Pregnancy is not an illness, yet your first trimester may feel more like an illness than not. While there are no known ways to eliminating or avoiding morning sickness, vomiting and fatigue, there are ways you can help your body feel more refreshed as well as some tricks to feeling better overall.

No method is full proof or guaranteed. But if you feel yourself struggling to stay awake and alert throughout the day or morning sickness is lingering past the A.M., these tips may help you regain some control over your body and will hopefully make you feel better, even if it is a little bit.

So what can you do?

To get over fatigue, exercise is the name of the game. You’ll be surprised what a 30 minute daily workout can do. Besides it being healthy, working out will help get your body stronger to carry the weight of your growing baby thoughout your pregnancy. Exercising stimulates your energy, as well as strengthens your cardiovascular system which in turn helps you feel less tired.  Exercise also releases endorphins, which can help you feel relaxed. Working out can also help with body aches (like the ones that keep you from sleeping) and it can actually help with falling asleep if you frequently experience discomfort throughout the night hours.

Overcoming morning sickness may be a bit trickier than minimizing fatigue. Still, there are things you can do. For starters, eat five smaller meals though the day, rather than the typical three meals a day. Drink plenty of water (about 8 glasses a day) and avoid caffeinated drinks such as soda, tea and coffee. If you are not too keen on water, try adding a slice of lemon or orange to your water for flavor, or try carbonated water.

Keep crackers handy. Eating something first thing in the morning can help prevent nausea caused from an empty stomach.  Avoid greasy and spicy foods, which are more likely to cause nausea. Eat foods that are high in protein and carbohydrates. Also avoid strong odors or any familiar smells that induce your nausea.

If you find that you are vomiting excessively, speak to your doctor about it. Sometimes morning sickness can turn into a severe condition that poses a risk to both you and your baby. If you experience a combined lack of appetite and excessive vomiting, you should be monitored by your healthcare provider, since it can result in malnourishment and dehydration. A short hospital stay may be required.

And remember, at about 13-14 weeks, you should be feeling much better!

How is your partner dealing with your pregnancy?

When you are expecting your first baby, especially in the beginning, excitement levels (or any emotional reaction) can be intense and your partners’ feelings can be pushed aside in the chaos of your emotional rollercoaster. You may want to check in with your partner to see how he is dealing with the pregnancy as well. It is true he is not physically pregnant, but emotionally, he is impacted almost as much as you are. After all, both your lives are changing.

Pay attention to see how your partner is reacting to the upcoming change in your lives. If he is concerned about what type of a Dad he will be, reassure him that when the time comes, he will be a wonderful Dad and he will know what to do. You may also be sharing similar fears. If that is the case, discuss them openly. It can be easier to overcome them together.

Throughout the 9 months, your baby will take up most of your time and attention.  But this is a great opportunity to devote time to just the two of you. Go out on dates, watch a movie together on the sofa, and just spend time together. You both need it, even if it is for slightly different reasons.

While you are growing with the development of your baby, make sure to include your hubby in the loop. While he is not the one physically carrying the baby, he is certainly a part of the miracle growing inside you. Help him take part in the pregnancy by taking him to doctor appointments, especially ones that include an ultrasound. This is a great way to help Dad-to-be to bond with your unborn child.

When the time arrives, go to birth preparation courses and other classes together to get ready for your baby and learn the basics. When you start feeling you baby kicking, make sure to include your partner in this exciting experience.

This is a special time in your lives, don’t forget to share and enjoy it with your partner!

“Birth preparation course” sounds like the most impossible combination of words, doesn’t it?! In other words, how can you prepare for something when you have no idea what to expect? How can you prepare for an event you can’t control, or foresee how it will start and develop? And if it is such a natural process then all you need to do is listen to your body, right?  What else is there to prepare for?

Well, even though you really cannot foresee how and what your birth experience will be like, learning about your options and possibilities is the greatest variable in the mystery of what is to come. Simply stated, knowledge is power.

When you conceive, there is an excitement of anticipation and not much thought is given to the child birth experience that is unavoidably to come. However with time, thoughts, wonders and fears may start to creep in.

