What to Get Done in the First Trimester

Congratulations! You’re in your first trimester! Your pregnancy journey has just started and there are SO many things to consider. But don’t worry, women have been having babies FOREVER, so if it seems like you have more questions than answers, don’t stress it.

There are lots of resources to help you along the way and plenty of people that will offer their advice (whether it’s asked for or not!). As you begin your journey into motherhood, you will soon find out there are a million and one ways to do things, but just remember, this is a journey, and if something isn’t working well for you, you can always try something new.

After all, you are the best advocate for yourself, your family, and your little one. So learn from others, but always do what you think is the best fit for you and your little. Give yourself lots of grace and know that you’ll get the hang of this motherhood thing over time, you got this Mama!

If you’re looking for a resource that shares what your body will be experiencing throughout pregnancy, I recommend reading What to Expect When You’re Expecting. This is a tried and true classic that gives a month by month breakdown of how your body and baby’s will be changing and developing. It also gives helpful information on genetic testing, exercises, baby positioning, how to manage discomfort, common concerns, old wives tales, risks to you & baby, and so much more. It’s also broken up in easy to read sections with pictures to help you soak in all that info.

There is also a companion read, What to Expect Eating Well When You’re Expecting. This goes into the nutrients that baby needs most for healthy development and why they are important. It also has 175 handy recipes ideas with their nutritional value!

Now, on to the the to-do list! If you are well into your first trimester, let’s say week 6-onwards. You may have already started feeling more tired. That is one of the biggest characteristics of the 1st tri! Aside from morning sickness, and other body changes that may be taking place, you’ll notice that in this stage, your body generally wants to prioritize rest, it’s hard work making a baby!

So when I think of things to get done during the first trimester, I like to make them easy, fun, and all about planning. You’ll have more energy in the second trimester to help you tackle all of the ideas you come up with!

Things to Get Done . . .

• Start creating a Baby Registry
• Start a Nursery List/ plan which area is best for baby
• Start a list of things you’ll need for pregnancy (clothes, comfort items)
• Establish care with Ob, midwives, doula, etc.
• Start practicing breathing exercises for pregnancy & delivery
• Get in a habit of taking prenatal vitamins
• Pregnancy approved exercises (kegels are great!)
• Start a list of potential names
• Make sure your hygiene products and supplements are safe for pregnancy
• Rest, relax, and enjoy this time your partner & family
• Think about taking a Baby-moon trip before baby arrives (2nd trimester is usually ideal)

This list is a great starting point of what you can do in the first trimester to get a jump start on life with baby, and help alleviate some of the stress of planning ALL of the things! At this point, it’s important to listen to your body and give it plenty of rest. If you find you have more energy, start adding things to your list and personalize it to make it your own!

Some of my favorite things to add are little DIYs or things that you can customize for baby and their nursery setup. It’s a great way to celebrate your soon-to-be new arrival and get you excited about this new season of life! If you’re feeling up for it, date nights are a great way to connect with your partner and dream about what the future holds for you and your growing family.