Bloom Beryl’s Guide to Pregnancy and Postpartum

​One of the most amazing times in a woman’s life is the season of pregnancy, labor, and delivery. It’s truly such a beautiful time, carrying your baby and preparing to welcome this little life into the world. But this season also comes with a lot of challenges and difficulties as well.
 
Having just given birth just three months ago, I was inspired to create this guide of tips for each stage of pregnancy. I’m by no means an expert but these are a few helpful ideas I’ve compiled along the way, with a few that my friends and followers on Instagram shared!
And by the way, if you’re not already following me, you should! Find me @bloom_beryl or here:
https://www.instagram.com/bloom_beryl/
 
Here we go from trimester one all the way to postpartum!

First Trimester (Weeks 0 -13)

You just found out you’re pregnant! So exciting! Congratulations!
What can you expect after this? And how can you navigate this initial period of baby’s development?
At first it feels like nothing is happening then the early symptoms kick in and you become acutely aware that a human being is growing inside you – a truly amazing feeling.
 
T1 TIPS:

• Once you’ve confirmed that you’re pregnant, try to establish care with an OB as soon as possible so they can begin to monitor everything.
• This is a great time to download a pregnancy application on your phone and once you know your due date, you can input it. Then the app will show you real time, week-by-week development of your baby. Many of these apps also have information for after the baby arrives which comes in handy postpartum. Here are a few of my favorites:
  • The Bump
  • What to Expect (this is also a very popular and informative book that I would also recommend)
  • Babycenter
• Get as much rest as you need if possible, whether it’s an earlier bedtime or afternoon naps – one of the most prominent initial symptoms in the first trimester is fatigue so plenty of rest will help with this.
• Try to combat nausea with eating small meals and snacks at a regular interval. Consume ginger or peppermint products when the nausea starts to come on. Also try to figure out what might trigger nausea (if anything) and avoid it.

Second Trimester (Weeks 14-26)

You’ve made it a third of the way through! You’re beginning to feel a little better and more energetic. This was always my favorite time in pregnancy. It felt like I was in limbo between the early stages and the end. This is supposedly the best trimester in terms of symptoms so make the most of it.
 
T2 TIPS:

• Take advantage of all the increased energy and decreased symptoms by prioritizing regular exercise and getting things in order for the baby.
• Find a few nice maternity basics!
  • Maternity leggings are a must have. And trust me, you’ll even wear them postpartum because they’re just so comfortable and stretchy.
  • Some people swear by maternity jeans and others don’t – I loved the pair I got from Motherhood Maternity and wore it plenty throughout both pregnancies.
  • Size up and buy clothes at a bigger size to add into the rotation: such as oversized t-shirts and loose fitting dresses, which will likely work for you after the baby arrives as well.
• SLEEP! Get as much sleep as you can because it becomes much harder to sleep in the third trimester.
• This is the trimester when you will feel baby kick for the first time, and this is such an amazing feeling. Enjoy it now while it’s flutters because it can become a little less comfortable as the baby grows.
• Consider planning a babymoon for you and your partner – this a trip to celebrate your baby on the way and to spend some extra together before the baby arrives.
  • During my first pregnancy my husband and I combined a work trip for him in New Orleans, with a babymoon for us. It was a great time of eating all the beignets and exploring the city. We did it in my second trimester, which was perfect because I felt good physically and it wasn’t too late to fly.

Third Trimester (Weeks 27-40)

You’re in the home stretch! It’s almost time for baby to arrive, which can be very exciting and very scary at the same time. Enjoy these last few moments with your partner and any kids you might already have because life is about to change!
 
T3 TIPS:

