Pregnancy

Don’t panic! Here’s the first steps to take after a positive pregnancy test 🙂

If you’ve been scouring the internet and googling “early pregnancy signs” or “am I pregnant?”-

Welcome. You’re in the right place!

I’ve had 3 babies and with each one I was madly searching for answers as I googled every single sign and twinge. Some are way more obvious than others!

This post contains affiliate links. Please see our full disclosure here. In addition, this site is not intended for medical advice. See our full policy here.

Before we go into all the early pregnancy signs, it’s important to note that the only sure fire way to know is to take a pregnancy test. I wish had known about these tests with my first baby- they’re less than a dollar per test and work the same as expensive drug store tests!

If it’s long before you’re expected period and you’re absolutely dying to know- make an appointment with your doctor for a blood test. Blood tests pick up a positive pregnancy way before urine tests.

Missed Period

The first obvious sign is a missed period. This only happened to me once, with my first baby, because we weren’t trying or planning… but we also weren’t not not trying lol.

Missing your period means that you’re already 4 weeks pregnant- congrats!

Morning Sickness (nausea)

Morning sickness occurs because of your body producing more hCG as your baby grows. Unfortunately, morning sickness isn’t restricted to the morning. It can strike any time of day! Check out these pregnancy sickness remedies that work wonders!

Implantation Cramping

Implantation occurs 6-12 days after conception. Implantation cramping occurs when the egg implants in your uterine wall. It’s a short, sharp pain in your lower abdomen. Not every woman will get this or notice it.

This sharp pain won’t last but you may have dull cramps for a while after implantation.

Implantation Bleeding

This may or may not happen to you. Implantation bleeding is a lot different than bleeding from your period. The blood will be brown or pink tinged as it isn’t fresh.

This happens from the egg implanting into the wall of your uterus.

Being SO Tired

This level of fatigue is like nothing you’ve ever experienced. It will feel like you just can’t possible stay awake and you’ll be wondering how on Earth you’ll make it through the day!

When my SIL was pregnant with her 4th, she passed out in the middle of the floor while her other kids played around her 🤣

Sore Breasts

Your boobs may feel extra heavy, sore or tender. Some women feel such pain that it’s hard to get a bra on- don’t worry though, it won’t last!

Back Ache

This pregnancy symptom sometimes gets mistaken for a period sign- a dull ache in the back that sometimes feels like the start of your period.

In pregnancy, this is from the hormone relaxin going through your body and loosening all your muscles.

Cervical Mucus

At the start of your pregnancy, cervical mucus will be thin and sticky. As you get further into your pregnancy, it will become thicker and stickier.

Just after implantation, the mucus will be thick, clear and somewhat gummy.

Heightened Sense of Smell

Are you smelling literally everything- sometimes even when it’s far away? You might be pregnant!

Strange Taste In Your Mouth

If you have a funny coppery taste in your mouth, it may be because you’re pregnant. It’s called dysgeusia and occurs from the progesterone hormone.

Pregnancy Acne

Yep… if you’re breaking out, it may be pregnancy! All the extra hormones raging make for raging skin.

Dizziness

Low blood pressure happens in early pregnancy due to the progesterone hormone causing your blood vessels to dilate.

This symptom doesn’t last long but take it easy and sit when you need to!

Hot Flashes

These can occur very early- around 4-6 weeks. They aren’t as common but not unusual to get!

Takeaway

If you’re unsure, grab a pregnancy test or see your doctor. Here’s our giant list of over 70 weird and early pregnancy symptoms if you’re curious!

Please check out the video below for in depth descriptions of all the pregnancy symptoms by a midwife 🙂

More Pregnancy Articles to Binge

• Super Weird Pregnancy Signs
• Pregnancy Must Haves {for every trimester}
• Pregnancy Gifts for First Time Moms

Do you have a sweet little spring pregnancy happening? Easter is such a perfect time to announce or show off the little bunny on the way 😍

Springtime is start of new beginnings and signifies the awakening of life. Rabbits, spring flowers and eggs are all symbolic of fertility. Why not embrace your beautiful new life and show them off with an adorable Easter maternity shirt?

Ps- have a toddler who’s going to need a super cute Easter shirt? Here’s our top Easter shirts for toddlers this year.

This post contains affiliate links. Please see our full disclosure here. In addition, this site is not intended for medical advice. See our full policy here.

What are some uncommon signs of early pregnancy?

