The first trimester is hard emotionally and physically. Here’s how to stay positive during the first trimester of pregnancy despite all the crappy things your body goes through!
Let’s be honest here. The first trimester of pregnancy sucks. You’re sick, you’re tired, and thanks to your hormones, you have all the feelings. It can be really hard to stay positive during the first trimester when most of your days are spent camped out with your hair pulled back next to the toilet.
Your body goes through a lot of changes during the first trimester, and it can be quite a shock if you’ve never experienced it before (or even if it’s your second or third pregnancy!). The nausea, the bloating, the peeing, the low back pain, the large and tender breasts. It’s crazy. And not to mention the sudden life change. Whether you were planning on getting pregnant or not, things suddenly change and your future is drastically different than it was before.
Despite all these crazy things that start to happen the moment you find out you’re pregnant, there is one thing that can help keep you grounded and help you stay positive and remember why you’re putting yourself through this: you are having a baby.
Maybe it comes from a background of dealing with infertility, or maybe it comes from having people close to me go through infertility and suffer miscarriages, but being pregnant is such a blessing, and even though it’s hard, it’s something that some women never get to experience, despite years of trying.
Remembering the why of pregnancy can make the first trimester easier to deal with because you can focus on the goal. Sometimes you have to go through crappy stuff to get the the good stuff, and pregnancy is no exception.
So when you are trying to get a good night’s sleep but have to wake up 6 times to pee, remember that you’re doing it for your baby.
When you are sitting on the bathroom floor next to the toilet trying to take deep breaths and keep your food down, remember that you’re doing it for your baby.
When you can’t button your skinny jeans even though they fit fine yesterday, remember that you are doing it for your baby.
When a Budweiser commercial comes on and has a soldier coming home to his family after a tour of duty and you start sobbing and can’t stop for 10 minutes, remember that you are doing it for your baby.
When you can’t even look at bananas at the store or stomach the smell of banana bread or have to avoid scrolling through Pinterest because seeing banana recipes makes you gag, remember that you are doing it for your baby.
When you can’t lay on your stomach to sleep because your tender, growing breasts are way too tender, remember that you are doing it for your baby.
The first trimester is rough and it sucks and you’re going to look forward to the day it ends, but you are doing it for your baby. And remembering that can help you stay positive, focused, and get through it with a smile on your face. Because your baby is worth it all.
Katie Clark says
This are all great tips. It definitely can be so hard to stay positive during the first trimester for sure. I know it’s definitely not my favorite time!
Chelsea Johnson says
Thanks, Katie! It can definitely be rough but at least it ends!
Jacqueline says
This made me cry because it’s SO true. The hardest part for me is that I’m trying to wait until 12+ weeks to share with family and friends so I have no one to vent to about how I’m feeling (both physically and emotionally). My poor hubby gets 100% of the emotional drama for a few more weeks at least!
Chelsea Johnson says
I’m so sorry! One way to vent is to use message boards on sites like whattoexpect.com and babycenter.com. Even if you’re venting to strangers, it can help take a lot of the load off!
Cassy says
The best part of this article is when you talked about the fact that some people never are able to conceive! Definitely puts things into perspective.
Chelsea Johnson says
It does! Like I said, someone close to me is currently struggling with getting pregnant, so that made it even more important for me not to take a single second of the first trimester for granted!
Jennifer says
The first trimester is the WORST. That’s so funny that you hated bananas. Bananas were basically a food group in my first trimester. Bananas, apples, Gatorade, and crackers were my life.
Chelsea Johnson says
Right? Isn’t it crazy how different pregnancy is for everyone?
Jennifer says
Haha. I just said that on a different post! It’s totally crazy! Bodies are amazing.
Chelsea Johnson says
Haha yeah you did! Great minds think alike! And yes, they are!!
Jessica says
This post actually made me tear up. Sacrifice starts from the moment we’re pregnant. This would also be great advice for moms with little ones who in the demanding, needy phase. Everything you’re doing, you’re doing for them. I’m going to start remembering that actually. Great post, Chelsea.
Chelsea Johnson says
I’m so glad you liked it! I always think your writing is so far superior to mine, so that makes me happy that you really felt this one!! And I agree! We really are doing everything for them, whether we are pregnant or they are 4!
Sara says
After two miscarriages at twelve weeks I am absolutely terrified this time around. I peed on the stick yesterday and yes, I’m finally pregnant again! I know the best thing I can do is to stay positive, but it is easier said than done… I don’t think I’d emotionally could survive another miscarriage…
Chelsea Johnson says
I’m so sorry! It is hard to stay positive. I hope everything goes well for you this time 🙂 Sending you lots of happy thoughts!
