First Trimester Must-Haves: What To Buy When You Find Out You’re Pregnant

Let’s be honest… it can be very overwhelming when you get that first positive pregnancy test. Now that I’m on my third pregnancy and overcome three battles with first trimester woes, I can help you navigate these difficult first months. The first trimester is all about survival when you don’t feel well. These first trimester must-haves are items that rookie moms probably don’t know about and veteran moms swear by!

It can be really tempting to start buying things immediately for the baby, but I would wait until you’re closer to the second trimester. With today’s genetic testing, you’ll find out the gender sooner rather than at the traditional 20-week mark.

Try to resist temptation and hold off on all of the baby gear. There will be plenty of time for that later. Instead, use these first few months to adapt to the idea of being pregnant and all of the physical changes that accompany it.

How did I pick these first trimester must-haves? Some of them are my favorites from personal experience that I’ve used with all of my pregnancies. Others are recommendations from pregnant friends that are highly rated. You’ll find that they’ve got great Amazon reviews, have been used for generations or they’re the latest new products from the brands we already love!

Related: 11 Must-Have New Baby Necessities (Plus 5 Products To Always Skip)

First Trimester Must-Haves: WHAT SHOULD I BUY IF I JUST FOUND OUT I’M PREGNANT?

Let’s start with the basics that are non-negotiable. You’ll need a bottle of pre-natal vitamins (if you aren’t already taking them). While you can wait to get a prescription at your first prenatal doctor visit, it’s best to get started on them right away – even if you switch to a prescription version. 

Looking for some fun surprises and a little indulgence? A pregnancy subscription box is a great gift to yourself and it’s the gift that keeps on giving.

After that these are some of the basics that you’ll want to invest in…

• Preggie Pop Drops

So many woman claim that Preggie Pop Drops are a complete life-saver in the first trimester! They’re all natural and I’ve used them as part of my all-natural morning sickness remedies routine. If you’ve never experience morning sickness before, it can be the oddest thing! Sometimes you’re starving and then can’t stomach anything and other times just a scent makes you ill.

The Preggie Pop Drops have an awesome way to make you feel better. The vitamin nutrients in them combined with the sucking sensation have made all of the difference for me. They’re cheap enough that you don’t need to stress even if you’re morning sickness isn’t too bad. Plus, they taste pretty good too!

• Pregnancy Books

I remember when I found out I was pregnant with my oldest, it can be frightening as a first-time mom.  You have so many questions about the smallest things. Even the best doctors can be too busy to answer questions OR you might be embarrassed about calling to ask “Is it safe to dye my hair while pregnant?” Have no fear… pregnancy books have been solving those burning questions for generations.

While there are so many books on the market, the tried-and-true one that even our mother’s used is “What To Expect When You’re Expecting” – it’s a classic! It’s been one of the first trimester must-haves for years.

The author updates it every few years and it’s full of so much great information. Plus, they have an app as well that you can download to your smartphone. I use it to track my baby’s progress each week.

• A Great Water Bottle

How much water should you drink while pregnant? A LOT! Ok, so that’s not the scientific answer… but you get the point. I even crave cold ice water too. Investing in a great water bottle option will help you stay hydrated and force fluids. I even get thirsty in the middle of the night.

I can’t live without my YETI Rambler for my water. The stainless steel is almost indestructible and it keeps my water cold all night long. I don’t have to worry about ice melting. I put a cute sticker on mine and I LOVE it.

• Pregnancy App With Photo Stickers

This is the most fun of the first trimester must-haves! You’ll be photographing a lot of your pregnancy, even if you aren’t ready to share it during the first trimester. If you’re planning to take weekly bump photos, download an app that lets you apply cute stickers to photos. I use the Little Nugget app. You can do in-app purchases for pregnancy stickers, baby milestone stickers and holiday themed stickers. Once the baby arrives, you’ll already have it ready to go! Plus, you can organize your photos according to people or events.

What To Wait And Buy After The First Trimester

Now that we’ve covered the essentials (and hopefully you’re surprised that you really don’t need too much), let’s look at stuff you can wait to purchase:

• Stretch Mark Cream
• Maternity Clothes
• Postpartem Care Items
• Body Pillow
• Baby Gear

That doesn’t mean you can’t take the time to ask questions about gear from other moms. Use this time to ask questions and research. Going into the store has always helped my Husband and I, even if we end up purchasing for a better price online.

When Do I Purchase Items For The Baby?

I know this is the most exciting part of having a baby. I always want to go nuts over cute baby clothes. It’s really a personal decision, but I like to hold off and wait until after the first trimester genetic screening results come back. That’s also when we announce our pregnancy on social media too.

That’s when most women feel comfortable and you’ve reached a “safer” zone when the chance of a miscarriage significantly drops. If you opt out of genetic testing, waiting until the 2nd trimester makes most moms feel better.

What you can do, in the meantime, is look at creating a baby registry. You don’t have to share a baby registry with other people until you’re ready. It will allow you to understand what you’d like to invest in and what others might be gifting to you. If it’s your first baby, you’ll definitely have a baby shower. Moms of multiples still have “sprinkles” instead of showers – so go ahead and create a registry!

After about the 20 week mark, when you’ve had your anatomy scan, that’s when I kick things into high gear. We’ll purchase items and start putting together the nursery. It DOES make me feel better to have the nursery ready to go by 32 weeks. You never know when the little one might decide to make an early appearance. 

You’ll have plenty of time after the first trimester to go into major nesting mode! So take the first few months as an opportunity to take care of your own health. You deserve a happy and heathy pregnancy, while enjoying every minute of it.

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