If you’re wondering if you’re pregnant and have started scouring the internet for every single pregnancy symptom you can find-

Welcome!

We’re going to go through every single symptom from common to rare.

But first, I wanted to go over a basic timeline of conception and pregnancy because I felt like I still had trouble understanding even with my third pregnancy!

Ovulation—> If fertilization occurs, you are already considered 2 weeks pregnant.

Fertilization —> 5 minutes to 5 days after intercourse.

Implantation—> 5-15 days after conception.

Pregnancy symptoms—> 2-4 weeks after intercourse.

This post contains affiliate links. Please see our full disclosure here. In addition, this site is not intended for medical advice. See our full policy here.

1. Missed period

This is the most obvious sign of pregnancy and one that can’t be mistaken (unless you have really high stress levels or there is something else going on.)

When you’re expecting your period, miss it and there is a chance you could be pregnant, you probably are.

Reasons you might not get your period aside from pregnancy:

• Stress
• Low body weight
• Obesity
• PCSO (polycystic ovarian syndrome)
• Birth control
• Chronic diseases
• Thyroid issues

source

2. Tender breasts

Tender breasts usually start 1-2 weeks after conception. This can be confusing because tender breasts can also be a PMS symptom. The difference is that if you’re pregnant, the tenderness will last after your missed period.

3. Nausea

Have you been feeling a bit “off” lately? Queasy just looking at or thinking of certain things? I knew I was pregnant with my son incredibly early because all of sudden I could smell cigarette smoke a mile away and the tiniest whiff made me nauseous.

Morning sickness usually starts early in the first trimester and goes away between weeks 12-14. There are a few women who may experience nausea into the second and third trimesters but that’s rare.

If you’re experiencing morning sickness, check out these proven remedies!

4. Fatigue

If you’re having a hard time getting up in the morning and crashing early, you might be pregnant! Fatigue in the first trimester can be crippling- it’s actually pretty shocking and you won’t understand until you’ve experienced it!

With my second pregnancy, I actually had days where I didn’t know if I could make it through, I was so tired! But, like clockwork, at the start of the second trimester I got a lot more energy.

A friend of mine told me she fell asleep dead in the middle of the floor when she was pregnant with her 4th while her other 3 kids were playing loudly around her. It’ll take you down!

5. Increased urination

If you’re finding yourself in the bathroom more often, it may be a sign of pregnancy! Increased urination happens around week 4, or when you’d be missing your period.

6. Mild cramping

Mild cramping will likely happen throughout the beginning of your pregnancy as your uterus grows. They’re most likely to happen in the first trimester.

Abnormal cramps will be persistent and severe. Never hesitate to call your doctor if you’re worried.

7. Mild spotting

If you were expecting your period but only had very mild spotting and it didn’t turn into your period, you might have experienced implantation bleeding. This happens 6-12 days past ovulation or 8-9 days after conception with a successful pregnancy.

8. Bloating

It can be frustrating trying to determine pregnancy symptoms from menstrual symptoms because they’re similar.

If you’re adding bloating with a missed period, though… that’s cause for some raised eye brows 🙂

Bloating happens during early pregnancy because of hormone changes which can slow your digestive system down.

9. Motion sickness

Have you been fine riding in the passenger seat… until now? If you’re noticing motion sickness that wasn’t there before, it can certainly be a sign of pregnancy.

If you were prone to motion sickness before pregnancy, it’s likely it will still affect during pregnancy.

pro tip- use Seabands to soothe motion sickness and morning sickness.

10. Mood swings

Have you broken down into tears over something and then later thought “well, that was silly, why was I crying over that?“

Mood swings can occur as early as 6 weeks and can last for the first trimester. This happens cause of all those lovely extra hormones you’re getting!

11. Temperature changes

Your basal body temperature may be higher in the morning if you’re pregnant. Tracking your basal body temperature is a good way to plan or avoid pregnancy.

Your BBT will rise during ovulation. If it stays elevated past the 3 days of ovulation, it probably means you’re pregnant.

12. High blood pressure

Sometimes you can get high blood pressure early in pregnancy. Reasons for this include:

• First time pregnancy
• Carrying multiples
• Age (over 35)
• In vitro or IVF
• Being overweight

13. Heart burn

If you’re having horrible heartburn out of no where, it may be a pregnancy sign! Digestive changes and hormones can throw a lot of things out whack in early pregnancy.

