Inside: Everything you need to survive early pregnancy! The first trimester can be brutal, but the items in this first trimester survival kit will give you what you need to get through it.
The day you see the double lines on that pregnancy test. Next to your wedding day (and the day your baby is actually born, of course), there’s pretty much no other day like it.
Congratulations! The day you’ve been hoping for and waiting for has finally arrived.
You’re pregnant!
And now the real work begins.
Related: Self Care During Pregnancy – 9 Ideas That Are Super Basic & Inexpensive
Meet the (Often Crappy) First Trimester
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One short week or two later, that “I just found out I’m pregnant” giddiness wears off.
You’ve done the fun stuff you do right after you find out you’re pregnant – surfed the web for fun ideas on how you’ll announce the pregnancy to everyone, created a baby registry, maybe bought an adorable little onesie.
And now you’re not so excited anymore.
Why? Well, NOW the full effects of the first trimester are hitting you like a ton of bricks, and after that first round of puking, you might start thinking…why did I do this to myself again?
If you’re one of the lucky ones, you’ll skate by with just the worst fatigue you’ve probably felt in your life.
Fatigue where you’re so freaking tired that you fall asleep eating dinner and your face falls off the hand that’s supporting it and goes straight into your food kind of fatigue (yes, for real).
Or you could be the average pregnant woman who throws up once or twice a day AND deals with the extreme exhaustion along with a few other lovely symptoms like achy boobs and food aversions and headaches.
Then there are the ones for whom the first trimester seemingly never ends, and the fatigue and nausea stretch well into the second trimester. Gosh, I feel for those women!
The good news? The first trimester does eventually pass, at least for most of us.
The bad news? It’ll be several weeks, if not more. I tell you all this to be negative, but to reinforce the idea that yes, you really do need a first trimester survival kit.
Because the first trimester kinda sucks.
But everything in this kit? It takes the edge off the sucky parts. It helps you get through it.
So stock up on these first trimester must haves and hang in there! The second trimester does eventually come, and most pregnant women do feel MUCH better right around weeks 13-14.
Related: 10 Must Have Tips for Surviving the First Trimester (from a mom of 5)
First Trimester Survival Kit: 14 First Trimester Must Haves
1. Sea Bands
I didn’t know about these when I was in my first trimester, but I have friends that tell me these anti-nausea sea bands are a LIFE SAVER. Combat the nausea with these and the next few items.
Sometimes these don’t work, in which case you need to check out THIS list of the top 5 natural ways to stop pregnancy nausea.
2. Ginger Drops
Real ginger works wonders at calming your raging stomach.
While not every pregnant woman experiences relief from ginger drops, it’s definitely worth trying! THIS kind is just a personal preference – there are a variety of brands to choose from.
3. Bland Foods & Snacks
A good friend of mine who has seven kids (yes, seven) swears that combatting first trimester nausea comes down to keeping your belly from every getting empty.
That means a LOT of snacking.
Try bland foods like toast and crackers. If you’re brave, you can attempt to stomach some of your cravings…or you could just stick to the bland stuff.
4. Ginger Ale
If you’re going to try this one, make sure to buy this brand of ginger ale that actually has real ginger.
5. Throw Up Bags
You really never know when you’re going to need to hurl. During my first pregnancy I commuted on the T in Boston to work 30 minutes back and forth every day, with no bathroom in sight.
Keep a few of THESE stashed in your purse for those emergencies (I mean, if you have to throw up, it might as well be in a cute white bag). Always be prepared!
6. Altoids
For after throwing up, you’re going to want some STRONG mints and mouthwash, too, while you’re at it (the mini travel bottles are perfect for stashing in a tote).
Altoids are the strongest mints I’ve ever tasted.
If you’ve never tried them, they will definitely eliminate whatever puke breath remains after rinsing with mouthwash.
7. Mouthwash
Another first trimester staple. Keep a bottle at work and a bottle at home for post-puking sessions.
8. Water Bottle
With all the potential puking going on, it’s easy to get dehydrated. Even if you don’t end up struggling with nausea during the first trimester, you still need to drink your water.
Make sure to get a water bottle that motivates you to actually drink the water. Sometimes, having a cup like this one with a straw helps keep you sipping all day long.
And remember to sip, not guzzle. Guzzling can easily lead to puking, as I quickly learned when my daughter had the stomach bug and puked in between guzzles every 15 minutes for 8 hours straight.
9. Tylenol
Remember those early pregnancy symptoms I mentioned earlier? Headaches are one of them, and the cruel joke during pregnancy is that you can’t use ibuprofen. Just crappy, crappy Tylenol.
Something is better than nothing I suppose, so make sure you get a bottle for your first trimester survival kit.
Also, be sure to put the ibuprofen away somewhere so you won’t accidentally take it.
10. Gummy Prenatal Vitamins
Why did I wait four pregnancies to try the gummy versions of the prenatal vitamins?!
I really am just like my kids and need my vitamins dressed up to look like candy. Seriously, if you take none of the other advice in this post, do this for me:
But these prenatal vitamins? You’ll actually want to take them every day. Really.
You’re welcome!
Related: No Motivation During the First Trimester? Try These 9 Tips to Still Get Stuff Done
11. Sleep Mask
You know what helps with all that crushing fatigue? Fifteen minute power naps! If you’re like me, it’s super difficult to sleep during the day with any amount of light.
Try getting a sleep mask to make it easier to get a quality power nap in at work or in your car during your lunch break.
12. Hair Ties
In a few weeks, you’re going to be bloated and your pants are going to be tight.
You can try one of these waist expanders or a belly band, but the old hair tie trick is an easier and much cheaper option.
(Also helpful for keeping your hair OUT of your face for, well, you know…the aforementioned puking.)
13. Long Tanks
Long tank tops are going to be a life-saver throughout your pregnancy, so don’t hesitate to invest in several.
During the first trimester, when you’re bloated and your regular pants don’t fit and neither do maternity pants, those tanks are going to cover up the hair tie job you’re doing to keep your regular pants from falling off.
14. Pregnancy Journal
Ok, technically this isn’t a need, but it IS fun to keep track of your thoughts and feelings throughout the pregnancy, even during the first trimester when maybe you’d rather forget?
This one also includes helpful monthly pregnancy checklists!
It can also help to keep your mind of all the puking.
You Might Also Like: 25 Items for Your DIY Pregnancy Survival Kit (get through all 9 months)
The First Trimester Doesn’t Last Forever
The first trimester can kick your butt, but remember, it’s not forever.
And it’s just one little piece of time that will eventually add up to a beautiful baby in your arms.
It’s gonna be worth it. Hang in there!
What do you think should be included in a first trimester survival kit? Share it in the comments?
Read Next: 20 Things for Your Early Pregnancy To-Do List
Owner of Growing Serendipity, June could talk to you all day about homeschooling, parenting, and minimalism, which she does at This Simple Balance. When she’s not homeschooling, decluttering, or blogging, she loves to enjoy perfect silence while sipping a hot cup of coffee and thinking uninterrupted thoughts—which, of course, with five kids, doesn’t happen very often.