11 Life-Saving First Trimester Hacks That Actually Work

DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS, AT NO COST TO YOU. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.

The first trimester, in my humble opinion as a mom of five, is the WORST part of being pregnant. The exhaustion, the hormones, the nausea, the achy boobs, the way every smell suddenly feels like an attack on you personally. Truly,I would rather do labor unmedicated than live through the first trimester. But alas, it’s the one part of pregnancy we simply cannot skip.

This is when every tiny detail of your baby is being formed, the brain, the nerves, the little heart quietly learning to beat. And what do we get to show for it? A bloated belly and a whole lot of misery. At least with labor you get a baby!

But since we can’t fast-forward these twelve chaotic weeks, we can learn how to survive them. After five babies in six years, I know the pain of caring for toddlers while sprinting to the bathroom to puke, the days spent dying on the couch, or living off Preggie Pops and Jell-O because that’s all that will stay down.

So, from one mama to another, here is the guide I wish someone would’ve handed me years ago.

This post is all about how to survive the first trimester.

Remember the blessing growing, even in the mess

I know how difficult these weeks are — taking care of little ones while your energy evaporates, while you build another tiny human in secret. But place in your heart the true joy of what’s happening. This sweet soul God has entrusted to your womb, this miracle He is knitting together inside you… that is holy work.
Children are a blessing. And you, mama, are doing amazing.

Eat what you can, not what you “should.”

If you can stomach the healthy things, beautiful — do it. But if all you can keep down is Cheerios? Girl, eat the Cheerios.

(With my first baby, I survived the entire first twelve weeks on Cheerios and fried eggs. But only my father-in-law could make the eggs right — he made the best eggs.)

There will be a time for strawberry kale salads again. If your body says “toast only,” then toast it is. No guilt. No shame.

Don’t be ashamed to slow down.

You are literally making joints, organs, bones, lungs, and a brain.
You can sit.
You can rest.

Slow down your routines, your expectations, your mental load. You are doing invisible, eternal work. There is nothing shameful about listening to your body and giving it the space it needs while God knits this child together.

Stay as hydrated as you can.

Even tiny sips count. If you can drink without vomiting, drink as much as you’re able.
Water is so important when your body is working overtime.

Yes, you will pee more — but hydration truly does help with energy, headaches, and even nausea.

Take prenatals — or at least folic acid and B12.

Personally, I’ve only found one prenatal that doesn’t make me sicker than a dog (I’ll link it). Before I discovered it, I took a simple folic acid + B12 combo.

Folic acid is crucial for your baby’s brain and neural development. If you can’t keep the full vitamin down, try just folic acid until your stomach settles.

Sleep any chance you get.

If your toddler naps, you nap.
If you have ten spare minutes, close your eyes.
If your couch is calling, answer it.

Your body is growing a human, it needs rest. Cat naps count. Deep sleep counts. Anything counts. If you can sleep, please sleep.

Wear comfy clothes.

I am ridiculously sensitive about clothes — fabrics and textures drive me nuts, especially in the first trimester. If you’re like me, don’t feel bad about living in oversized shirts, sweats, or your husband’s tees.
I lived in Reebok sweats and Bryton’s shirts for all twelve weeks.

Comfort > everything right now.

Ask for help.

Girl, you are making life.
It is okay — truly okay — to ask for help.

It is not weakness. It is not failure.
It is human, and you are making a human.

Let someone else carry the load. You do not have to hold everything alone.

Speak Scripture over your pregnancy.

“For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.”
— Psalm 139:13

Let this truth steady you.
Let it be your anchor when fear whispers.
God is knitting someone together within your womb — every bone, every eyelash, every heartbeat.

Keep saltines by your bed.

Before you even sit up, eat a few. It works more than you think. Getting something in your stomach right away can help calm that early-morning nausea.

Snack slowly through the day — saltines, toast, applesauce, Jell-O.
Smaller amounts are easier for your body to handle.

Light exercise when you can.

A slow walk.
Stretching.
Deep breathing.

Not for fitness but for you mentally.
For grounding.
For keeping your body and mind steady as you grow your little one.

Movement helps your mental health and supports a healthier pregnancy down the road.

If you’re in the thick of it, the nausea, the exhaustion, the “who even am I anymore” haze — hear this from a mom who’s been there five times: you are doing enough. More than enough. Nobody thrives in the first trimester. We survive it. We cling to the little wins. We sleep when we can. We let God carry the rest.

Soon this season will fade into memory, and you’ll look back and whisper, “Wow… I made it.”
And you will. Every day that passes is a day you do not have to do again.

Hold tight to grace.
Hold tight to Jesus.
Hold tight to the miracle being knit together in your womb.

One day soon, you’ll feel the flutter of tiny kicks and know:
This is what all the hard work was for.