25 Things to Know About Pregnancy for First-Time Moms (2023)

Being pregnant can be one of life’s greatest joys. Knowing you are growing and entirely sustaining a tiny human being, is nothing short of magical. It’s also extremely hard on your mind and body.

You now have two sets of lungs to support, two hearts, four kidneys, and so on. You’re gaining weight, sometimes rapidly. Your body changes in ways you never knew it could. And while all this is beautiful, it is challenging, too.

I wanted to make things a smidge easier for the expecting mama. So here are 25 Things to Know About Pregnancy for First-Time Moms.

25 Things to Know, Mama

1. Take Your Prenatal Vitamins (& Other Supplements)

Take a high-quality prenatal vitamin to ensure you (and baby) are getting all the proper nutrition from the get-go. I also recommend taking a nutrient-dense liver oil like this one from Perfect Supplements to boost energy, support your weakened immune system, improve digestion, maintain healthy blood sugar, and more.

As a CYA, always check with your doctor before taking supplements during pregnancy.

2. Stay Hydrated

It may seem counterintuitive, but drinking water actually helps with swelling (and many other pregnancy symptoms). Aim to drink at least half of your body weight in ounces every day.

3. Move Your Body

A combination of fresh air and movement does the body good. It helps keep muscles strong, while not doing anything too intense. If you’re the gal who wants to run a marathon while pregnant, by all means, go for gold. Otherwise, enjoy a nice daily walk to keep your mind and body healthy.

4. Accept Body Changes

Embracing swollen legs, stretch marks, and a protruding belly button is not always an easy task. But we can’t keep fighting with our bodies. You don’t have to love the changes, but try to accept and appreciate them as part of the motherhood process.

5. Wear What Makes You Feel Confident

Some women love to show off their growing bump; others, not so much. Make sure to wear what makes you feel comfortable and confident. Because, mama, when you look good, you feel good.

6. Oil Up the Belly Early and Often

That belly is going to grow and grow… and grow. Help your skin stay hydrated with oils and creams. (Remember: the skin is the body’s biggest organ. Everything is absorbs goes straight to baby). To keep stretch marks to a minimum and itchiness at bay, make sure to oil up early and often.

7. Invest in Prenatal Massages

Prenatal massages are luxurious, indeed. But they are also useful. Prenatal massage helps with sleep, stress, circulation, tension, and more. Invest in your overall health with a good ol’ rub down.

8. Work with a Chiropractor

Working with a chiropractor during pregnancy has many benefits including: managing back and hip pain, helping with weird pregnancy symptoms, improved nervous system function, proper pelvic alignment, optimize fetal positioning, and more. Working with a chiropractor allows your body to keep up with it’s new demands and keep you (and baby) more comfortable.

Hot Tip: I suggest finding a chiropractor that is certified in the Webster technique, which helps balance the pelvis, muscles, and ligaments to optimize baby’s development. I also advise being adjusted by chiropractors that practice the Torque Release Technique (TRT).

Doctors using TRT use light touch and a little tool called The Integrator to make adjustments. The Integrator offers just the right amount of pressure and recoil ensuring a gentle yet effective alignment every time. TRT has also been proven to be one of the most effective and low-risk chiropractic methods out there.

9. Advocate, Advocate, Advocate

I cannot stress this enough. Advocating for yourself throughout your pregnancy is absolutely necessary. While most doctors do what they can to ensure best practices and safety for both you and your baby, the bottom line is you know when something doesn’t seem right. Your health and care is determined by you.

10. Reframe Your Thinking

Pregnancy includes a lot of both/and(s). You may be absolutely elated to be pregnant and simultaneously hate enduring months of morning sickness.

You might assume pregnancy is all about the bump, then come to terms with all the other body changes you are experiencing, too. Be open to reframing your expectations about what pregnancy is “supposed” to be.

11. Let Conflicting Emotions Coexist

On that same note, be sure to let conflicting emotions coexist. You can be happy AND tired. You can be overjoyed AND overwhelmed. Hell, you ~~might~~ will feel a whopping twelve emotions at once.

Be self-compassionate and show yourself grace. Whether you’re a first-time mama or closer to a Cheaper by the Dozen family, it’s all a learning curve.

12. Write Down Your Thoughts and Experiences

It sounds unbelievable, but you’ll be surprised how quickly you forget things about your pregnancy. While you’re in it, 9 months seems like a long wait. But zooming out a bit, it all goes so fast with very big changes happening each week. Keep a log of your experience or journal your thoughts throughout this special time.

13. Openly Communicate with Your Partner

One of the best things you can do to prepare for motherhood is have open communication with your partner. Talk about your joys and fears, concerns and comforts. When baby comes, you’ll be leaning on your teammate more than ever. So it’s best to get mighty clear on all the things now.

14. There is No Shame in Going to Therapy

If you’re struggling with the ever-changing, life-altering circumstances of pregnancy, know that more help is available to you. Asking for help – going to therapy – shows strengths, initiative, and perseverance.

There is no shame in going to therapy. Period. Plus, it might be beneficial to establish care with a therapist that specializes in the perinatal period before the postpartum months come.

