1st Trimester!

Most people are pretty tired and nauseous at this point. I was talking to someone today, and she said she felt like a hungry, sleepy, and angry dragon and I felt that into my soul.

Often, I don't see people during this time because they don’t feel great and don’t feel like doing anything. However, when I do get to work with people this early, we do gentle strength training with education for good bowel and bladder habits and mechanics so that they can move into the second trimester in the best shape possible.

I also teach ways to perform functional activities (like lifting, carrying, bending, rolling in bed, stairs), pain free. As people start to get an influx of the hormone relaxin, they may start to get pain in the front (and sometimes back) of their pelvis, especially with single limb activities (i.e. stairs).

This is a time to do whatever that person needs, in PT, which looks pretty different for everyone.

How would you describe the first trimester?