Surviving Your First Trimester While Teaching
Whoa. Teaching while pregnant can definitely be a challenging thing, but that first trimester is something special. Depending on how your body is taking pregnancy, those first three months can be absolute torture, or they could be a breeze. I wouldn’t say that it was complete torture for me, but I definitely struggled both physically and mentally during the first 12 weeks of my pregnancy and teaching full-time. All-day nausea (that got worse as the day progressed) and mood swings were real, as were the frequent bathroom breaks (I didn’t expect that side effect!). Here are a few things that helped me and my situation, and maybe something will be helpful for you!
Keep snacks on hand.
I was personally nauseous constantly and needed to snack to stave off the constant queasiness. There wasn’t much I could stomach, but the things I could, I kept on hand. I always had bags of ginger tea nearby, as well as crackers, nuts, and fruit. I could not get enough fruit! Soy yogurt was also great for me to keep on hand. Whatever works for you, keep it on hand!
Take breaks when you can
Breaks are necessary, especially if you have major fatigue like I did. Closing your classroom door and turning out the lights during your break is ALWAYS a good idea, but especially when you’re growing a little bean. I’m not going to lie, once I even took a nap under a desk where no one could see me!
Let your administrator know /or tell a teaching partner
Because I knew I had a supportive administrator, I told her early on in case the need ever arose for last-minute coverage, or even coverage for monthly appointments (the last appointment times always clashed with school time). Also, if I needed to run out of my room (which did happen a handful of times), they understood and were very helpful!
Be Up Front with Students About How You’re Feeling
You definitely do not need to tell your students why you’re feeling poorly (I personally didn’t even want to share the news, though I did in the end), but be open and honest when you are not feeling well. Kiddos are generally very understanding and when you finally do reveal to them why you weren’t feeling well, it’ll all click (and that is quite entertaining to see).
Give Yourself Grace. Know That It’s Okay to Not Feel Okay
Now is not the time to be “super teacher,” and that is okay. As teachers, it’s hard to put that aside sometimes, but you are physically and mentally going through a lot of changes, and space is needed for grace. You probably offer a ton of grace to students and parents, and you can spare some for yourself too!
Have you taught while pregnant? How did it go?
