When I found out I was pregnant with my first child, I was so excited!
It was hard to keep the secret at work and with my family, but we wanted to make sure we were in the “safe zone” before we shared the news. I quickly found out I needed a few things to help me through the flu-like symptoms I was feeling. So, here’s a little “must-haves for first trimester” guide to help you!
If you’ve just found out that you’re expecting, hit the store to get the things you’ll need for your first trimester as soon as possible. Obviously, you will want to be discreet, if you aren’t quite ready to share the news, but it is still good to make sure you are prepared. It’s possible that soon you might not feel like doing any shopping. For first-timers, making a list of all the stuff you’ll need for your first trimester can be pretty daunting. To help you out, we’ve made a list of the essentials that every mother will need in her first trimester. You may want a few things that aren’t on this list, but this is a great starting point.
This list includes things you need for the baby’s health, your health, and your comfort. Check out our list below and prepare to go shopping!
Xo,
Lizzie
A Selection of Belly Butters
You may not think that you’ll need belly butter until your second trimester, but it’s best to start using them in your first trimester. While your bump might not grow at a rapid pace this trimester, you will likely start putting on some weight. It is a good idea to start using belly butters, oils or nice creams early to prevent stretch marks from forming. After all, waiting to use belly butter until after stretch marks have already formed won’t give you the best results. You might be able to reduce the appearance of these marks, but not completely eliminate them.
Be sure to get a variety of products so that you can try them out and see which one works best for you. I love cocoa butter and shea butter products. I also swore by this body oil. It’s on the pricey side but I really enjoyed it as my pregnancy progressed and I love the scent!
Other belly butters you might love.
Made with organic cocoa butter plus 11 organic oils. Rich in antioxidants and anti-aging properties, vitamin E & essential fatty acids, our belly butter helps promote collagen and increases cell regeneration for firmer, more supple skin.
This double-duty set takes care of you with rich, luxurious organic oils and herbs that quench your desert dry skin, and helps keep skin comfortably pliable! These two decadent skin savers work in tandem to keep your body buttery soft during pregnancy and beyond!
This ultra-moistening body cream delivers healthy skin with its all natural formulation that is cruelty free and free from harmful chemicals including paraben.
Maternity Clothing
Just like it’s not too early to start using belly butter, it’s not too early to start wearing maternity clothes. Your belly will grow more than you might think, especially toward the end of your first trimester. Also, many women have to deal with bloating during their first trimester. Getting maternity clothing now will also save you the trouble of getting maternity clothing when you’re in your second or third trimester.
I like these jeans for first trimester when your bump isn’t as large.
Peplum tops like these are a great option for hiding your bump, too!
Here are some great deals on maternity clothing to get you started!
This midi dress perfectly skims the body and has a removable tie belt for options. Lucky for you, this dress is designed to flatter before, during and after pregnancy.
Celebrate your baby with A Pea in the Pod's adorable #BeAMother™ Graphic Maternity Tee!
A Pea in the Pod's straight-leg maternity pants are a crisp, airy pair designed to sit under your belly for ultimate comfort.
Prenatal Vitamins
Taking prenatal vitamins is essential for both your health and for the health of your baby. Almost every major vitamin and supplement manufacturer makes prenatal vitamins. There are even many vegan and vegetarian options if that’s your thing. Look for products like these that include all the vitamins you need in one pill. This way, you won’t have to choke down multiple huge pills on a daily basis.
These prenatal vitamins are favorites among other pregnant women:
Whether it’s before, during or after your pregnancy, this female focused vitamin provides a nurturing blend of key nutrients plus Omega-3 DHA (the good fat that mom and baby need daily) to help keep you healthy and energized. OLLY prenatal gummies also deliver the good stuff to your precious cargo.* Folic Acid is a B vitamin that supports growth and development of your little one. DHA is an key fatty acid that supports healthy brain and eye development for baby (extracted from a purified marine source), and immune supportive nutrients like vitamins C and E help support overall health and wellness during pregnancy.*
ONE A DAY: Nutrients needed before, during, and after pregnancy in one daily tablet made from easy-to-digest, real, nutritious organic foods that won’t upset your stomach; It also delivers 18mg of non-constipating iron to help support daily iron levels
Crackers
Morning sickness starts in the first trimester for most women. Some lucky moms-to-be barely get a stomachache. However, it’s possible that you’ll be getting nauseous on a regular basis. If you find yourself in this situation, you’ll likely need to take a couple of things to help with your nausea.
You’ll probably feel like eating is the last thing you’ll want to do. However, eating a few saltine crackers can really help make your nausea go away. Many women even find themselves keeping a sleeve of crackers in their purses, so they have them wherever nausea finds them.
Peppermint Stuff
Peppermint is one of the best things that you can take if you’re nauseous. This holds true whether you’re pregnant or not. If you like, you can simply suck on peppermint candies. Peppermint tea is also quite popular. Otherwise, you can simply get some peppermint essential oil and put a few drops in your water. Not only will it have a refreshing minty taste, but it should also help ease your nausea.