14. Faster heartbeat

Feeling a faster flutter in your chest? Early pregnancy can raise your heartbeat by 15-20 beats per minute.

15. Breast and nipple changes

If your boobs feel heavy and it hurts to put your bra on, you might be pregnant! Or, it could be PMS.

There was quite a difference for me between PMS and pregnancy though. With each of my pregnancies, sore breasts were way more intense with pregnancy than during PMS!

16. Acne

What is this teenage break out crap 🙁 Acne is pretty good sign you might be pregnant- blame all the raging hormones!

17. Weight gain

Your favorite jeans are feeling a little… snug. Is it bloating or weight gain? You probably won’t gain much more than 1-4 pounds in the first trimester, so… it’s a toss up lol.

18. Pregnancy glow

There aren’t hard rules around the timeline of a pregnancy glow, although most experience it in the second trimester. The reason you might get a pregnancy glow is because of hormone fluctuations, increased blood flow and increased oil in your skin.

19. Period like pains

If you’re pregnant, your womb, muscles and ligaments will already be changing. This can cause mild period like pains and cramps in the first trimester.

20. Constipation

Having trouble with number 2? Your body produces progesterone in early pregnancy which can slow down your digestive system and cause constipation.

21. Diarrhea

On the flip side of having trouble it might actually be a little too easy for you to go! Diarrhea can happen because of hormone shifts, diet changes or added stress.

22. Change in cervical mucus

Noticing a bit more wetness in your underwear could be a sign that you have a little one on board! A bit of extra discharge is normal but some women might not even notice.

23. Sleeplessness

Having trouble sleeping in the first trimester is pretty normal- you’re going to be visiting the bathroom more often and your hormones will be partying like crazy. This can cause insomnia in early pregnancy.

24. Vivid dreams

Having new intense or vivid dreams can be a sign of pregnancy. This is because of all the hormones raging around which in turn affects your sleep patterns.

25. Headaches

Fatigue and eye strain can cause headaches in the first trimester. Blood volume can also play a role in the headaches you’re experiencing!

26. Dizzy

Dizziness might happen because of the increased blood pressure in the first trimester. If you keep getting dizzy slow down!

27. Backache

Being stressed and having extra hormones kicking around can mess with your back.

28. Achy joints

Achy joints happen from… you guessed it! The extra hormones. This can affect all your joints, unfortunately.

29. Leg cramps

According to Clear Blue, “You may get cramps in your legs or feet in the first trimester, and sometimes later in your pregnancy. This is due to changes in the way your body processes calcium.”

30. Sour or metallic taste

Who knew there was a cool term for that weird taste in your mouth? It’s called dysgeusia and it causes a change in your sense in taste. It’s common in the first trimester so if you’re tasting something metallic in the morning… you might have a baby on board.

31. Bleeding gums

The extra hormones in early pregnancy can make your gums more sensitive to plaque which causes sensitive gums and bleeding. source

This happened to me with all 3 pregnancies- it’s a weird experience and not much fun.

32. Food tasting wrong

This is also caused by dysgeusia and is common in the first trimester.

33. Excess saliva

There is a cool name for this one too- ptyalism. It’s common in the first trimester but should ease up going into the second. source

34. Smell sensitivity

Suddenly you think you might have the weirdest superpower- super…smell?? If you’re smelling things that others aren’t or smelling them on a high level and they’re bothering you, you might be pregnant 🙂

35. Stuffy or runny nose

Because your body is making more blood and hormones, it can cause the mucus membranes in your nose to swell and become stuffed up, dry out and bleed easily. source

36. Nose bleeds

Never had a nose bleed until now? It’s the same reason for stuffed noses during pregnancy- swollen mucus membranes.

37. Dry mouth

This might happen because when you’re pregnant, you need a lot more water to help baby develop. It might also be from the extra hormones wreaking havoc on your oral health.

38. Not hungry

If you’ve lost your appetite, it could be a sign! Food aversions, heightened sense of smell and nausea can all play a part in your small appetite.

39. More hungry or thirsty

You might also be more hungry or thirsty than before! This is because growing baby needs water and you might be experiencing food cravings early.

40. Hot flashes

Hot flashes are common in the first trimester because of the extra blood and increased blood pressure.

41. Grumpy, teary, over sensitive

Crying at commercials? Upset cause your SO wasn’t “listening right?” You could be pregnant. I was an emotional wreck at the beginning of all of my pregnancies!

