What should a first time pregnant woman know? | The Hague Birth Photographer
Most of us know about the 3 trimesters of pregnancy, but did you know that there is also a 4th trimester?
There are a few things that are common for most women to a trimester. I will share them here, but remember, pregnancy is different for everyone. Some women never get morning sickness, others have morning sickness throughout pregnancy. Always listen to your body and ask your heath care provider if there is anything that you feel unsure of.
Other than giving an overview of what you can expect in each stage, as you plan for your pregnancy, newborn and birth, I will also share some of my favourite (local) resources with you that I picked up on as a Rotterdam, Delft and The Hague birth photographer and doula.
First Trimester: Me, myself and my unborn child
The start of the first trimester is like a secret club. For some, the first few weeks, only your growing baby will be part of it, until you take that pregnancy test to join the club. The first trimester club with stay small, as most people only share the news with their partner, and sometimes closest friends and family. During these first 12 weeks, your body will be working overtime, with the outside world unaware of what is going on. You, however, could be very aware. Morning sickness can be challenging at this time. Also, due to hormone changes, you might feel very tired, with low energy during this time.
Here are some other resources in Rotterdam and The Hague for the 1st trimester:
- Essential oils like peppermint and cardamom can be beneficial to help alleviate symptoms like morning sickness. Some oils can help with sleep, while others can give you a boost when you need it. I have premade nausea blends and I also make custom blends for clients based on their preferences. You can reach out to me here. Important! Do your research before buying and using essential oils, as there are a lot of brands on the market that are not pure (even though it says so on the bottle) and therefor contains chemicals that you don’t want to add to your body. Research has shown that more than 70% of essential oils that claim they are 100% pure, are actually NOT pure.
- Make an appointment with an acupuncturist. In Rotterdam, Anna from Lapis studio comes highly recommended. And in The Hague I would recommend making an appointment with Tao from Acupuncutre1.
Second Trimester: The Golden Period
I think the name gives this one away. A lot of women find the second trimester a lot more pleasant than the first, with less nausea, better sleeping patterns, and more energy in general. This is also when your baby bump starts showing and you can enjoy sharing your pregnancy with the rest of the world.
- It can be fun to think of creative ways to share the news of your pregnancy with friends and family. Booking a shoot with a photographer and share the photos with your loved ones is a popular way to do this. You can see my packages here.
- How can you supporting your body for pregnancy and birth, while making friends with woman who are also pregnant? Join a Pregnancy yoga or fitness class. If you are in the Rotterdam and The Hague area, you can look at Mothers in Motion or YG Studios.
- Get informed. It would be no surprise that I am pro doula support. If you don’t want a doula at your birth, then at the very least invest in some birth classes. Knowing your options and the system will help you so much in making last minute decisions when the time comes. Other than recommending myself in the Rotterdam and The Hague area, I can also highly recommend Jessica from Doula Care Veda for both private birth lessons and Doula support.
Third Trimester: Almost there
Things are getting real. At this point you will be going around getting the final things done to get the house ready for the new addition to your family. This is also when back pain and swelling of your feet can become a problem, due to the added weight from the baby. The belly can also make sleeping a bit uncomfortable.
- Essential oils like lavender, marjoram and rosemary can be a great help in relieving some of the back pain and sleep problems. Reach out to me or do your research before buying anything online or in a store.
- It could also help a lot to visit a chiropractor or pelvic floor specialist at this stage.
Birth: The Main Event
In the last 9 months, everything built up to this moment. The moment that will change your life forever. There will be a version of you before birth, and there will be a version of you after birth. Although birth will only last a few hours (on average around 12), this experience can have a big impact on you and your baby. You do not want to go into birth unprepared – mentally and physically.
- Plan to make, and make your environment as comfortable as possible. Whether you are having a home birth, hospital birth or c section, make this experience as magical as you can. Think smells, sounds, light. We can spend so much time and energy into setting the right mood for a romantic evening, why not do the same for this moment when your baby will be taking it’s first breaths.
- Be true to you. Trust your instinct, you will know, even if it is your first baby.
If you want more details on birth, make sure to check out this blog post all about 10 secrets to make your birth more comfortable.
Of course, these are moments you’ll always want to remember (even if things don’t go perfectly according to plan). Hiring a birth photographer is something I’ve never heard anyone say they regret! Have a look at the birth experiences of these amazing women.
The 4th Trimester: What No One Tells You
Surprise! Your journey doesn't end with birth. In some cultures they see the first 6 weeks postpartum as very crucial for bonding with the baby, and healing. The 4th trimester can also be seen as the first three months (same length as the first 3 trimesters) of your baby's life, where both of you are adjusting to the world outside the womb. You will also hear some women say 9 months in, 9 months out – meaning it takes 9 months for you to fully recover. And there are other research that shows that it can take up to and over a year for a woman to recover.
So what am I saying? Regardless of whether it is 6 weeks or 2 years, the recovery time after birth is so important. Your body needs to heal a big scar where the placenta tore away from the womb. Your organs need to move back to their original place. Hormones need to adjust to a body that is breastfeeding and then again to a body that is not breastfeeding. There is so much happening, so be kind to yourself, and allow yourself the time to heal.
- Propper nutrition at this time is going to be essential. I have a whole blog post about How to prep for postpartum meals, where I share some amazing tips.
- Getting baby blues is normal, and nothing to be ashamed of. This is largely because of the hormones in your body trying to find balance again. Lavender, wild orange and geranium can be great oils to put in a diffuser at this time, or to use in a massage blend. If this feeling becomes too much, talk to your health care provider so that they can help. Post partum depression is less common than baby blues, but a lot of new moms will still experience this. It is important to get professional help.
This is a very broad overview, but should give you a bit of an idea of what to expect, as well a few tips on who to reach out to in Rotterdam and the Hague. As long as you've got your support system and resources, you'll be able to navigate this crazy adventure.
