As a first time mom — and a Type-A, ultra-organized planner freak — I spent my 9 months of pregnancy doing countless hours of online research, reading, asking friends and family for advice, and even being totally happy to receive "unsolicited advice" from strangers.
Because, frankly, I don't know what the heck I'm doing, have never been a mom, and need all the help I can get to prepare for taking care of a 100% dependent human baby.
If you're in the same boat as me, you'll find these pregnancy and maternity guides helpful.
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But first, a couple IMPORTANT disclaimers.
*Disclaimer #1: Every pregnancy is different. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach to being a first time mom! So take everything you read with a grain of salt and know it is not the "bible" you need to strictly follow. This is meant to be a "reference" to guide you through pregnancy, but you must allow follow your instincts and doctor's advice first over anything you read online. These guides are not medical, professional or official advice for newborn care.
*Disclaimer #2: All of the information below includes only the "surface level" tips based on MY personal learnings from things I have read, heard, or learned from external sources. These guides may exclude tips that I didn't include about pregnancy because, to me, they are common sense or things I already knew.
Complete Pregnancy Guide for First Time Moms
Things Worth Buying During Pregnancy
I remember when I first got pregnant and thought to myself, "Why should I buy all these things that I'll only use for 9 months???" To be honest, there are things that you can totally do without — but there are also a lot of things that I genuinely believe made my pregnancy SO MUCH BETTER having and were 100% worth every penny investing in.
Because comfort is everything when you're pregnant.
Plus, keep in mind, MOST of these things are items you can get secondhand if you are looking to save some money. Ask your mama friends if they have anything you could borrow or they are wanting to get rid of for both maternity and baby. Or go to a thrift / resale store to see what they have available. Some items are even pretty inexpensive on Amazon or at stores like Walmart.
Here's the list of things I found to be totally worth buying or investing in ASAP:
- 1 pregnancy pillow
- Since you can't sleep on your stomach or back, this super soft and comfortable pregnancy pillow helped me stay comfortable on my sides (especially the bigger I got). Even though I was already mostly a side-sleeper, this pillow was also a night-and-day difference in helping my hips not hurt during sleep during pregnancy since your legs basically hug the pillow. I love this thing so much it's going to be a struggle to not keep sleeping with it even after baby comes! Worth every dollar.
- 1 yoga ball
- Also known as a medicine ball, bounce ball, and exercise ball.
- This is a great "seat" alternative to use as often as you can during pregnancy to naturally strengthen your core, and stretch and increase mobility of your hips and pelvic floor. Yoga balls are great exercise tools to help you stretch and do pregnancy safe workouts. Many women also use a yoga ball during labor to help with positions and pain management — some even use a yoga ball to help naturally induce labor.
- 1 belly band / lumbar support band
- This could be covered by your insurance.
- Once you start to get bigger, there's this muscle under the belly called your "round ligament" that can get painful from standing, sitting, walking, etc. too much. It feels like a cramp when it gets sore. A belly band will especially help lift the weight off your round ligament when you go for walks or stand. I wouldn't wear all day because sometimes it can feel a bit tight, but it can really help when you go for walks.
- 1 pair of compression socks
- This could be covered by your insurance.
- I never really dealt with much swelling in my feet, but many pregnant women do and compression socks can help with that. But the reason why I got some is because it was covered by insurance and because I read it can be a helpful thing to wear postpartum — especially after recovering from a c-section or epidural to help with clotting. And I knew I would at least have an epidural, so I decided to get some and wear around the house every now and then before baby came.
- 1-2 maternity yoga pants / leggings
- I recommend getting two pairs. These comfy pants are good for around the house, going for walks, or even going into town. I also wore to work because my job allowed it. I lived in my maternity yoga pants designed for my growing belly. I also highly recommend getting a pair with a side pocket for your phone!
- 1-2 maternity jeans
- If you ever have to wear "nicer" items (even if it's just for going out into town or to work), it's important to have a set of good maternity jeans. I got two pairs: one with a long stretchy material that would go over my belly (under the shirt), and another one that had a band that stayed under the belly. Both were comfortable and useful for different reasons, and it was nice to have an alternative pant option for how my belly was feeling that day.
- 2-4 maternity dresses or maxi skirts
- The good thing about maternity dresses and maxi skirts is that most of them you can easily wear post-baby without anyone even knowing it's "maternity." Plus, the bigger you get, the more uncomfortable pants will become and you'll wish you had a few options to allow your belly to feel "free" while looking nice.
- Tip: Make sure the dress is actually "maternity" - not just a regular or maxi dress that you think will fit. Because many dresses have a seam in the middle of your belly, it will look weird when your belly gets bigger and the seam stands out. Trust me. Plus, non-maternity dresses will get much shorter in the front when you are pregnant so it will look weird or suddenly become too short to wear.
