assume your symptoms will improve in the 2nd tri, but in the meantime, try taking them before bed.

Every pregnancy is different. Sounds normal to me.
Things should start to improve within the next several
weeks. Congratulatilons.

I got pretty sick and my doctor prescribed me Zofran - I refused to take them for weeks until my mother came by one day and saw me, and immediately rushed to the drug store to fill the prescription. This was a miracle medicine. I felt SO much better, and even though it was pricey (100 bucks!) it was worth taking just to get a little relief.

Every pregnancy is different--I have 4 children and can say that from experience! I was lucky in that all 4 pregnancies were pretty uneventful. With the first I craved oyster stew and Green Giant mixed vegetables in butter sauce. I never had cravings for the other 3. A friend at work is allergic to gluten in foods. When she was pregnant she found she could gorge on gluten with no ill effects. Once she had the baby her system went back to gluten sensitive. My #3 daughter is pregnant and finds herself sick to her stomach if she eats meats--but not all the time. She seems to gravitate to rice, potatoes, fruits, veggies, and OJ... kinda like you. I wouldn't worry. Pregnancy plays games with a woman's body. Your symptoms my clear as you get into your second trimester. If not (and in the meantime) check with your doc regarding what you are eating to make sure you have a diet that is as balanced as possible--proteins, fruits & veggies, dairy, carbohydrates, and fats. If meat is a no-go, try tofu, or beans (beans and rice dishes are especially nutritious), eggs. And there are protein drinks too-- including instant breakfast. Pa attention to your tummy. If a certain food sets you off, stay away from it for awhile. Try frequent, small meals. Steer clear of foods that normally cause gas-- broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, etc. If you like dried beans and want their protein, the trick is to soak the beans before cooking...soak overnight or, better yet, soak for 8-10 hours changing the water every 2-3 hours. Makes them less gassy. Remember when your baby was little and you introduced new foods a little at a time? Try it for yourself and see what you can best tolerate. Best of luck!

I myself am 9 weeks pregnant, and everything you're reporting sounds perfectly normal! Every pregnancy is different -- you really cannot compare what you experience with this one to what you've experienced in the past. It's a new adventure every time!

I told my husband my stomach has never before been hard from gas upon WAKING! I have bloating and nausea every day, and I tend to suffer from intermittently hard and loose stools. All of these symptoms are both normal and easily explained by our ever-increasing hormones. Since your doctor has assured you this is normal and since these are new symptoms, I would not attribute them to anything other than pregnancy (if you had digestive issues before, it might be something like a food sensitivity, but since they're new, they should be normal pregnancy things).

From what I understand, the gas may last the entire pregnancy (although it's less distressing later -- right now, it's worst because we also have nausea and fatigue and all these other symptoms. A little gas later -- when we feel good and energetic, isn't as bad), but the nausea almost always disappears by the end of the 1st trimester. Also, once you're able to stomach iron supplements (probably by the 2nd trimester), you may well find yourself having harder stools than normal, although all the fiber you eat will definitely help with that!

In the meantime, here are a few tricks: If the gas is bad, you can take Simethicone (Gas-X and some other brands, I believe). Eating several small meals frequently throughout the day helps IMMENSELY with the nausea. Even though I don't WANT to eat when I'm nauseated, I feel SO much better when I have a little food in my stomach. My doctor also recommended taking 10 mg of B6 twice a day and/or taking a Unisom tablet to help with the nausea -- I haven't done this yet, but I have heard they're very effective. Speak with your doctor before you take anything, of course, but mine said those are perfectly safe.

Ginger is also very effective in settling a stomach -- steep some ginger tea (use real ginger), find some real ginger candies or cookies (the kind they sell at healthfood stores or Trader Joe's). Some find peppermint to be helpful as well. Finally, if the supplements are difficult, many people take 2 flinstones vitamins a day, just make sure you get the ones with iron. Take one in the morning and one at night -- I know an OB who did this because she couldn't stomach regular prenatals during hte first trimester.

Good luck!

As you said it yourself, each pregnancy is different. My first pregnancy, my only symptom of pregnancy was some heartburn. My two other pregnancies, I was so nauseous that I lost 15 pounds the first trimester (even with twins!)

I found that as soon as I got pregnant in my second and third pregnancies, I had digestive issues. Painful buildup of gas (sorry if TMI), my intestines simply felt like they were being knotted into a ball. As soon as I delivered the babies, I was back to normal.

So, it could be totally normal. On the other hand, you COULD have a stomach virus (I had that with the twins... I assumed some of my nausea and diarreah was from the pregnancy, but it turned out I had a stomach virus!!)

Feel better.... only 7 or 8 months to go!!!

M T,

Congratulations!

All of it is and can be normal. Eat what you can. I haven't had to deal with any of it. I would however, look into a different prenatal (I hesitate to suggest AGAIN, but a prenatal should have more than folic and calcium in it - has it really got more than that or is it that limited?)