15. Classes are Optional

You can take classes on breathing, pushing, pelvic floor health, parenting, and more. These classes are by no means a requirement. In fact, the idea of taking classes might be more stressful for you. That’s okay, too. Just know it is an option, not a must!

16. Decide Who Your Support Person/People Will Be

Most women will want their partner in the birthing room with them. (Hey, no judgment if you don’t.) You can, generally (pandemic aside), choose to have another support person with you. That might be your mom, your bestie, a doula, a photographer, or someone else important to you. Make your decision early and ensure everyone is on-board with your birth plan!

17. Prep the Nursery Early

I was sick during the first 18 weeks of my pregnancy. Very sick. I’m talkin’ vomiting no less than 4 times every day, fluctuating between constipation and diarrhea, dizziness; the works. So anytime I felt the least bit well and energized, I didn’t waste it. I used that time to prep for the baby.

You lose a lot of control during pregnancy and motherhood. Preparing the nursery is one thing that remains in control during all the pregnancy unknowns. Enjoy it!

18. Prep the Rest of the House

There are other things outside of the nursery that need attention, too. Consider these things before baby comes:

Have multiple changing stations around the house. Put one on every floor, if you live in a multi-story home.
Stash extra snacks in the living room (and everywhere else). Seriously, you won’t start eating for two until breastfeeding begins.
Deep clean the house. You don’t know the next time you’ll have time to do that.
Organize the kitchen with bottles, dish/bottle rack, and other new equipment.

19. Organize Your Nursing/Feeding Cart

Around the 32-week mark, you’ll likely be in full nesting mode. Organizing your nursing/feeding cart is a must! Load up a cute three-tiered utility cart with feeding essentials like your electric pump, bottles, Haakaa, formula, pacifiers, burp clothes, nursing pads, nipple cream, snacks and a lot of water.

20. Gain Clarity on Big Decisions

You’ll want to make up your mind about certain things before baby comes. These things might include:

How you plan to nourish your baby (breastfeeding, pumping, formula, a combination, etc.).
Where baby will sleep (crib, bassinet, co-sleeping, etc.).
Who baby will be with during the day (mom, dad, daycare, nanny, etc.).
Choosing a pediatrician.
Will you circumcise your son or not.
How do you plan to pay for labor and delivery costs (insurance coverage, out-of-pocket expenses, etc.).
Who and how often will you be reporting labor progress to family and friends.

Hot Tip: Refer back to 13. Openly Communicate with Your Partner for all the aforementioned decisions.

21. Have a Hardcopy of Your Birth Plan

You can type or write out your birth plan on a standard 8.5 x 11. The most important thing is to have hardcopies available and out for the hospital staff to see. (If you just have your plan in a note on your phone, the staff won’t have easy-access to your wishes.)

When I was in labor with my daughter, we kept my full-page birth plan (simple as it was) out and visible on the table as staff entered my room. When the entire NICU team was called upon, they immediately saw and respected my wishes of things like having a delayed cord-cutting, an hour of skin-to-skin, and knew I intended to breastfeed.

Hot Tip: Your birth will likely not going as planned – they rarely ever do. Have your hopes and intentions clearly written out, but be open-minded about the possibility of some things in your plan changing.

22. Pack Your Hospital Bag

You’ll want your hospital bag fully packed and ready to go by the time you’re 35-weeks along. The hospital or birthing center will provide most of what you need, but there is nothing better than having some of your favs with you. Make sure sure to include essentials, toiletries, your birth plan, and comfort items in your hospital bag.

23. You Don’t Have to Wear a Hospital Gown

You don’t have to give birth in a paper hospital gown. I suggest wearing whatever is going to be most comfortable to you. Some women prefer being totally naked, some like the idea of a full gown. I birthed in just a sports bra. There is no “right” way. There is only what feels good for you.

24. Have a Few Meals Prepared

Never would I ever have guessed that there wouldn’t be time in the day to make something as simple as a sandwich for myself. But alas, this was before bringing a newborn into my home. You can make your life a smidge easier by having easy meals prepped, frozen, and ready to pop into the oven upon your return from the hospital.

25. Every Pregnancy is Different

Just because your bestie loved being pregnant, doesn’t mean you will. Just because your sorority sister hated her pregnancy, doesn’t mean you will. And just because your friend’s brother’s wife’s college roommate’s cousin labored for 86 hours with a unmedicated, natural birth, doesn’t mean you have to.

The point is every pregnancy is different. That includes the emotions, physical demands, and everything in between. Turn inward and decide what you want because that’s all that really matters.

You now have two sets of lungs to support, two hearts, four kidneys, and so on.

The Wrap Up: 25 Things to Know about Pregnancy for First-Time Moms

You only get 9 months to prepare for the biggest transition of your life. There will be many moments of confusion, doubt, bliss, excitement, and dread ahead. Trust yourself in the process. Knowing these 25 things can help make the ever-changing life of a soon-to-be mom a little easier!

If you’re looking for more ways to not be a b*tch, look no further than my book: I Got 99 Coping Skills and Being a B*tch Ain’t One. It’s the best resource out there to start living a happy, healthier life today!