- If you find a non-maternity dress you like, make sure the seam is directly under the boobs, not on the waist, so your belly has room to grow.
- 3-5 maternity shirts
- I discovered there is a difference between a true maternity shirt and a "large" shirt that I could wear during maternity. Maternity shirts are not only more flattering because they are designed to fully cover your belly no matter how big you get, but also are more comfortable to wear. I recommend getting solid colors that you can accessorize/wear with anything to change up your look. All of the maternity shirts I got were secondhand and I am so thankful I had them to wear throughout my pregnancy.
- Handful of maternity-friendly undergarments
- We're talking elastic-free, seamless, underwire-free, and not tight.
- I was able to wear my regular underwear until about 5-6 months, but then after that, underwear started to feel too tight on my round ligament and caused some pain. I was thankful to have just a few pairs of underwear that were my "go-to" picks and noticed that the common factor was they were totally elastic-free. Here's one example of the type of seamless underwear I found most comfortable. It's also worth noting some moms say you should buy some "granny panties" for postpartum recovery, but I opted to just get large Depends / disposable underwear, instead.
- Same for bras — even though my boobs didn't grow that much during pregnancy, my growing belly made it much more uncomfortable to wear bras (especially underwire). I found myself wear sports bras most of the time, and discovered the ones I wanted to wear most were seamless and not tight (size up!). Here's an example of a seamless bra type I found most comfortable. It's also worth noting that you may want to get some "nursing bras" ahead of time to have ready for when baby comes, but I recommend sizing up at least one size since your boobs will likely grow while breastfeeding.
- Almond oil (or belly cream)
- I got a big thing of almond oil that I massaged on my belly (and occasionally thighs, butt and boobs) to help avoid stretch marks and it worked like a charm. Not one stretch mark and my belly looks great. Another brand that is popular but much more expensive is Pipette.
- Prenatal chiropractic care
- Okay, before you scroll past this one — let me tell you, I used to think chiropractic was voodoo. But after getting some weird lower back pain my first trimester (almost thinking it was sciatic nerve pain), I knew I had a long way to go in pregnancy and didn't want to live in that level of discomfort, so I knew I had to at least give chiropractic a shot.
- First and foremost, you must make sure you visit a chiropractor who is certified/specializes in prenatal! This is important. You will also get a pregnancy pillow (looks like a square donut) to lay on to avoid any pressure on your stomach for corrections you get done. But let me tell you, from experience, I swear by this method now and believe it contributed to me having a relatively "breezy," comfortable, and good pregnancy the whole 9 months.
Things to AVOID During Pregnancy
Foods:
- Unpasteurized cheeses, milks or juices
- Raw eggs, seafood or meat (get it fully cooked)
- Raw egg dishes: caesar dressing, hollandaise sauce, meringue, tiramisu
- Caffeine (or limit it to under 200mg daily)
- Alcohol
- Unwashed fruits and veggies
- Limit: pineapple, papaya, watermelon, cantaloupe
- Limit processed foods with high preservatives, including canned goods.
- Limit packaged salads (higher risk of E. Coli or Listeria)
- Raw sprouts (higher risk of E. Coli or Listeria)
- Cold / ready-to-eat deli meat, hot dogs, or salami/prosciutto
- Limit premade dishes, such as chicken salad (higher risk of E. Coli or Listeria)
- Tuna
- Smoked salmon
- Artificial sweeteners (limit)
- Herbal teas
Skincare:
- Avobenzone
- Aluminum chloride
- Accutane
- Benzoyl peroxide - this is common in skin care products.
- Botox / fillers
- Digydroxyacetone
- Formaldehyde
- Hydroquinone
- Isotretinoin
- Oxybenzone
- Parabens
- Retinol/retina/retinyl - this is common in skin care products.
- Salicylic acid - this is common in skin care products.
- Tazorac
- Tetreacycline
- Some essential oils including basil, peppermint, rosemary, sage. Talk to your doctor about it since I personally used peppermint oils on occasion and my doc said it was okay.
Activities:
- Smoking (including secondhand), drugs and alcohol
- Sitting in hot tub, sauna, tanning, electric blankets/heating pads, hot yoga, sunbathing or hot bath (warm bath is fine)
- Clean cat litter box
- Running, jumping, bouncing, crunches or deep stretching (more prone to injury)
- Contact sports or activities that have high risk of falling
- Lifting heavy things or weights
- Sleeping on back or stomach
- Being around toxic fumes from paint, extermination, hair spray, nail polish, cleaning supplies, etc.
