How To Survive The First Trimester of Pregnancy – With A Toddler On The Loose

My first pregnancy was a DREAM! 

No morning sickness

No nausea

No headaches

Besides the positive test, the only other pregnancy symptom I had was MASSIVE weight gain! 

This time around, I found out I was pregnant at 4 weeks, and shortly after, I was hit with all of the pregnancy woes that I avoided with my first child. 

All day sickness, coupled with my rambunctious toddler running around was THE WORST! 

Although those first trimester pregnancy woes doesn’t last forever, it can definitely feel like an eternity! 

Luckily, I’ve figured out a few ways to survive the first trimester – even if you have a little one running around!

1. Try to sleep as much as possible

Easier said than done right?

Trust me, I know! 

However, sleep is soo important during the first trimester!

Your body is working overtime to create the perfect space for the tiny human that will be living there for the next couple of months. 

Since my son still takes naps (thankfully), I made sure to nap whenever he napped. 

Did the laundry get behind? 

Yup!

Was the kitchen bursting at the seams with dishes? 

Yup! 

But I felt sooo much better after taking some time to actually rest during those first couple of weeks.

2. Eat Whatever you can…Whenever you can

Okay, so, some may think that this is bad advice, but bear with me! 

My morning sickness kicked in mid December, so once Christmas rolled around, all of the food that I’d usually devour (before taking a good ole afternoon nap), almost made the holiday unbearable. 

That said, I ate whatever I could keep down!

As much as I’d love to encourage you to eat healthy, nutritious meals, the truth is, the smell of certain fruits and veggies alone are enough to cause most mama’s to head straight for the nearest bathroom. 

Instead, figure out what works for you! 

Besides, your appetite will be back with a vengeance once the second trimester rolls around. 

I shared everything that helped me get through the first trimester in this post.  

3. Try To Take Your Prenatals Before Bedtime

As if being nauseous all day isn’t bad enough, what better way to increase your chances of having to a beeline for the bathroom than taking your prenatal vitamin first thing in the morning. 

I don’t know about you, but my prenatal’s made me feel sick within 30 minutes or so after taking them. 

I tried taking the gummy prenatals for a while but I didn’t like that the fact that they lacked some of the vital nutrients that I was getting in my regular prenatal. 

Since I was eating horribly, and could barely keep anything down, I knew that it was important to make sure I got the nutrients from the prenatal in my system one way or another. 

Once I started taking them at night, I was asleep before I had the chance to feel sick and I’ve been taking them at night, before bedtime ever since.  

4. Keep Your Toddler Occupied With Quiet, Independent Play activities

Thankfully, my son typically does well during independent play time, but we did have to get a bit creative as I struggled to keep him entertained during my many trips to the bathroom. 

Of course a little tv time was involved(sue me), but since I didn’t want him watching tv all day long, we incorporated a few hands-on activities that he could do to keep him occupied. 

Sensory bottles and bags were perfect for this! 

We also allowed him to draw on a dry erase board and supervised him while he scribbled on this diy chalkboard we made for him a while back. 

Finger painting was also a great activity that kept him entertained for quite a while. 

To find out how to set up a mess-free, window finger painting station for your little one, check out this post.

5. Don’t Be Afraid to ask for help

To be honest, had it not been for my husband, I’m not sure that my little one would’ve even gotten his diaper changed regularly. 

Honestly, I felt like a bit of a burden since I spent most of my time either laid up in bed or hunched over the toilet. 

Thankfully my hubby was a champ about it all, and kept things running smoothly while I focused on keeping my ginger ale and saltines down. 

The truth is, sometimes the first trimester, with a toddler, is simply too overwhelming to take on alone. 

So don’t be afraid to ask friends and/or family members for help. 

Whether they come and throw a load of laundry in the wash for you, or take your toddler to the park for a few hours so that you can rest, its always a good idea to have a support system to help you out during what can be such an exhausting time. 

Hopefully these tips will help you keep a bit of your sanity as you tread through the first trimester – especially if you have a toddler on the loose! 

How did you survive the first trimester woes with a little one running around?