If you have already researched your options, you are ahead of the game. Otherwise you may find it helpful to know what types of childbirth methods are available to you today.

No matter what type of birth experience you are planning, you should know the basic facts about other options in case you will be forced to abandon your original plan for medical reasons such as risk to the health of yourself or your baby. Try to stay open minded about the possibility that your birth plan will not be executed as you dreamed. If you remain flexible, the disappointment you may experience could be lessened.

Birth preparation courses usually take place at the hospital where you plan to give birth. In most courses, you will take a tour of the hospital and get familiarized with procedures and facilities available to you.

You will learn about types of childbirth and techniques to help yourself handle labor and the process of childbirth. Most courses should cover: signs of labor, the normal progress of labor and birth, techniques for coping with pain, ways your partner can help you during labor and recognizing when to call your doctor or midwife.

For more information about birth preparation courses, contact your hospital for scheduling.

For some new moms deciding how long to breastfeed is a non issue, as they are planning to breastfeed for as long as they physically can, or for as long as their little one is interested, while other new moms may be facing a harder time with the concept of breastfeeding and providing their baby with the best possible nutrition.

Even if you plan to breastfeeding for a while, you may be forced to stop for different reasons. Here are a few of those:

You may have plans to be nursing you baby for ‘x’ number of months or years, but your baby has his own thoughts in the matter. Some babies wean themselves at some point, while others have a harder time. If your baby loses interest in the breast, he may be ready to wean himself. It may be harder for you to accept this hint if you had your heart set to nurse for a while longer, but as long as your baby is happy and gets the nutrition he needs from other sources, there is no need to worry.

Some women experience dry spells, especially when returning to work. When you stop breastfeeding on a regular basis your milk supply may decrease. Also the added stress in balancing your new lifestyle, leaving your baby for longer periods of time and other emotional factors including fatigue, all add up and may influence your milk supply.

If you are experiencing a dry spell but wish to continue breastfeeding, don’t give up! There are ways to help your body produce more milk such as fenugreek supplements, mother’s milk tea and more. Speek to a lactation consultant to see what will be best for you.

If you have certain chronic illnesses, you may be required to return to taking medications you could not consume during your pregnancy. These medications may be harmful for your baby and you will be forced to stop breastfeeding. Speak to your doctor before resuming any medication while breastfeeding. There may be supplements to your medication, but not all medications have alternatives that will allow you to keep breastfeeding.

Mastitis is a nasty breast infection that can infect breastfeeding moms. When infected, you will have to cease breastfeeding during treatment, which may lead to weaning altogether even if it is not your intention.

It is important to remember, that no matter what happens, you have done your best and whether you breastfeed your baby for a couple of months or a couple of years, it will not affect your relationship with your child or dictate how good a mother you are. Don’t be hard on yourself and seek medical (or other) help when needed to assure the health of both yourself and your little one.

While indoor and outdoor seasonal allergies are fairly common, the idea of an allergy to sperm may cause is often thought to be rare. But it not only exists, it is also more common than you think.

Also called seminal plasma hypersensitivity, it can cause an allergic woman to develop hives, swollen eyes, diarrhea and even breathing difficulties and/or loss of consciousness within thirty minutes after unprotected intercourse. A mild sperm allergy may include itchiness, redness, irritation and skin swelling, usually in the outer genital area. Infertility can also be a symptom of sperm allergy; in the sense that a woman’s immune system is attacking and disabling sperm cells when they get inside her as a means to protect her body from the allergy.

Semen allergy can contribute to fertility problems in two known ways. The first is the woman’s wish to avoid the allergic reaction by refusing unprotected sex (the traditional way to conceive). The second is the internal reaction of an allergic woman to the sperm cells, which can reduce her chances of conception quite significantly. Her immune system will produce antibodies to attack the proteins in the sperm, as if the proteins were germs that are harmful to her body. These antibodies can damage the sperm cells’ mobility, restricting them from making their way to the fallopian tubes where they might stand a chance of fertilizing an egg.

