So you’ve done it. You’ve taken a pregnancy test (or 47), and it’s official: You’re pregnant.
Congrats! There’s nothing more exciting than knowing that in just a few short months, you will be some adorable little human’s entire world.
And while bringing another little into the world is always an amazing experience, if you’re on your way to becoming a mom for the very first time, this news is especially exciting.
If you’re anything like us, the minute you saw those double lines, you headed straight for Google.
“What can I expect from the first trimester?” “What foods should I avoid while pregnant?” “How much weight gain is healthy during pregnancy?” “When do I get my first ultrasound?” These are just some of the things we searched ourselves once we made our way down from cloud nine.
In fact, thanks to Google, we were so informed by the time we made it to our first appointments, we probably could have taught our doctors a thing or two. We were as prepared for pregnancy as a person can be.
… or so we thought.
We don’t want to scare you, but the first trimester can be rough. There’s nausea, there’s fatigue, there’s extreme bloating, teenage-level breakouts, crazy emotional roller coasters… you name it. And the hardest part is, if you’ve decided to wait to announce your pregnancy for a bit, you have to endure all of this while pretending everything is normal – at work, at social functions, and for some, even at family gatherings. Basically, to survive the first trimester, you have to harness your inner superhero.
But before you start panicking, we have some good news: As moms who’ve been pregnant multiple times each, we’ve had lots of time to try all kinds of strategies and products to help us navigate those challenging first 14 weeks of pregnancy. And since our kids don’t listen to us, we are more than happy to share our knowledge with an eager audience.
So without further ado, here are our recommendations for first trimester must-haves. They’ll keep you glowing as you’re growing.
First Trimester Must-Have #1: Preggie Pop Drops
Ask most moms which trimester is the hardest and chances are pretty good they’ll say the first. That’s because for many pregnant women, the first 14 weeks of pregnancy are riddled with nausea and exhaustion. And for many newly pregnant ladies who are keeping their pregnancy under wraps, pretending not to feel like complete garbage 99 percent of the time can feel like an impossible feat.
Both hangry mamas were plagued by nausea throughout our pregnancies. And if we are being completely honest, the nausea hung around well beyond our first trimesters. Between us, we must have tried every home remedy and natural supplement. And while some things helped, most only slightly alleviated this awful symptom. That is, until we discovered Three Lollies’ Preggie Pop Drops.
These things are magic. Seriously. They’re tasty little lozenges and lollipops designed to help quickly alleviate morning sickness (plus the awful dry mouth that so many pregnant ladies experience – blech). And take it from us: These tasty little gems really work. They’re drug-free and doctor recommended. They’re made with essential oils and all natural ingredients, and the company even carries an organic line. And unlike so many natural morning sickness remedies, they actually taste good. They come in delicious flavors like Sour Raspberry and Green Apple.
We recommend stocking up on these miracle workers. We had a stash in our purses, in our glove compartments, in our nightstand… they were lifesavers during our first trimesters and beyond.
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First Trimester Must-Have #2: Prenatal Vitamins
This is one of the most important items on the list. During pregnancy, a woman’s daily intake requirements for certain nutrients (think folic acid (folate), calcium and iron) increase since they are crucial for proper fetal growth and development and, later, healthy adulthood.
Prenatal vitamins help fulfill those extra needs, and fill in the nutritional gaps that your diet might have. This is extra important for anyone who experienced aversions to healthy foods (seriously: Salads, smoothies and eggs were all on the gag-worthy list well into both of our second trimester).
Our favorite prenatal vitamins? My Kind Organic Prenatal Gummies. They’re free of chemicals, they’re vegan and not tested on animals, and they taste good.
One note: If you opt for the swallow-able prenatal vitamins, make sure you take them with food. I (Deanna) thought I was having pregnancy-related nausea for an entire pregnancy before I realized it was actually due to taking my prenatals first thing in the morning before I’d eaten anything to help absorb them!
First Trimester Must-Have #3: Decaf Coffee
One of the hardest parts of pregnancy for both of us (besides giving up wine 😩) was most definitely giving up coffee. The current recommendation is that pregnant women limit their caffeine intake to less than 200 milligrams per day. That’s about one, 12-ounce cup of coffee daily. If your a coffee-holic like we are, one cup of coffee is pretty much a single drop in a very large bucket.
Our solution? Load up on decaf coffee and pretend it’s the real deal. Call it a placebo effect, but it was much easier for us to switch to decaf than to quit coffee cold turkey. We added our almond or oat milk, sprinkled in some cinnamon, and if we wanted it to feel extra special, a packet of Stevia. We made each cup as delicious and similar to our usual cup of Joe as possible. Waking up to a warm cup of decaf was better than waking up to nothing at all.
Healthy hint: Just be mindful that decaf coffee still contains some caffeine (as does chocolate and even some medications), so don’t go drinking 20 cups a day.
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First Trimester Must-Have #4: Cocoa Butter
This one is more of a preventative measure. But if you don’t stock up on it now, you might regret it. Using cocoa butter regularly has been touted as a great stretch mark prevention measure.
We used it after every shower, rubbing the amazing smelling lotion on areas prone to stretch marks (think boobs, belly, butt and thighs). We can’t prove that it worked, but neither of us got stretch marks during our pregnancies (don’t hate us, we had plenty of other more bothersome symptoms!), so we are definitely advocates. There’s no harm in trying it, right?
First Trimester Must-Have #5: Stretchy Leggings
The first trimester is tricky. You might find that you’re too big to be uncomfortable in most of your normal clothes, but not big enough to fit into maternity clothes yet. (Side note: It’s a bad idea to buy maternity clothes too early – you don’t know how big you will be, and how low or high your belly will sit).
So we recommend investing in a few good pairs of stretchy yoga pants or leggings, which will grow with you. Both of us lived in our Lululemon Align Yoga Pants throughout our pregnancies. They’re high-waisted and super stretchy, which makes them perfect for pregnancy – and life after. They’re also a nice thick material, which makes them perfect for lounging but also for tucking into boots and pairing with a tunic for dressier occasions.
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First Trimester Must-Have #6: Waistband Expander
If you’re not lucky enough to be able to live in leggings for the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, a waist expander is the next best thing. These are handy little gadgets you can use on your normal jeans and pants when they just won’t button anymore. We tried the old rubber-band trick (Google it… it’s a thing), but after several broken and lost bands at embarrassing times, we decided to invest in these to see what all the hype was about. Turns out, they’re worth it. They bridge the gap between your normal size and maternity clothes in an easy and comfortable way.
Your first trimester should be an exciting time, and these six products will help those first 14 weeks feel comfortable and pleasant.
Be sure to check back here soon to find out our second trimester staples. Once that bump shows up, you’re going to need these products in your arsenal. Until then, congratulations! You’re about to embark on an unbelievable journey, and we couldn’t be happier for you.
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