The first trimester of pregnancy is the hardest for most women, and then when you add in chasing a toddler around- forget it! Thankfully, at almost 22 weeks, I’m well into my second trimester and feeling great. But during those first few weeks I thought I’d never make it through.

Other moms have been asking for advice lately on how to make the first trimester more manageable. I have three tips for them and you on how I did it.

The first tip is to rely on others for help. Let other people, especially your significant other, help you out in any way they can. Don’t feel bad about asking them to do more or all the chores around the house. You’re making a human, the least they can do is make dinner. Ask whoever you have around you for help also. Parents, siblings, and even older children. My 11 year old step son is a huge help, especially with my toddler. He plays with him, gets him snacks and milk, and even reads him a bedtime story at night. If you’ve ever experienced extreme nausea, then you know what a big help it is to not have to talk when you are nauseous.

Second, you have to have the mentality that for these next few weeks, what you or someone else can’t get done, just doesn’t get done. Only do what you really need to. Condense laundry as much as you can. Do only one large load every couple of days and limit it to just the essentials. It won’t kill your family to wear a pair of jeans a couple times before they go in the wash. And if no one else steps up to cook, order in. You need to learn to let go of what can’t get done. Your house will eventually be vacuumed and your dishes will get washed.

Lastly, make sure you are eating right and staying hydrated. It’s not going to take away the morning sickness or cure you entirely, but not eating right or drinking enough can make you feel worse. I realize this is hard to do when all you want is carbs, but try to also eat some protein, fruits and vegetables. I had a very hard time eating right during the first few weeks. I couldn’t even have my daily shake which I normally love. But now that I’m past that hump and am back to drinking Shakeology daily, I notice a huge difference in how much better I feel. There really is something to be said for getting the proper nutrients. So make sure you are getting enough. If all of a sudden you start to feel even worse than normal, it could be a sign you are dehydrated. Carry water around with you at all times. This goes for the second and third trimester as well.

These tips might sound obvious but as moms we sometimes need to hear that it’s OK to not be everything to everybody. It’s OK to let someone else step up for a change. You are only pregnant for a very short time (even though it may seem like forever at times) and you should be enjoying it, not stretching yourself further.

If you don’t have anyone to help you and there are things that must get done, then only do those things, don’t worry about doing them perfectly, and I promise you this feeling will pass and the second trimester will seem like a piece of cake. And then you will have time to catch up on all those chores. Or just pretend you are still sick and take advantage of the help. Did I mention you are growing a human? 😉