Coping with the first trimester

When you find yourself pregnant  for the first time, you will be thrilled. After the initial euphoria has worn off however, you will find yourself dealing with a range of issues that most women face during pregnancy. This could range from disguising your pregnancy, at least initially, and finding ways to dress comfortably, coping with your emotions, and dealing with the dreaded but very common morning sickness. 

You are not alone. Many women find themselves coping with these issues in the early stages of pregnancy. Fortunately there are many practical strategies for coping with them. 

Disguising your bump 

Sometimes it’s a secret you want to hug to yourself a little bit longer, or maybe there are health-or work-related reasons as to why you don’t want the world to know you are pregnant just yet. So how do you disguise your bump? 

While some women don’t start showing any signs of a bump until the third or fourth month, many do. If it is your second or third pregnancy, you tend to start showing sooner. 

Practical fashion choices are shirts that are more fitted round the bust line and flow over your tummy. Another useful tip is to use accessories to draw the eye, like a colourful scarf or necklace. 

You can use layering to disguise your bump during early pregnancy. Just wear a fitted t-shirt as a base, and add a light button down shirt over it. Long or flowing cardigans are also useful. 

Another excellent alternative are shirts that are ruched down the side, or empire line tops accessorised with scarves. Sticking to dark colours as your base is also very helpful. 

Dressing for comfort 

At home it is easy to dress for comfort using drawstring pants and loose flowing tops. Yoga pants or elastic-banded pants also come in handy throughout pregnancy. 

When it comes to dressing for work, it is much easier these days to dress smartly and comfortably without breaking the budget.

There are some wonderful maternity lines that range from those in chain stores to designer fashion. Often the difficulty becomes knowing what items are must-haves in your maternity wardrobe.

Here are some bits of fashion advice we’ve put together from other moms and fashion gurus:

• A staple is a pair of black maternity trousers with a waistband that will comfortably accommodate your growing bump.
• Another must for your maternity-wear wardrobe is a wrap top that is flattering, easy to wear and comfortable. Have a selection in basic colours or patterns that will work well with your black pants. Use accessories to dress your tops up or down ensuring that you get lots of wear from a few items.
• A maternity bra is an absolute must. Avoid underwire bras and go for breathable fabrics like cotton. The key word here is comfort - it should fit comfortably round the back, rest comfortably on your shoulders and sit comfortably over your breasts and provide good support. A professional fitting for a maternity bra is a good investment to ensure your breasts are supported and comfortable throughout pregnancy. For more information on getting the best out of your bra during and after pregnancy see Maternity Bras. 

Coping with morning sickness 

The vast majority of mothers have to contend with morning sickness. This condition varies in severity from essentially feeling nauseous to a condition so severe that hospitalisation is sometimes required. Fortunately this condition, Hyperemesis Gravidarum, is rare, but it is extremely debilitating. 

Avoid certain foods and drinks that trigger your nausea, including red meat, fried food and coffee. Staying hydrated by drinking lots of water and eating ginger biscuits helps to stave off the nausea. Other suggestions that prove helpful for many women are to stick to bland foods and to eat little and often. For more information see Morning Sickness.

By the time you hit 14 weeks, the nausea will begin to subside a little, and you will be ready to share the news of your pregnancy with the world.