42. Implantation pain

Some women feel this, others done. It’s like a sharp, stabbing cramp and usually subsides quickly. Then there may be dull, achy cramps after.

43. Itching

Hormones can be blamed for a lot of things, even itching! Itching can come from stretching skin as your pregnancy progresses.

44. Baby brain

Research on baby brain is mixed– there isn’t enough evidence to say it’s a sure thing. But ask any pregnant momma or postpartum mom and you’ll know- it’s real enough!

45. Light headed

Increased blood volume and higher blood pressure in the first trimester can cause you to feel light headed. Take it easy when you need to!

46. Burping

Burping might be caused by the extra progesterone in pregnancy. It slows down your whole digestive system which can lead to a build up of excess gas causing burping (or wind.)

47. Hair loss

Hair thinning can happen from stress or shock. The first trimester can throw your body for a loop which can cause hair loss. Don’t worry though, it will come back!

48. Change in sex drive

All that extra blood can be a good thing- it can cause extra lubrication in the vagina as well as more sensitivity which can drive your libido up for the first and second trimesters.

49. Lack of hair growth

Your hair hasn’t stopped growing- estrogen has made it thicker and and prevents normal hair loss. Things will even out after pregnancy.

50. Thrush

During pregnancy, the vagina has a better environment for thrush to thrive. If you have itching, burning or a thick discharge- contact your doctor!

51. Shiny hair

Shiny hair happens because of all the excess hormones. You probably won’t notice really shiny or thick hair until week 20 but some moms notice it earlier!

52. Color sensitivity

This study is really interesting- it goes over why you might be more sensitive to certain colors in early pregnancy. They think that it might be that pregnant women are drawn to “ripe” colors like yellows and reds and more repulsed by bluish colors which can signify rotten.

53. Shortness of breath

The hormone progesterone can cause you to breathe more which looks like shortness of breath. This

54. Gagging at weird things

If sites, smells or sounds are making you gag that normally wouldn’t, you could be pregnant 🙂

55. Difficulty brushing teeth

Did you cut your morning brushing session short but a lot? Difficulty brushing your teeth is a pretty good sign you might be pregnant!

A friend of mine told me she pretty much expected to have a cavity filled after each pregnancy because she just couldn’t brush her teeth without gagging.

56. Veiny boobs

With your breasts changing size and your body increasing blood volume, your breasts may look veiny if you’re pregnant!

57. Coffee aversion

You love coffee! You drink it every morning! But now…? Nope, won’t be drinking that 🙁 Coffee aversion can be caused by general food aversions or your body’s intuition to stop drinking caffeine.

58. Leg cramps

Waking up to horrendous leg cramps can be a sign of pregnancy. I got them so bad with each pregnancy but it wasn’t until my second one that I discovered magnesium supplements. Magnesium will help with muscle cramps- check with your doctor about taking a supplement!

59. Darkening of skin

If you’re noticing darker patches of skin on your cheeks, upper lip or nose- you may have melasma. This is called “pregnancy mask” and it’s cause by… you guessed it! Hormones.

60. Strong smelling pee

Are you wrinkling your nose after peeing? The stronger smell can be caused by the extra hCG hormone in your urine. It can also be because of your newly heightened sense of smell!

61. Excess sweating

If you’re getting embarrassingly sweaty and you normally don’t- you may be pregnant. Hormones and high blood pressure at the beginning of pregnancy can cause you to heat up and sweat!

62. Brittle nails

Nails chipping and feel brittle? Web MD states that “Changes in nails. Nails may become brittle and may chip more easily during pregnancy. Or, in some cases, they can become stronger. It is not clear why this happens.”

63. UTI

If you’re heading to the bathroom a lot and are thinking it’s another dang urinary tract infection- it might actually be pregnancy. Early pregnancy symptoms can look a lot like a UTI.

Only one way to find out 😉

64. Heavy feeling in stomach

Does your tummy feel full and heavy? It could be from the hormone progesterone which causes bloating and a full feeling- it could be pregnancy!

65. Shivering

If you think you might be pregnant and find yourself shivering in situations you normally wouldn’t be, it could be a sign.

All the extra hormones pumping through your body can cause you to shiver or feel cold.

66. Round ligament pain

Round ligament pain can happen as early as 14 weeks. It happens because the 2 ligaments that support your growing belly can get tight as your baby grows and cause sharp, stabbing pains if moved too fast.