Pay attention to what you can't handle in your diet though. I couldn't handle broccoli. Love the stuff. DS has the most amazing gas with it (and I mean that in a horrified way, the poor guy was in such pain!)

Good luck,
M.

Hi - I was sick EVERY day of my 1st trimester - didn't throw up every day, but nausous every day, most of the day ("morning sickness", ha!). I didn't crave junk, either, all I wanted was fruit. It was especially bad when I brushed my teeth. I lived on ginger snaps, they helped somewhat. It was really bad, but as soon as my 2nd trimester started, the nausea passed. And you make up with weight gain then. Eat what you can stomache, and hopefully this won't last too much longer!

So sorry that you are having so many troubles.
I had a similar experience from my first to my second pregnancy. Every pregnancy is different. With my first, I would be sick every morning until i left for work and something about getting the day started got me over the nausea. The I would have a normal day with possibly some trouble aound dinnertime. The day I turned twelve weeks the symptoms magically disappeared just like the book said they would. I felt triumphant!
Then baby boy #2, I was sick all day. If I got too hungry I would feel sick, after I eat anything I would feel sick. The only time I felt good was when i was actually putting the food in my mouth. Symptoms went on until 14 weeks, then went away and then CAME BACK!! It wasn't until about 20 weeks that I actually felt good.
You are doing alot more this time, rushing more, carrying a toddler around, getting less sleep.
I had trouble with all prenatal vitamins, so I took the brand 'Perfect Prenatal" that I bought at whole foods. A friend recommended it to me. They were so good I convinced my OBGYN to let me continue taking them throughout my pregnancy instead of switching to a perscription. They are made from organic ingredients and i could take them anytime with or without food. I like them so much I just switched to the same brand's women's one a day. They are pricey though, about a dollar a day or $60 for a 2 month supply.
Good luck!! Enjoy it this time, you get to share this baby with the first and things get truly nuts with two in the house!

Hi MT,

As far as what I have experienced, these symptoms are totally normal. You are actually lucky that you do not have the vomiting that usually accompanies these other symptoms. With my first daughter, I was sooooo sick that I couldn't keep down ANYTHING - I lost 18 pounds the first trimester. It got better throughout the rest of the pregnancy, and my daughter was fine, but I didn't feel completely 'regular' until about two months after her birth.

I had a problem with the prenatal vitamins as well. I felt sicker when I took them. Try Flintstones chewables instead - my doctor suggested these during my first pregnancy (take two a day), and now with my second (I am in my third trimester), I only got sick to my stomach three times - what a wonderful difference!!!!! They have the same nutritional value as prenatal vitamins, but they are much, much easier on the stomach.

I also swear by peppermints. None of the ginger stuff helped settle my stomach - it made things worse. I must have gone through dozens and dozens of those bags of starlight mints - THEY SAVED ME!

Good luck, and hang in there!! It should get better soon,
L.

Hopefully it will pass after your first trimester...I just had my second child and never really embraced the whole idea of each pregnancy is different, each child is different...until my second. I would say it sounds pretty normal; I was sick my ENTIRE pregnancy; my second pregnancy from weeks 6 through 14. Good Luck, ginger root helps take the edge off...I finally had to get a prescription to help with the nausea!

For me the constant (and i mean CONSTANT) nausea was normal in my first trimester. If i didn't have my emergency cracker stash to make sure something was in my stomach at all times, the nausea was even more horrible! I also had bloating and some cramping.

But symptoms are different for everyone! And each pregnancy is different even with the same person. You were definitely spoiled during your first pregnancy :) How wonderful to not have to deal with those issues!!

If you have any concerns though, seeing your primary physician just as a precaution and second opinion is never a bad idea!!

Hope your symptoms clear up soon! Mine only lasted until a few weeks into the 2nd trimester... today's the first day of my 3rd trimester and i'm still feeling pretty good!

Good luck! Hope you have a healthy, happy 9 months!! :)

Look for a whole foods prenatal supplement. Many have probiotics in them. They are expensive but I got the 45 dollar ones on sale for 30% off at my natural foods coop to give to the girl carrying my first grandchild. Google whole foods vitamins. Cannot recall the name of the particular brand but there are a few out there. J. Marie

Totally normal. With my son I only felt nausous for about a week. With my daughter I threw up every time I ate red meat. Each pregnancy is different. So what you had the first time isn't true for this time. And stomach issues are huge, because alot of it has to do with the hormones.

Hello,

I had trouble with the prenatal vitamins. It turned out not to be the vitamin but the coating on the vitamins. I ended up with liquid prenatal vitamins which helped alot. The taste was terrible but it was better than the digestive problems.

I hope that you are feeling better soon.
S.

I'am 26 weeks pergnant and I just got over being sick everyday. I mean I use to bring everything back up even water. This is also my 2nd child. It will pass, the best I can say is eat what you can kepp down. Good Luck