It's Worth A Try: Holistic Approaches in the First Trimester

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Water Intake and Holistic Approaches
Pay careful attention to how much water you drink.

Hydrating yourself will help your baby develop properly and help you feel your best. Dehydration is one of the leading contributors to first trimester nausea, fatigue, and skin problems.

Water is the basis for life. Think back to high school biology class. I bet you can still hear good old Mr. Fussbender saying, "The human body is 2/3 water." Well, you're providing for two human bodies right now, so you need to pay even more attention to your water intake.

Think about this. A grown woman's body is between 58% and 65% water. A newborn baby's body is 77% water. The human brain is 90% water. Keeping yourself and baby hydrating is one of the most important things you can do during your pregnancy. Keep those little organs hydrated.

Why is water so important?
Water assists in the successful digestion of food.

Water delivers important nutrients within the body.

Water is used to carry naturally occurring toxins from the body.

It's required for many chemical reactions that occur within the body.

It's an essential building block of new tissue.

Water is necessary to the formation of amniotic fluid that surrounds the growing baby.

Water decreases the likelihood of premature contractions.

Nearly 75% of total body weight is plain old water so you need lots of it. Water is lost when individuals urinate, sweat and breathe so this essential ingredient in the good health equation must be replaced throughout the day.

Drink 48 to 64 ounces of water every day, and even more on days you exercise. Each hour of light to moderate exercise should be accompanied by eight additional ounces. Not sure of how much water you drink? How about setting out filled bottles in the morning? Bottled water is great, but so is filtered tap water that you dole out into portable drinking containers. If you set out 64 ounces of water, just be sure to finish all your water by the end of the day.

It's Worth A Try: Holistic Approaches in the First Trimester
So far, all of these suggestions have been things your mother and your mother-in-law will absolutely support. They're not the only things worth trying, however. The moment you became pregnant, your focus in life shifted. What you need to focus on now is how to make your life healthy for you and baby. There are many ways to do this, and some of these ways are "new-fashioned."

Ginger
Ginger snaps, gingerbread, ginger tea, Chinese food with ginger sauce...if you're feeling queasy, add some spice - ginger to be specific - to your life. Craving ginger ale? That's a craving which you should give in to. (Did you know that not all ginger ale actually contains ginger? Check out those labels. If your favorite brand doesn't contain it, check out sodas made by smaller bottlers.) Look for food products that contain ginger or grind fresh ginger into your food yourself.

Ginger has been used in Asian medicine for centuries to settle the stomach. If you suffer from indigestion or morning sickness, consider adding ginger to your diet. It's worth a try and it tastes great.

Note: Do not take a ginger supplement from the health food or vitamin store without consulting your doctor.

Prenatal Yoga
Have you ever wondered what yoga is like? Yoga used to be considered bohemian, but is now part of mainstream culture. Yoga classes are offered in large cities, small towns and everywhere in between today..

Just think about it. Exercise, stress relief, companionship and quiet time all wrapped into one. Chances are there's a class in your own neighborhood specifically designed for expectant mothers. These prenatal yoga classes should be taught by yoga instructors who have been trained in the special needs of pregnant women.

Pre-natal yoga will calm you down, tone and strengthen your muscles (which will help you during delivery), increase blood flow to your and baby, help build your stamina, increase your energy, and help you bond with your baby, and provide you an opportunity to meet with other soon-to-be moms.

Why not check out a class? (Often, yoga instructors will allow you to take a trial class.)

Acupressure
This alternative therapy is based on the idea that applying pressure to certain parts of the body provides physical relief. An acupressure therapist uses his or her hands, thumbs, and fingers to press on specific pressure points of the body. To those who are unfamiliar with the practice of acupressure it may seem odd, but many people are very enthusiastic about the benefits of this touch therapy. I've had patients use acupressure to relieve symptoms of nausea, lightheadedness and other first trimester complaints. It's also a very helpful tool for issues which may arise later in your pregnancy, like swelling, backache, persistent headaches and sciatica.

If you choose to pursue acupressure, be sure to use a reputable practitioner - one recommended by your doctor or a trusted friend.

Focus on yourself.
One of the most important things you can do during pregnancy is take care of your entire self - body, mind, and spirit. Discussing baby names, looking at nursery furniture, starting a college savings fund are all very important, but so is tending to your own needs. Take the time to focus on you, even if it's just for a few minutes a day.