• Avoid eating big, heavy meals especially later in the evening because acid reflux and heartburn are very common at this time. And avoid any foods that tend to lead to heartburn.
• Nest away! Make sure everything is set up for the baby and feel free to clean and organize your space to your heart’s delight. You won’t have much time for this shortly after baby arrives.
• Along these lines, try not to over-purchase items for the baby. There’s a whole industry around baby products and SO MANY things that will be marketed to you that you won’t actually need.
  • Try to just get the bare bones of what you’ll need – you can always get more items as you need them.
  • Hold off on items like wipe warmers, bottle sterilizers, a lot of newborn clothes, formula maker, etc. Many of these items might not actually be needed or useful once the baby is here.
• Try to get as much rest as you can (which might be very difficult because of how big you’re getting). But seriously, it’ll be much harder to sleep consistently once the baby is here, so this is the time to make rest a priority.
• Try not to get too paranoid towards the end – personally, I kept interpreting every little thing as the baby being about to arrive. But just remind yourself that it takes time and several very important steps before the baby will come.
  • On this topic, familiarize yourself with the process for labor and some of these key terms below
    • Lightening or baby dropping down
    • Braxton Hicks contractions
    • Losing the mucous plug
    • Water breaking
    • Induction
    • Caesarean section vs vaginal birth
• Pack your hospital bag by the time you’re 37 weeks because the baby could really arrive any time after that.

Fourth TrimesteR (Months 1-3)

Your precious little baby is finally here and you can begin your journey as the mama of a newborn. It’s such a beautiful moment when you first meet your baby. Nothing in the entire nine-month process could prepare you for this… But this begins an era of sleepless nights and MUCH more.
 
T4 TIPS:

• If you know that you want to breastfeed, don’t give up on it too early. I have friends who regretted not giving this more of a try. The reality is that breastfeeding can be VERY hard at the beginning. There’s so much to it – positioning, latch technique, the volume the baby is ingesting, etc. Not to mention that it can be very painful at first! I’ve had to do a lot of troubleshooting with breastfeeding with both of my kids so here are my tips!
  • Utilize lactation consultants from day one – these are experts on breastfeeding. They’re available in the hospital and also outside of the hospital. Ask them all the questions you can think of and if you still have questions/concerns after you leave, find a lactation clinic in your area and make an appointment.
  • Invest in a good nipple cream and use it often! This will save your life! If you’re breastfeeding and/or pumping, your nipples can become dry, cracked, and chafed so these types of creams work to soften them.
  • If your nipples are very irritated, try a hydrogel pad such as Lasinoh soothies or the medela variation. These are nipple pads that are super calming.
  • Create a freezer stash of milk!! Even if your baby is happily drinking from the breast and getting all that they need, it’s still good start to squeeze in a couple pumping sessions per day so others can help with bottle feeding AND so you can start to freeze some for the future.
  • Enjoy every beautiful moment bonding with your baby through breastfeeding.
• Take care of your vagina! It obviously goes through A LOT during childbirth and needs to be taken care of afterwards.
  • Invest in some nice big pads because you’ll be bleeding quite a bit after birth, for up to six weeks total. Always® has a line called “Discreet Boutique” that worked very well for me.
  • Get a really good peribottle to rinse it out. This one from Frida Baby is a game changer!
  • Try an herbal perineum spray to help soothe and refresh the area.
  • Consider vaginal steaming. This is a very common tradition in many cultures for a variety of reasons. Do your own research on it and see if it’s something you want to try.
• Try not to turn down an offer for help – well-meaning friends and family will offer help. TAKE IT! Don’t feel bad, this is a time to allow others to pour into you and help you.
• Take care of your mental and emotional wellbeing - this can be one of the happiest times in your life AND the most challenging mentally. Postpartum depression and baby blues are far more common than you would think. I personally experienced postpartum depression, and I can say firsthand it’s a real condition and it takes a big toll mentally. But it DOES get better.
  • If you think you’re experiencing this, be sure to speak up for yourself and seek out support as early and as often as possible. Be proactive especially in those first few weeks and months after the baby is born, in seeking out support.
  • If you feel or notice any signs of postpartum depression, don’t hesitate to reach out to your doctor for referral to a counselor or to be prescribed medication for it.
  • Continue to take time for yourself and do the things that make you happy – whether it’s grabbing a drink at Starbucks, getting your nails done, browsing Target or TJmaxx, or reading a good book. Take a break from mommy-ing and do something you love.
• Enjoy every moment with your newborn – the days fly by fast. Based on what other parents have told me, I’ll blink, and my son will be in college! These are precious days that matter so much, so enjoy every cuddle, snuggle, smile, giggle. Take it all in and take plenty of pictures too!

​These are a few of my tips for pregnancy and postpartum. I hope that they were helpful in some way. Leave a comment down below letting me know what you think of this guide and anything you would add! And please share with all your pregnant or soon to be pregnant friends.
 
<3 Beryl

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