I had RLP with all 3 pregnancies and just had to take it easy after a certain point.

67. False period

If you had some spotting that seemed like it could have been a period but then stopped, you probably had implantation bleeding. This is when the egg attaches to the uterine wall. The blood will be pink or brown, not red.

Here’s the difference between implantation bleeding and your period:

68. Extra body hair

Are the hairs below your bellow button looking a little darker? It may be because of the extra estrogen spike from pregnancy!

69. Lightning crotch

This is a sharp shooting pain in your pelvic area. It’s usually experienced later in pregnancy as a result of baby’s head pushing down but sometimes it can be caused by stimulation of nerve endings in the cervix and vagina.

70. BFP!!!!

This is the most real sign of all! It wasn’t until I was actually trying to conceiving that I learned about the secret underworld of BFP (big fat positive), TTC (trying to conceive) and DPO (days past ovulation.)

Don’t waste your money on the expensive drug store tests- you can order Wondfo test strips from Amazon(which are the same type of strips in the expensive tests) or head to the Dollar Store and get a few tests for a dollar each.

There is also such a thing as a faint positive… if you’re obsessive, like me, you may be searching for that faint line on the test. Be weary of “evap lines.” This is where you leave the test and the moisture evaporates, leaving a faint line behind.

I never experienced that but a lot of women mention them on forums going over symptoms and photos of tests.

I got very positives with my last two pregnancies very early. My son, I could see a line at 9 or 10 DPO and with my daughter I could see one at 8 DPO.

Common Pregnancy Symptoms Timeline- First Trimester

Timeline	Signs & Symptoms
Week 1-4	Mild cramping and spotting, sore breasts
Week 2	Ovulation, slippery discharge
Week 3	Implantation bleeding and cramping
Week 4	Fatigue, constipation, bloating, mood swings
Week 5	Mood swings, sore breasts, fatigue
Week 6	Morning sickness may start, heightened sense of smell, food cravings and aversions
Week 7	Frequent urination
Week 8	Nausea, breast tenderness, fatigue, frequent urination, mood swings, extra saliva, high blood pressure
Week 9	Fatigue, heartburn, constipation, excess gas
Week 10	Pregnancy glow, breast and nipple changes
Week 11	Acne, weight gain, round ligament pain
Week 12	End of the first trimester, beginning of dizzy spells from low blood pressure

How soon can you get symptoms of pregnancy?

It really depends on the woman or pregnancy. The biggest tell tale sign that you’re pregnant is a missed period.

If you want to go a bit deeper though, we need to start at the beginning of conception. If you have indeed conceived, you can expect implantation to happen to happen 6-12 days after ovulation or 8-9 days after conception.

Some women can feel implantation while others won’t notice. I noticed with 2 out of 3 babies- there was an intense stabbing sensation with mild cramps.

With my 3rd baby, I had a CRAZY feeling that I was pregnant immediately. Don’t ask why, don’t ask how. Within a few days of conception I was experiencing a heightened sense of smell, horrible gas and a strong craving for chocolate. My husband thought I was nuts when I told him but I got a faint positive at 8 days past ovulation. It was wild!

How can I tell if Im pregnant after 1 week?

Pregnancy can be confusing. When you are 1 week pregnant, you haven’t even conceived yet. Conception happens at week 2, sometime during or after ovulation. If you’ve conceived, the earliest signs you might notice are implantation pain, implantation bleeding, tender or sore breasts and other PMS type symptoms.

Can early pregnancy feel like period?

Yes. Early pregnancy can feel almost exactly like you’re getting your period. You may feel bloated, cramps, gassy.

What color is your urine when you are pregnant?

Your urine can change to a darker shade of yellow than you might be used to if you’re pregnant. This can be because of diet changes, hydration levels or a UTI. Always see your doctor if you’re concerned.

How do you know you’re pregnant without taking a test?

If your experiencing any or most of the usual pregnancy signs: missed period, implantation bleeding or pain, sore breasts, nausea, heightened sense of smell, sensitive gums or fatigue then you may be pregnant. The only way to know for SURE is to take a test.

If you are getting a negative result and you are SURE you’re pregnant- ask your doctor for a blood test. I had a FALSE NEGATIVE at my DOCTORS OFFICE with a pee test!! She looked at my like I was crazy when I told her it was wrong. I got a blood test and sure enough- pregnant. Blood tests are way more accurate and can tell you earlier.

What is usually the very first sign of pregnancy?

