What I want every pregnant woman to know about the first half, by Sarah Brown.

Don’t shop at Maternity stores.  I remember walking into MiMi Maternity in the mall and nearly passing out from the prices.  Old Navy and Gap both have extensive maternity clothes online, and both of them have a free return policy if the fit isn’t right.  Bookmark their “Bargains/Sale” pages, and check every Thursday (when the new sales are typically listed).  Almost everything I’ve bought is from one of those two stores, and everything has held up REMARKABLY well.  Another option, if you need something immediately, is Ross: Dress for Less, Marshalls, or TJ Maxx.  They have a very limited selection, but the prices are worth scouring for.

Meet your new best friend: edamame.  Costco carries a full pound of fresh edamame, in the pod, for less than $10.  Edamame is nature’s wonderbean — soy, for those not in the know — and a bunch of edamame gives you enough protein, calcium, and vitamins for half a day.  So if you need calcium, but milk is grossing you out.. have some beans.  Need some protein, but you can’t stomach a burger?  Have some beans. 

For Jamie: Sour stuff can curb your nausea.  I don’t know why, but it does.  It was recommended to me early on, and I had already been craving it, so I kept lemonade in the fridge and sour candies on me at all times.  Most sour hard candies can also be found with Splenda instead of sugar, so you don’t have to worry about unnecessary calories.

Weight gain is different for every woman.  My BabyCenter update this week said “You’ve probably gained less than ten pounds.”  HA!  I gained a lot early on, but have leveled off in my second trimester.  The doctor says not to worry, because no one (I repeat: NO ONE) gains just “a pound a week” like those damn bulletins say.

Water is your friend.  I’ve always been a huge water drinker, so this wasn’t hard for me, but I know quite a few people who just can’t stomach the thought of drinking 2L of water a day.  But early on, water can help with constipation, keep your skin clear, and prevent bloating.  And remember, lemonade/tea/any water based beverage counts as water.  Another option?  Those Crystal Light water inserts.  Baby doesn’t care how.. JUST DRINK IT.

Caffeine is not your enemy.  Yes, if you drink eight cups of coffee a day, you need to cut back.  But you shouldn’t be drinking eight cups of coffee a day, freak!  However, moderation with your caffeine is fine.  I still have a glass or two of (unsweet) tea, or a cup of coffee, just to keep me feeling sane.  Believe me, the baby would prefer me slightly caffeinated than having nothing at all.

Sex is awesome.  I know you don’t feel like it right now, but trust me.. you will come to LOVE this about pregnancy.  With all of the extra your body is producing for baby, hormones are in there, too.  And when they’re revved up?  JesusGod, hold on.  Yeah, you’re gonna feel fat and you’re gonna be awkward and your stripper clothes will no longer fit (damnit!), but trust me.. your man will NOT care.

And my final thing that every pregnant woman should know in the first trimester:

Your body is now talking directly to you.  Listen.  This was a hard one for me, personally.  I have a habit of overworking myself until I can’t give anymore, and I’ve had to listen to my body very carefully when it comes to this.  I know that my 13-14 hour days now have to be balanced with naps and days filled with nothing because my body requires it.  It’s not just your body now; someone else — a voiceless someone — needs your attention.  So if you’re tired, say no. (Update: I, myself, am still learning this one.  But slow and steady are how I learn.)

All of you other mothers out there: what did you wish someone had told you about your first half of pregnancy?

Why is it that I can come in, dripping from the waist down, shaking a soaked umbrella, with my shoes completely soaked and squeaking.. and someone will inevitably ask, “Is it raining outside?”

So when I get the updates from BabyCenter.com, I most often scan through them to see what I can do to avoid anything that looks awful. So I knew about sour stuff to avoid morning sickness and I knew about sleeping on my left side to curb Restless Leg Syndrome.. but I wasn’t quite ready for this.

You’re also prone to varicose veins now (especially if your mom has them). That’s because pregnancy puts added pressure on the veins in your legs. As if that’s not enough, an increase in the hormone progesterone causes the walls of your blood vessels to relax, so as your baby and uterus grow, the veins can become more and more prominent. Varicose veins tend to worsen with each pregnancy, and while they’re most likely to show up in your legs, they can also appear on your vulva.

The italics were added by me, to emphasize the WTF?! factor. I actually stopped reading and went to look up vulva to make sure I wasn’t freaking out over nothing. Nope, I was right.

Ah, pregnancy. The joys.