Other nausea remedies we swear by:
Hana Tonic delivers a unique blend of ingredients that work together to relieve nausea, promote digestion, and boost immunity so you feel your best, naturally.
Tummydrops are recommended as a natural way to assist with symptoms common in nausea, upset stomachs, motion sickness, morning sickness, VR sickness, & for other digestive complaints, including IBS and esophageal spasms.
Pink Stork Organic Nausea Sweets
Are the early stages of pregnancy wreaking havoc on your digestion? Pop one of our organic Nausea Sweets to relieve morning sickness, motion sickness, & nausea. Blended with natural peppermint oil and vitamin B6, our lozenges ease discomfort from nausea while providing essential herbs and vitamins for you and baby. Vegan, non-GMO, & free of artificial flavors, reach for our hard candy to quell queasiness.
Pregnancy Apps
In your mother’s day, books like What to Expect When You’re Expecting were the norm. These days, however, the app version of this book is incredibly popular among expectant mothers. Of course, there are quite a few similar apps, so you can try out a couple and find the one that you like the most.
These apps will let you know what to expect, what’s normal, and what might be a cause for concern. Some of these apps even help you connect with other women who are also in their first trimesters. This will provide you with a support group that can give you valuable advice and encouragement.
A Big Water Bottle
Staying hydrated is always important for your health, but it becomes even more important when you’re pregnant. In fact, staying properly hydrated at all times is one of the best things you can do for the health of your baby. After all, your baby not all gets all their nutrition from you, they also get all their hydration from your body.
Keep in mind that you have to hydrate for two, so you’ll definitely need to drink more water than you would normally. Also, you’re going to be going to the bathroom far more often, so staying hydrated will be even trickier. Thankfully, there’s a pretty simple solution. All you have to do is get a big water bottle and fill it up every once in a while. This way, you won’t have to get up constantly to get another glass of water.
Here are a few water bottles that will last through pregnancy and beyond:
This double-wall insulation and BPA-free bottle will keep your water at an ideal temperature for hours.
The HidrateSpark PRO tumbler is the world's smartest tumbler ever created. Available in stainless steel vacuum insulated material, keeping drinks cold up to 14 hours and hot up to 4 hours.
Pregnancy Journal
If you already have kids, you probably won’t have time to keep a pregnancy journal. However, you’ll probably be able to find the time if this is your first baby. A pregnancy journal can allow you to save your thoughts and feelings at every point in your pregnancy. You can also keep track of the biggest milestones of your pregnancy, such as the first time you feel your baby kicking.
You can then look back on these memories whenever you want to remember this beautiful time in your life. You could even keep an online pregnhttps://amzn.to/3If55Ryhttps://amzn.to/3If55Ryancy journal. This would make it easy to share your journal with friends, family, and other expectant mothers.
Here are a few pregnancy journals that you might enjoy:
Growing You is a place to celebrate and chronicle your pregnancy journey, reflecting on the growth, anticipation, and memories that you want to hold onto as a mother. This heirloom-quality book, created by the author of the popular baby book As You Grow, is designed with a timeless look and archival paper so that you can one day pass it along to your child.
Growing Together: A Gender Neutral Keepsake Pregnancy Journal and Baby Memory Book for Expecting Moms
Growing Together is a complete pregnancy journal for mamas to document every stage of their pregnancy and celebrate this stage long after the baby is born. Created with simplicity and style in mind, this beautiful gender-neutral keepsake was inspired by the author’s first pregnancy experience as she gathered all her thoughts and feelings during her second pregnancy.
he First-Time Mom's Pregnancy Journal will help you record every precious memory as you prepare for the arrival of your little one. From finding out you're pregnant to the moment you hold your newborn for the first time, this pregnancy journal for first-time moms guides you in chronicling and celebrating your pregnancy journey
Antacids
It’s very common for pregnant women to get acid reflux, which is more commonly known as heartburn. This can be exacerbated by the fact that you need to eat for two when you’re pregnant. Also, the digestive system of a pregnant woman produces more acid than normal. As you’re already going to be dealing with nausea, heartburn is the last thing that you want to deal with.
Antacids will help reduce or even eliminate heartburn. However, some antacids may not be safe to take while you’re pregnant. Make sure to check with your OB/GYN before you start taking an antacid.
Pregnancy Pillows
Pregnancy can cause back pain, especially in the second and third trimesters. However, it’s not unusual for back pain to begin in the first trimester. Even if you have not yet begun experiencing back pain, it’s good to be prepared. A specially designed pregnancy pillow is one of the best ways to deal with back pain when you’re expecting. You might want to ask your chiropractor if they have a recommendation. You can also check online to see which pregnancy pillows are highly rated.
All-around comfort for your bump, back, hips, neck, and shoulders. Multiple positioning allows you to use your favorite bed pillow if you want too. Get comfy in the doctor recommended side sleeping position while getting total body support.
Stability and comfort for your bump and back. Keeps you comfortable in the doctor-recommended side sleeping position. The signature stretch panel keeps the pillow in place while sleeping, lounging, or sitting as your belly grows.