- Wearing heels
- Gaining too much weight
- Sitting or standing too long
- Taking certain medications (also depends on trimester - ask doctor): ibuprofen, aspirin, NSAIDs, cold/flu meds, acne meds, pepto bismol
- Limit aromatherapy / essential oils (talk to doctor about approved ones)
- Get piercings or tattoos
- Teeth whitening
- Hair dying / coloring
- High altitudes (more prone to sickness and fast dehydration)
- Rollercoasters
- Xrays
- Acupuncture, chiropractic or massage UNLESS prenatal certified
- Stress!
Foods To Eat During Pregnancy
While this isn't an exclusive list, these are some things to make sure you include in your diet for a healthy pregnancy.
- Water: LOTS OF IT.
- Meats: Lean beef cuts like round, sirloin, chuck, and loin; ground beef with less than 15 percent fat; pork tenderloin or loin chop; chicken, turkey.
- Fish: Wild salmon, fish liver oil (1-2x week)
- Dairy: plain yogurt, low fat milk, cheese (pasteurized)
- Nuts
- Veggies: carrots, red bell, sweet potatoes, edamame, kale, spinach and dark leafy greens, broccoli,
- Fruits: mangos, bananas, avocados, dried fruit (try dates), berries
- Grains: oats, quinoa, brown rice
- Legumes: lentils, peas, chickpeas, beans, peanuts
- Eggs
Important Vitamins & Minerals Needed During Pregnancy
First and foremost, you should be taking a prenatal vitamin every single day and that should be sufficient for what you need for a healthy pregnancy. However, here's what you want to make sure your daily vitamin intake includes.
- 800 mcg of Folic Acid
- 27 mg of Iron
- 600 IU of Vitamin D
- At least 200 mg of DHA
- 350 mg of Magnesium
- 11 mg of Zinc
- Lots of fiber (preferably a fiber-rich diet)
Keep in mind:
A lot of foods you eat will naturally bring you the additional vitamins and minerals you need even if your prenatal vitamin doesn't cover the full limit.
Avoid taking extra prenatal vitamins, supplements or multivitamins with doses in excess of what you need on a daily basis. High doses of some vitamins may be harmful to your baby. For example, extra Vitamin A during pregnancy can potentially cause harm to your baby. It's also recommended to not take too much Vitamin C. So talk to your doctor before you take any additional supplements to your daily prenatal vitamin.
Healthy Activities to Do During Pregnancy
- Modified yoga (not deep stretching, and be careful about poses that could cause you to fall)
- Have sex
- Go on walks / exercise lightly - squats, planks and swimming are good.
- Get lots of sleep
- Take daily prenatal vitamin
- Get flu shot and TDAP shot
- Gain weight smartly (not "eating for two")
- Drink lots of water
- Relax
- Spend time enjoying things, experiences, places you like to go out, etc. that will be more difficult to do once baby comes. That includes girls nights with your friends, long date nights with your partner, traveling to see family, etc.
- Get prenatal massage
Approved Medications During Pregnancy
First and foremost, you should confirm medications with your doctor before taking anything. But here's a list of approved medications I personally received from my doctor.
- Heartburn / Constipation: Tums, Maalox, Mylanta
- Fever (under 101): Tylenol
- Coughs: Robitussin DM / DF / cough drops
- Dental Meds: Novocain, Xray with shield, PCN, Tylenol #3
- Nausea / Vomiting: Nestrex, 25mg of Vitamin B6 with 1/2 tab of Unisom (2-3x per day), small frequent meals instead of large ones, popsicles, dry toast, jello, gatorade, pretzels
- Hemorrhoids: Prep H, Anusol, Tucks
- Constipation: Colace, Fibercon, Citrical, Surfax, increase fiber and fluid intake
- Diarrhea: Kaopectate, Imodium AD, if not controlled within 12 hrs call doctor
- Headache: Tylenol, Sudafed for sinus, cold towel on forehead, dark room
- Colds: Sudafed, Tylenol, Robitussin
- Allergies: Claritin, Allegra, Benadryl, Zyrtec (10mg daily), OTC antihistamines
Common Pregnancy Symptoms (By Trimester)
Remember that every pregnancy is unique, so there will be variations of "normal" symptoms, some symptoms that never appear, and some symptoms that appear in a different trimester. So always talk to your doctor if you are concerned about anything you experience during pregnancy. Here are some common symptoms that many pregnant women experience.