Sophia says
Hi! I can’t wait for the first trimester to be over for totally other reasons. I don’t mind the tender boobs, occasional nausea (I’m lucky on this aspect) and fatigue. But my first first trimester was never followed by a second one, I had a miscarriage last summer. You post reminds me I’m lucky I can get pregnant relatively easily. And everything I’m doing now is most probably for a baby. Still. I’ll celebrate the 14th week for sure!
Chelsea Johnson says
Good luck! I hope everything goes well for you!
Jane says
I have just found out I am pregnant and this will be my first baby. I just want to say thank you for your useful and helpful blog, I will certainly be using this throughout my pregnancy!
Chelsea Johnson says
Congrats! That’s so exciting! And good luck! I hope you find some helpful tips here!
Hailey says
This post was so so helpful! I am currently in my last semester in college, married, and as of this morning, expecting! It’s so difficult to focus with everything going on right now and this helped so much to put things into perspective.
Chelsea Johnson says
Congratulations! That is so exciting! It’s definitely a challenge to balance all of those things, but you’ll quickly figure out how to do it! You’ve got this!
Alisha says
We just found out this passed week that we are expecting and there have been so many crazy thoughts that go through my mind.. all the time. Hopefully once I have my first appointment, it will bring relief. Thank you for the article, this has helped a lot!
Chelsea Johnson says
Congratulations! What an exciting, crazy time! I hope that first appointment goes well for you guys!
Faith says
I needed this. Thank you!
I actually tried looking up “how to stay positive during pregnancy as it has been a bit of a struggle this evening.
First time pregnant through IVF and am loving each moment of it. It is a great accomplishment to have made it this far after years of trying that I have already told people while we are only 8 weeks in. I know it is still a risky part of the pregnancy for a few weeks still but I did get to see our potential babies heartbeat last week so I will hold on to that regardless of what happens.
Am celebrating any milestone I get to experience with this new life!
Chelsea Johnson says
Well congratulations! You should definitely celebrate, and it’s absolutely your decision who you tell and when. I hope everything goes perfectly for you! Good luck!
Nathalie says
Thank you guys for posting this. I’m 7 weeks pregnant which I just found out yesterday. I don’t know how to feel. Boyfriend and I are trying to cope with this and mixed emotions. I am scared since this is my first pregnancy and I want a healthy baby. my doctor says my hormones levels was very high which didn’t match with my ultrasound. That part freaked me out,I’m wondering if my baby is going to be fine.
Chelsea Johnson says
I’m sure everything is fine! Don’t worry! Just keep going to your appointments and take care of yourself!
Sinead says
Thank You ! Needed that injection of positivity. Just found out this morning that I am pregnant. It is my third time but sadly have had two miscarriages. Trying to keep the negative thoughts out and reading something positive has made me smile. It is all for the baby
Chelsea Johnson says
Congratulations on your pregnancy, and I am so sorry about your two losses. I hope you and your baby are healthy!!
anervouspreglady says
Ugh, thank you for this article! I am at week 5 and over 30. I have been freaking out and paranoid about a miscarriage because we really want this, and got lucky after the first month we tried, but I haven’t been pregnant in over a decade now. But I want to be able to talk to someone about my fears and since we aren’t telling everyone until after the 1st trimester is over, I cannot talk about my fears. I don’t want to talk to my SO because I don’t want to worry him either with my fears. One paranoid freak is enough
Chelsea Johnson says
I’m so sorry! Definitely try and find someone you can talk to, whether it’s a stranger in an online pregnancy group or a friend, or your SO! It’s okay to worry, but try to stay positive! And congrats!
Melissa says
I lost my first at 16 weeks rupture of membranes. I’m pregnant again, 5 weeks and already rocky. Bled red for 4 days, but somehow I’m still pregnant. But I am absolutely terrified. I don’t think I’m going to enjoy this as much as I want to. If I make it past 16 weeks this time, I might relax, bit nobody ever tells you how scary and hard it is to be pregnant after a late miscarriage. Every little thing g freaks me out.
Chelsea Johnson says
I’m so sorry, Melissa! I hope everything goes well with this sweet baby! Congrats! You’ve got this!
Cassie says
Melissa, I’ve been there I had two late 2nd trimester losses. 22.3 weeks a boy and 17.3 weeks another boy they found out I have incompetent cervix. I need cerclage for every pregnancy now. Its where they stitch your cervix up to keep it from prematurely opening. I finally got my rainbow son with a cerclage and he is 3 now. I just wanted to give you hope and ask your doctor about the possibility of incompetent cervix. Good luck and I pray your baby comes home in your arms.