Family: First Trimester Faves
I’ve been reunited with the Snoogle!!
(Dat bump, tho.)
I brought it into my arms in a warm embrace, and sang it some Ed Sheeran.
Last time I was pregnant, I wrote about some of my first trimester faves. I thought I would share the latest, since they’ve changed a bit this time around.
Here are some of my favorite things from the first trimester:
For comfort:
1) The Snoogle. My hips started to ache almost instantly, and I found a hard time getting comfortable while sleeping. Last time, the Snoogle was my lifesaver. I ended up giving it to a cousin who was in her third trimester and asked to borrow it, so I ordered a new one. It made sleep so much more comfortable. Tom jokes that “the barrier” is back. 😉
2) Cami tops with built-in bras. Underwires are the bane of my existence right now. To be honest, I’ve been wearing sports bras, or just a cami with a built-in bra whenever possible. (Of course, certain outfits require a “real bra” but if I can get away with another wire-free option, I’m going for it.) I love the camis at Express because they’re inexpensive and come in a variety of colors. They’re perfect for layering.
3) Comfy/tunic dresses and button-up shirts. Since I didn’t have an official bump right away, and word wasn’t really out, I’ve been wearing a lot of baggy comfy tops. I especially love this tunic dress, an old Banana dress (similar here), and flowy tanks and button-ups. They’re great for the in-between stage where it isn’t totally obvious.
For nausea:
Nausea was pretty rough the first 13 weeks. I felt like I was on the verge of getting sick all day, unless I was eating something. Some of the things that really helped:
4) Ginger chews. Ginger teas and candies helped dramatically with the nausea. I love the Gin-gins.
5) Morning sickness cookies. Whitney made these for me and surprised me with a giant batch and some other morning sickness remedies because she’s the best. The recipe is on her blog here!
6) All the carbs. Bagels and pizza have healing powers.
7) Sparkling water. The bubbles helped to settle my stomach, and the occasional Zevia cream soda worked well, too.
Reads:
8) Ina May’s book. It was kind of funny when the midwife asked me what I was reading, and I was like, “Uhhh… trashy fiction?” Back in the day, I would have been able to easily rattle off 5 pregnancy-related books. It’s been nice to feel like I know what I need to know, and just refresh info here and again. One thing I was really looking forward to was going back into Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth. The birth stories are so beautiful and touching, they make me cry every time. Each one is like a special treat to read.
9) For Liv. We’ve picked up some big sister-related books, and they’ve been awesome. This one, recommended by Kate on my Facbeook page, is her very favorite. The little flaps are so cute, and I Love how it shows the baby growing inside the mama’s belly until it’s born, and the big sister is holding her. So sweet.
For skincare:
10) My friend Ashley is an esthetician and last time I saw her, her skin somehow managed to look MORE amazing than it usually does. I had to know everything she was using. She recommended the Naturopathica line, and sent me some a couple of weeks later! I am obsessed. She said all of the ingredients are safe to use during pregnancy, and I’ve been loving the cleanser, Vitamin C serum, and calendula night cream.
The Honest Company (<— affiliate link; I have a bundle delivered each month and love their stuff) belly balm was going to be on this list, but I don’t think it’s working. I love the texture, the mild smell and the ingredients. BUT, I have TWO RED stretch marks on my belly. I saw them while getting dressed yesterday and whispered “mother of pearl” (or something very similar) when they taunted me in the mirror. I ordered some L’Occitane supple skin oil like I used last time. If it isn’t broken… why did I try something different…?
Focusing on all of the lovely things about pregnancy instead of a couple of stretch marks, including longer, thicker hair. Yes. Good.
Mama friends: anything you loved during the first trimester? Morning sickness remedies to share? So thankful to be over that hump. 🙂
xoxo
G
More:
47 Comments
Leave a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
I had to throw my snoogle out when we moved. 🙁 I LIVED on Gin Gins. I always had one in my mouth because I felt sick all day long.
