Dress is from Frances Hart.

FIRST TRIMESTER RECAP + BABY C Q&A

I am now almost 20 weeks (half way through my pregnancy!) and feel like I’m really getting back into the swing of things! So, I wanted to sit down and write a first trimester recap and do a little Baby C Q&A! First, I just want to start this post by saying thank you from the bottom of my heart. Justin and I were so excited when we found out and it was a challenge to keep it a secret from everyone! Sharing the news was so exciting. However, I do want to send a virtual hug to anyone facing infertility or trying to conceive. I know that not everyone is a place where they can or want to read about someone else’s pregnancy experience and I completely understand and respect that.

There are things I’m still figuring out as a first-time-mom-to-be, but my blog is a place where I share my experiences and I imagine pregnancy, and motherhood, will be no different. As a reminder, I’m not an expert. What works for me, may not work for you and vice-versa. The best I can do is share my own experience. So let’s dive in

What's your due date?

September 2nd!

What were your first pregnancy symptoms?

Fatigue! I was SO tired those first several weeks after finding out I was pregnant! But shortly after came extreme nausea and throwing up, which still hasn’t quite gone away. My OBGYN has prescribed my Bonjesta which I’ve been taking since around 9 weeks.

Do you know the gender?

Yes! We are having a baby girl! You can see our gender reveal here. Her name is Poppy and we are so very excited! We’ve loved this name for years and have always hoped to have a little girl called Poppy one day!

How/when did you tell your husband and family? What about friends?

Justin was out playing golf the day I found out, so I waited hours until he got home to tell him and show him the positive pregnancy tests! He had a feeling I was pregnant before I took the test so he wasn’t that surprised, just very excited! Since it was just a few days before Christmas when we found out, I wrapped up our positive pregnancy test in a gift box for my parents/siblings to open! They were all so surprised and happy. It was such a fun and special way to celebrate the news, especially during the holidays!

We waited to tell the majority of our friends until after our first prenatal ultrasound (around 8 weeks!) to make sure the baby looked good! And since then, we’ve found out a couple of our friends are pregnant too which has been so much fun to share together!

Were you trying to conceive? If so, what did you do to prepare?

Yes! We were trying to conceive. Before deciding to start our family, I wanted to really take care of my body and understand it more. So, I started tracking my cycle/ovulation in the Flo app, which we used as a guide. And I continued my regular work oust/clean eating and began taking a prenatal about one month prior TTC.

What prenatal are you taking?

It took me a little bit to find a prenatal that didn’t upset my stomach or add to the nausea. Which is why I’m so glad I found Ritual! They taste great and don’t make me feel sick at all! You can use my code 20MUSINGS for 20% off your first month!

Are you still working out?

During my first trimester, I listened to my body and only worked out on days I felt good, and rest on days I felt fatigued. And now that my energy is back, I’m walking daily and trying to stick to The Sculpt Society Prenatal Program or Melissa Wood Health prenatal pilates/yoga about 3-4 times a week!

Any weird cravings? What are you eating?

Spicy food! Give me all the spicy food, fruits, salad, and smoothies! I’ve always been an intuitive eater and I’m continuing to listen to my body and nourish it with as many healthy things as possible! I have had a few food aversions though like chicken and coffee… yuck! But slowly have been able to enjoy a small cup of coffee in the morning lately which I’m so thankful for!

Here were some key products that helped me through the first trimester! This being my first pregnancy, I didn’t know what to expect and my body felt very foreign and uncomfortable at times. At about 9-10 weeks I purchased a pregnancy pillow which was a game-changer! Also, any loose, flowy clothing/loungewear/or pajamas have been my go-to! And I’ve been using body lotion/oil religiously morning and night!