Mild sperm allergy can be ‘treated’ with desensitization treatment. This type of treatment involves going to the doctor several times over a period of weeks, each time having a small sample of her partner’s sperm placed inside her vagina. The doctor will increase the amount gradually until the woman is able to tolerate having unprotected sex with her partner. The goal is to allow the couple to conceive naturally without experiencing too much discomfort for the woman.

A woman with a severe sperm allergy will require a more radical treatment. That includes women who experience severe allergic reactions to sperm or whose antibodies attack sperm cells. Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) are two methods of artificial insemination used to help such women to get pregnant. Both fertility treatments involve sperm washing before inserting the sperm into the uterus. Sperm washing removes the proteins from the sperm cells, which causes the allergic reaction.

Allergy to sperm is more common than imagined, therefore if you believe to have symptoms that may indicate this sort of an allergy, consult your physician for more information.

You may have given thought to the lack of sleep you will experience when your baby arrives, but did you expect your sleep to be interrupted while expecting your baby? Most women don’t think of this scenario. But sleep problems during pregnancy are actually fairly common.

During the first trimester, you may find that you sleep more than usual. And while you sleep more, you may be confused as to why you are still so tired throughout the day. Fatigue is a common symptom of pregnancy during the first trimester. This is due to hormonal changes and fetus development that uses up most of your energy. Usually women get a second wind after the 14th-16th week.

You may also experience numerous waking throughout the night due to an increased need to use the restroom. Sleep may also be disrupted due to physical and emotional stress associated with the pregnancy.

The second trimester is typically associated with improved sleep, mainly due to less frequent nighttime trips to the bathroom. This is due to reduced pressure on the bladder as the fetus moves above it. Physical and emotional stresses are still factors that affect the quality of your sleep.

The third trimester is when most sleep problems arise. At this point, discomfort may keep you from sleeping. Your growing belly, the fact that you can only sleep on your side and other pregnancy pains can keep you up. Heartburn, leg cramps, and sinus congestion are a few other reasons that may also cause sleep deprivation. And on top of it all frequent nighttime urination returns, as your baby’s position changes and puts pressure on the bladder again.

For a better night sleep, use extra pillows to support both belly and back. A body pillow can provide you with proper support. They are specialty pillows designed specifically for pregnancy and support both your belly and back.

If stress is keeping you up, try yoga or deep breathing for relaxation. Regular exercise throughout the pregnancy promotes physical and mental health and can help you sleep more deeply. Talk to your healthcare provider to see what type of exercise is appropriate for you.

A cesarean section delivery may be unavoidable in certain situations, especially when there is a real threat to the wellbeing of the baby or mother or both. In such cases, it is a blessing to have the option of such a procedure. But in other cases, when it may not be necessary or can be avoided, you may want to consider the possibility to pass up this invasive surgery.

Like any other medical procedure where you are being cut open, a cesarean section is a major surgery. This means there is a recovery time, about 2 to 4 times longer than the recovery time needed after a vaginal birth. There is also the risk of infection around the incision area, as well as the possibility that future births will result in another cesarean section.

Elective cesarean section is becoming more accepted these days. Some expecting mothers get impatient and want to meet their baby rather than wait. Others want to choose their child birth date, or want to avoid the pains of labor and maybe have a tummy tuck along the way.

Nevertheless, there are many women who prefer to give birth vaginally. If you are one of them, start with speaking to your healthcare provider and write a birth plan to better your chances of having things go your way. Make sure your OBGYN is on board with your plans. Also check the cesarean section rate at the hospital you intend to deliver at. If your OBGYN or the hospital do not have the right answers for you, considering switching to another provider.

You can help avoid undergoing a cesarean by taking care of yourself and listening to your provider. Towards the end of the pregnancy, your doctor will monitor the size of the baby and may alert you to change your diet if there is a concern that your baby will be too large to be delivered vaginally. Do not take this advice lightly.

Listen to your body and take care of yourself throughout your pregnancy. Eat healthy, exercise, sleep well and stay safe. If you are at a higher risk for a cesarean or your baby’s position does not allow for a vaginal birth, talk to your OBGYN about what you can do to help change the situation.