Pregnancy Notes: What to Expect in Your First Trimester

It felt like forever, when it actually was only a few minutes, but your pregnancy test finally came out positive. Congratulations new mommy! Being pregnant is great, and when you finally go through your 40 weeks, holding your baby will be the best reward. There are definitely a lot of unknowns when it comes to becoming a new mom but you have to take it one trimester at a time. The first trimester is by far the most exciting part, so here are some pregnancy notes of things to expect.

The first 13 weeks are filled with plenty of hormones that will be changing your body, preparing you for the remaining 27 weeks. Morning sickness, which let me tell you does not only affect you in the morning, will start to feel like the death of you, but don’t be scared, you’re strong enough to handle them. Who knows, you might be one of the few women who don’t get to experience morning sickness during pregnancy. Probably the best and worst symptom of all is how much you’re going to want to sleep and how easy it’ll be to actually fall asleep. Set plenty of alarms, if you think waking up was hard before you got pregnant, it’s going to get harder. But just hang in there, the worst symptoms are during these few weeks and these will go by faster than you think. 

Your belly may not start to really grow until your second trimester, but you will see other signs in your body that there are some changes happening. Your boobs aren’t only going to be sore, but they’ll start to grow too. They’ll get a bit rounder and may even start to lift as well. I wouldn’t suggest buying maternity clothes just yet, but definitely keep an eye out. Before you know it, your favorite jeans won’t fit and you’ll need to find new ones. The whole pregnancy glow, you’ll definitely notice that as well. You’ll wear a little less make-up because your skin will be so perfect. Your hair will strengthen and so will your nails. These kinds of side effects will make you want to be pregnant forever. 

Mood swings will also now be a part of your daily life. Be prepared to cry at commercials you never even thought twice about and your significant other should be prepared to catch hell that may or may not be unwarranted. It’s confusing and scary, but it’s only temporary. Your hormones will level out eventually. 

You should also expect to make changes to your regular food intake. Having a nutritional plan for the rest of your pregnancy should be on your to-do list starting in your first trimester. There are essential nutrients and vitamins that your growing baby is going to need, so you should stock your kitchen with plenty of healthy foods. Make sure you make a list of those foods you should avoid for the next nine months as well. You might have to sacrifice some of your favorites; like sushi and caffeine, but I promise you that you’ll be so excited getting everything ready for your bundle of joy that you’re not going to have time to miss some of your favorite foods. 

Now that you’ve found out you’re bringing a little prince or princess in the world and have some of the basics covered, picking a doctor is going to be of high priority on your long list of things to do during your pregnancy. Your OBGYN must be someone you’re going to be super comfortable with the entire 40 weeks. They’ll definitely see you in a different light than what you would normally present yourself in. But they are the most important part of the process. Another thing on your to do list should be the question of whether you’re going to have a midwife or not. They’ll be there for you 24/7 for 40 weeks and may help you in ways you didn’t know needed. 

Speaking of doctors, most OBGYNs don’t want to see you until you’re at least 6 weeks along. This can be tough, especially if you’ve been working at becoming pregnant for some time. But I promise it’ll be worth the wait. The first ultrasound will be nothing but a blob, but watching your baby develop will be so heartwarming and emotional for you. And, trust me, there will be a time when you get tired of seeing your doctor every week, especially when a majority of your appointments don’t involve an ultrasound. 

It is still the first trimester though and you have sometime to continue to prepare for your little bundle of joy. Even if you’re an anxiety filled, over planner, remember to relax. This is not the time to over stress yourself. This is the time to fall in love with the little life growing inside of you, be overly excited, and not stress the unexpected. And once again, congratulations. You’re going to be a great mother.