For skincare, I really liked the Belli brand. If you have any pregnancy breakouts, it is a safe and effective product to help combat them.
The Snoogle is everything! I also loved a great reusable water bottle (all the water!), jolly ranchers helped with sickness and GAP maternity jeans. Love your bump!
love gaps maternity jeans! definitely need a couple of pairs this go-around
love ginger chews!
sooo good
How “gingery” are the cookies – are they comparable to a gingersnap? Ginger is the ONE thing in life I can honestly say I hate, but I can handle gingersnaps because they are so loaded with sugar. If history indicates anything, I have about 10 days until MS hits and I’d like to premake these to have something in my arsenal!
they are more licorice-tasting than gingery to me. they’re similar to gingersnaps!
I used Mama Mio oil with my first pregnancy and will use it again. A little pricey but I think you’ll like it! I did hear that stretch marks are mostly a genetic thing though 🙁
i love you friend. Your bump is sooooo cute.
Eeee! You are so freakin adorable! Pregnancy really becomes you. You’ve definitely got that glow going on. And I love shelf bras. I have really small boobs so it’s hard for me to find a bra that’s comfy and camis with shelf bras are my jam! Beyond Yoga has some really soft tanks that I’m obsessed with. They straps are adjustable and the fabric feels like butter.
I love JCrew’s toothpick maternity jeans! I got them in dark wash and black and they’ve been awesome.
I don’t have plans to get pregnant for a couple years, but I like reading everyone’s recommendations bc now I will know what to look for when the time comes. Thanks for sharing!
Your bump is growing and your hair looks wonderful!! Yay!!
thank you, lovely!
I want a snoogle and I’m not pregnant. Is that weird? haha
Best wishes for combating stretch marks! I made it through my first pregnancy with NONE, and 8 1/2 months of my 2nd pregnancy with NONE, then the last three weeks they erupted like a volcano around my belly button!! I couldn’t believe it, I ONLY HAD THREE MORE WEEKS! I love my daughter dearly, but it looks like a future of tankinis for me…. :-/
Early on I said I wasn’t going to spend money on a snoogle and was making it work okay with a few pillows packing me in. Then we spent a couple nights at a friend’s house and she told me to use hers to see if I’d want one of my own – I knew right away I would be buying one. It’s been a major help with sleeping and helps keep my hips from getting so sore, too!
I also just bought that book from Ina May – I can’t wait to read it! Have you seen the video “Birth Story” about her and the Farm? I highly recommend it.
Wellllll I had hyperemsis, so prescription meds were my BFF during the first and 2nd tri. 😉 I also loved ice water with lemon. I pretty much wanted to die until about week 20.
I lived in Target’s nursing tanktops and my kiddo is 18 months and I’m STILL wearing them. I want an excuse to buy more! I have a long torso and they are realllly long and comfortable.
Celestial seasonings lemon zinger tea was a life saver for nausea this time around for me.
Love the “weleda” pregnancy oil and “frei” massage/pregnancy oil. 25 weeks today and yet no stretch marks, keeping finger’s crossed it’ll stay like that. Problems with cellulitis though 🙁
We loved that book when I was pregnant with #2! We would re-check it out from the library every two weeks 🙂
Gin gins are my favorite! I stash them everywhere.
Your bump is so cute!! You’re really showing early. You look adorable 🙂
they’re so good!
thank you! things are happening quickly over here haha
I just wanted to tell you about Coobie bras. They aren’t specifically for pregnancy/nursing but they are so comfortable and pretty much the only thing I wear now (besides sports bras or camis!). Try them out, I promise you will be converted!! (You can find coupons in a lot of magazines-3 for $20 or something like that)
googling now. thank you!!
