Your Guide to Essential Items for a Comfortable and Healthy First Trimester

You just found out you’re pregnant—congratulations! This is such an exciting time, filled with a whirlwind of emotions. It’s also the perfect moment to gather the essentials that will support you through the first trimester of your pregnancy.

First Trimester Essentials

I’ve put together a list of my favorite first-trimester buys. When we found out we were expecting, I knew I needed to prepare. These products helped me manage nausea, adapt to my changing body, and connect with my growing bump. I hope these recommendations are as helpful for you as they were for me during those first few months.

1. Prenatal Vitamins

It’s crucial to start taking prenatal vitamins as soon as possible—ideally, even three months before trying to conceive. These vitamins are essential for your baby’s early development, providing important nutrients, minerals, and fatty acids. After trying a few, I settled on Zahler Prenatal with DHA. They have optimal ingredients, including choline, omega 3s, and DHA—nutrients often missing in other brands.

I learned about Zahler on a pregnancy podcast and have been taking them ever since. While they are a bit pricey, you can save up to 10% with Amazon’s Subscribe and Save option. Keep in mind that Zahler requires you to take the vitamins twice a day, so make sure it fits your routine. There are plenty of great options out there, so I recommend talking to your doctor to find the best prenatal for you and your growing family.

2. Body Oils

Keeping your skin hydrated during pregnancy is essential as your belly expands to accommodate your growing baby. Moisturizing helps prevent stretch marks, dry skin, and itchiness. I started using belly oils and body butter in my first trimester, and I like to rotate them throughout the week to keep my skin from getting too used to any one product. Here are my favorites:

1. Hatch Belly Oil
2. Bio-Oil Skincare Oil with Vitamins A, E
3. Summer Fridays Babymoon Belly Balm

3. BrüMate Era 40 oz Tumbler 

Staying hydrated from within is just as important as moisturizing your skin! Drinking plenty of water throughout your pregnancy is essential for you and your baby. Water helps deliver vital nutrients to your little one, keeps your skin hydrated, reduces the risk of infections like UTIs, decreases swelling, and boosts your energy levels.

I love this leakproof BruMate Tumbler – it keeps my water nice and cool and is a great size! I love infusing my water with oranges, lemons, and berries to add flavor and extra nutrients.

4. Tummy Drops

The first trimester can be tough, with morning sickness often starting around six weeks. Nausea was a daily challenge for me, especially while driving—I even had to pull over on the highway a few times. To manage it, I tried organic TummyDrops designed for morning sickness. They’re easy to carry, and I always keep a few in my purse. Plus, they come in flavors like ginger, pineapple, blackberry, and peppermint.

5. Mommy Steps Shoe Insoles

Did you know that hormonal changes during pregnancy can affect your feet? Many women experience a change in shoe size or a loss of arch support. Insoles can provide much-needed support and heel stability during this time. I found that Mommy Steps Insoles from Amazon work wonders. Made from memory foam, they cushion your heels from impact and can be molded up to three times to fit your feet as they change throughout pregnancy.

6. Leggings

Over-the-bump maternity leggings are a must! They are great for casual wear throughout the day plus, they are just SO comfortable. Because of the elasticity they fit well over an expanding belly and give you room without restricting your body like denim or other types of pants. Here is a list of my favorite maternity leggings:

1. Beyond Yoga Maternity Leggings
2. Lululemon High Rise Leggings
3. Motherhood Maternity Leggings
4. Hatch Premium Maternity & Postpartum Over The Belly Leggings

7. First Trimester Buys: Waist Band Extension

If you’re not ready to give up your cute denim just yet, the Belly Belt is the perfect solution. You can turn any button fastening pants, jeans, or skirts into maternity wear. The Belly Belt gives you that extra room for your expanding belly. This is also a great option for saving money on maternity clothes when you don’t need to buy them just yet. This one comes with several size extenders and makes it easy to adjust as your body starts to change.

8. Comfortable Bralettes

Comfort is key! In the first trimester, your body is changing in more places than just your belly. When I am home or wearing a casual top I like to wear comfortable bralettes or sports bras because well, the inevitable is happening! This set is super comfy, and pairs perfectly with leggings and a cute cardigan top.

9. Pregnancy Journal

This is something you will cherish for a lifetime. One of our dear friends gifted us a pregnancy journal. It was such a thoughtful gift and reminded me why documenting this life experience is so important. Having a journal to look back on and show our baby one day is so special. It’s also a nice way to sit down and enjoy what’s happening around us while bonding over our pregnancy. I highly recommend adding this to your baby collection.

More First Trimester Pregnancy Tips & Favorites

Every pregnancy is different, and not all women start to show their precious baby bumps the same way. In the first trimester, most of my regular clothes still fit, and maternity shopping wasn’t necessary, but it didn’t stop me from window shopping! Below is a list of maternity shops I’ve been eying that have some super chic and trendy stuff.

• ASOS maternity
• Target maternity
• Nordstrom maternity
• Shopbop maternity
• H&M maternity

Pregnancy Books I Bought

• What to Expect When You’re Expecting – This book is full of information for every stage of pregnancy. It’s perfect for first-time parents like us answering literally every question possible!
• Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy – A friend told me about this one. It’s perfect for anyone going through their first pregnancy and it’s full of comedy!

Do any mommas or poppas out there have other recommendations? I would love to hear about your first-trimester buys and items I may have missed on my list.

*If you like this post, we’d love for you to share it using the social media buttons below. Full disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and we may earn a small commission if you purchase through those links at no extra cost to you. It helps us keep this blog up and running. Thank you for your continued support!