1st Trimester:
- Quick & sharp or mild cramps (due to uterus growing)
- Constipation
- Sore boobs (due to growing)
- Stiffness in lower back
- Breaking out / acne
- More prone to injury during exercise or stretching (due to relaxin)
- Heat sensitivity
- Restless leg/arm (take magnesium)
- Stuffiness and prone to sinus infection
- More prone to injury during exercise or stretching (due to relaxin)
- Heat sensitivity
- Joint pain
- Vivid dreams
- Sensitive teeth/gums
- Increased sex drive
- Sensitive anus (don't wipe too hard or it could cause anal fissure or hemorrhoid)
- Feel baby movements (flutters, small kicks, pressure, etc)
- More prone to dehydration
- Diastasis recti (separating of ab muscles due to growing belly)
- Braxton Hicks contractions
- More prone to UTIs
- Insomnia
- Leg cramps
- "Pregnancy brain"
- Mood swings
- Frequent urination
- Round ligament more prone to soreness
3rd Trimester:
- Lightning crotch pain
- Carpal tunnel
- Mouth and gum bumps
- More prone to injury during exercise or stretching (due to relaxins)
- Heat sensitivity
- More prone to UTIs
- Insomnia
- More tiredness and physical fatique
- Feel noticeably bigger and more frequent baby kicks, rolls, and pressure
- More prone to getting out of breath
- Snoring
- Braxton Hicks contractions
- "Pregnancy brain"
- Mood swings
- Areola (around nipple) getting darker and larger
- Frequent urination
- Round ligament more prone to soreness
- Swelling in feet and hands
- Skin tags and moles appearing
Things To Do Before Baby Comes (By Trimester)
First Trimester Checklist:
- Start taking a daily prenatal vitamin if you haven't already been taking.
- Prepare pregnancy announcement for social media and friends/family.
- Compile a list of questions you have for your OBGYN to ask at each appointment.
- Start kegel and pelvic floor exercises on daily basis.
- Become educated on your health insurance coverage for prenatal and labor/delivery care.
Second Trimester Checklist:
- Tell your job about the pregnancy and file any paperwork needed for maternity/paternity leave.
- Get flu shot (if you will be pregnant during flu season)
- Compile a list of questions you have for your OBGYN to ask at each appointment.
- Discuss baby names
- Get a prenatal massage
- Pre-register for hospital
- Choose 2-3 pediatricians to add to a list
- Plan baby showers
- Do kegel and pelvic floor exercises on daily basis
- Get started on third trimester duties (below).
Third Trimester Checklist:
If you are a high risk pregnancy, have a history of early births or have birthed previous children, or pregnant with multiples, you will want to move a lot of these third trimester items to the second trimester in case you deliver early.
- Compile a list of questions you have for your OBGYN to ask at each appointment.
- Get TDAP (whooping cough) shot.
- Get a Rhogam shot if you have PH negative blood type.
- Complete all thank you cards from baby shower gifts.
- Discuss meal train wishes (when start, how long, etc)
- Prep freezer meals
- Support person / partner duties:
- Educate them for labor/delivery
- Educate them about postpartum recovery
- Educate them about newborn care (changing diaper, swaddle, safety, etc)
- Educate them on newborn routines (sleep, feed, wake time, etc)
- Discuss visitors in the hospital and at home (when to start, who can come, limitations, etc)
- Discuss duties during leave (at least for the first month)
- Send family/friends info for hospital (visiting hours, visitor restrictions, map, etc)
- Talk to family/friends about getting support during the first month after baby comes
- Pack hospital bag
- Read books about newborn care
- Watch video tutorials about newborn care (changing diapers, swaddle, breastfeeding, etc)
- Tour daycares and enroll / get on waiting list
- Get a haircut (in case you will need one in the next couple of months)
- Complete a childbirth class
- Take a newborn care class
- Create a birth plan for the hospital
- Get a prenatal massage
- Start perineal massages on daily basis (to help prevent tearing during childbirth)
- Do kegel and pelvic floor exercises on daily basis
- Learn / get certified in baby CPR
- Set up your bedroom for baby (bassinet, white noise machine, monitor, diaper changing station, etc)
- Sterilize pacifiers, bottles and pump parts
- Print out all baby documents (including tips, notes, etc), organize them in folder for future reference
- Register baby products (registry items you receive) for warranties and recalls
- Install car seat base and get it checked (free) at hospital with an appointment
- Set up nursery (diaper pail, laundry basket, changing table, breastfeeding station, etc)
- Pack diaper bag
- Prepare announcements
- Determine pet care while you will be at the hospital
- Stock up on household essentials, pantry items and pre-prepped freezer meals.
- Put baby bath stuff in the bathroom or area you will bathe them.
- Order postpartum recovery items to have at home.
Check out my other guides on Preparing for Labor and Delivery as a First Time Mom and Preparing for Newborn Care as a First Time Mom.