I loved my maxi skirts during my first trimester… still do in fact! I haven’t invested a whole lot in maternity wear yet. Most of my clothes still fit… just differently. But the maxi skirts are the comfiest!
maxi skirts are the best <3
I had horrible nausea and was sick the entire pregnancy with my son. I found vitamin B6 helped with 1/2 a unisom at night (when it was really bad). Also- preggie pops with vitamin B6 in them. Loved ASOS maternity, Old Navy Maternity and Target has good maternity clothes too! Gina- you are glowing!! Glad you are feeling better!
thank you so much, friend! i had NO IDEA asos had maternity. exciiiiiting 🙂
Hey Gina! You look great!! Question – I am 14 weeks with my second and i’m just curious, when did you start to feel flutters? I haven’t felt anything yet and am getting a little anxious! I know everybody is different – I’m just curious though? Thanks! 🙂
it might have to do with where your placenta is located. the tech was telling me that because mine is posterior (basically against my back) it makes sense that i would be feeling them so early. last time, i think it wasn’t until 20 weeks??
I’d agree with Gina’s comment – My placenta was anterior (between my stomach and the baby) so I didn’t feel any movements until week 24. A few weeks before I started to feel the butterfly flutters, but not until week 24 did I get a firm, okay. That’s the baby 🙂
Hi Gina! I first heard about snoogle on your blog, and well… given that I LOVE your blog, I bought one too. This is definitely the best gift I’ve made myself in a while! I’m 26.5 weeks now, I wish I bought it sooner! Haha! xoxo Olena
haha so happy you’re loving it, too!
Hey girl,
Was just curious what you’re doing about fish. I know you’re a seafood lover–but with the mercury and everything was just curious what you’ve been doing. Are you still eating “safe” fish or switching your protein to more chicken and plant-based for now? And you’re still so teeny! Honestly you’re still really lean. You’re barely showing. Maybe it is a boy this time? I feel like you’re carrying a bit higher than you did with Liv–not that I know anything about that. But just stuff I’ve heard–lol 🙂
you are a sweet angel. i feel really heavy already.
as far as fish goes, i’m still eating pretty much everything i had been eating (minus the sushi). lots of salmon, anchovies, and about a can of tuna a week. i’ve found myself craving more fish and plant-based foods instead of chicken
My doc recommended the B6 3 times a day (20 mg) and 1/2 a unisom at night but nothing every really helped. Thank goodness it is going away at this point. One thing that I have really liked lately are cheap dresses from Old Navy! I am not sure how fast I will grow, so these are cheap non-pant options 🙂 I am going to try that oil and snoogle!
I loved the LOccotine supple oil!!!! I got it after reading your blog from your first pregnant. I put it on my belly every night before bed and my husband loved the small of it! I also loved Mama Bee belly butter. Not too greesy and had a natural smell. I was very lucky to get away with no stretch marks (I don’t know if it was hereditary and just luck) Good luck! So exciting!
i used it again last night and am so happy. the smell is so beautiful!
thank you!
Rice cakes for nausea were a must. My nausea was brutal with my second baby girl. I also put my seal of approval on gap maternity jeans and must add Old Navy t shirts and maternity leggings. And cute scarves to dress up neutral outfits. I love Ina May.
Oooh girl. Yes to all of this, especially the snoogie! My husband loathed that thing, but it made such a huge difference! I used the honest co belly balm too, but I found that it stained my clothes with the oiliness. Great ingredients, but I discovered the burts bees version and it’s much better. More creamy, and doesn’t stain. And during my first tri, I drank la croix like it was the last beverage I would ever drink. I went through boxes of that stuff in a week. Congrats to you! Such an exciting time!
I read somewhere when I was pregnant with Lanier that exfoliating would combat stretch marks, so I used the body scrub from Lush like it was my job. I scrubbed from my shoulders to my knees and everything in between.
did it work??!
I don’t have any stretch marks. I was so worried with Lanier because you hear that it’s mostly genetic and my mom is covered in them, but I don’t have a single one and I’ve spent 18 of the past 30 months pregnant.
what did you use to exfoliate??
The Ocean Salt Scrub from Lush or the Bliss Hot Salt Scrub
PS – I sent you a text last week. Did you get it? Also check out top shop maternity. Really reasonably priced and super cute stuff.