It depends on the person/pregnancy. Bloating, nausea, sore breasts and implantation bleeding/cramps are all common first symptoms. Your missed period is the biggest sign of all.

What are the 3 signs of pregnancy?

Missed period.

Tender, swollen breasts

Nausea

What does 2 weeks pregnant feel like?

It’s surprising but 2 weeks pregnant is around the moment of conception. There may not be many signs at this time other than bloating, feeling weird or implantation signs.

Can a pregnancy test be positive at 1 week?

No, this is not possible simply because you can’t have conceived at 1 week. Conception happens at week 2. A positive pregnancy test is usually accurate 12-14 days past ovulation. Your body needs time to build up levels of hCG.

What were your early pregnancy symptoms before missed period?

Let us know in the comments below if you had any weird, early symptoms that other mommas would want to know about!

Good luck on your journey <3

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Unheard of pregnancy symptoms

Being pregnant is such a fun (and scary) time. You know your life is going to change drastically and on top of that you have to make some serious decisions.

One of the more fun decisions, though, is choosing a cute name for your baby girl! (or boy if you don’t know yet 🙂 )

My husband and I fought tooth and nail over every single name for our kids (we have 3 now.) I would come up with a HUGE list and he would whittle it down to 2 or 3. So, the more names you see, the better chance of finding one you can agree on!

This post contains affiliate links. Please see our disclosure at the bottom of the page.

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These are the some of the most adorable and unusual baby girl names:

Unusual Baby Girl Names that Start with A

• Adilynn.
• Abarrane.
• Abree.
• Abril.
• Acadia.
• Adele.
• Agatha.
• Agnes.
• Anais.
• Angelique.
• Allotar.
• Alisa.
• Alma.
• Ayva.
• Aadhya.
• Aranza.
• Ayana.

Unusual Baby Girl Names that Start With B

• Brielle.
• Briar.
• Brynlee
• Blakely
• Briella
• Brinley
• Braelynn
• Bristol
• Brylee
• Bexley
• Bellamy
• Brynley
• Blessing
• Berkley
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• Bentley
• Brighton
• Beatriz
• Blythe
• Bennett
• Birdie
• Bryce
• Bellarose
• Beckett
• Blakelyn
• Bowie

RELATED: Newborn Essentials- what you actually need

Unusual Baby Girls Names that Start With C

• Charlotte
• Camila
• Cora
• Charlie
• Cecilia
• Callie
• Camille
• Catalina
• Camryn
• Cadence
• Carolina
• Carter
• Cameron
• Coraline
• Collins
• Chanel
• Clementine
• Calliope
• Claudia
• Corinne
• Casey
• Chandler
• Cambria
• Campbell
• Cordelia
• Carson
• Clover
• Calla
• Colbie
• Capri
• Carmella
• Coral
• Calista
• Chevelle
• Constance
• Camden

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Unusual Baby Girls Names that Start With D

• Delilah
• Daisy
• Dakota
• Daleyza
• Delaney
• Dylan
• Daphne
• Dahlia
• Demi
• Dallas
• Dulce
• Dalary
• Dream
• Davina
• Danica
• Devyn
• Diamond
• Dixie
• Denver
• Drew
• Darcy
• Dalilah
• Dina
• Dior
• Dawsyn
• Damaris
• Darby
• Daenerys
• Devorah
• Devon
• Damiyah
• Danni
• Delta
• Denali
• Dawson
• Daniyah
• Denim

Unusual Baby Girls Names that Start With E

• Emma
• Evelyn
• Emily
• Elizabeth
• Ella
• Eleanor
• Ellie
• Elena
• Eva
• Emilia
• Everly
• Eliana
• Emery
• Eden
• Emerson
• Esther
• Elise
• Eloise
• Elliana
• Emersyn
• Evangeline
• Ember
• Elsie
• Esmeralda
• Eve
• Edith
• Emmalyn
• Elliott
• Esme
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• Elora
• Erica
• Estrella
• Ellianna
• Ensley
• Egypt
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• Eisley
• Emme

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Unusual Baby Girls Names that Start With F

• Finley
• Fiona
• Freya
• Fatima
• Felicity
• Francesca
• Frances
• Frida
• Faye
• Frankie
• Florence
• Farrah
• Flora
• Fallon
• Finnley
• Farah
• Francine
• Fern
• Fabiana
• Farida
• Fannie
• Fae
• Farryn
• Fawn
• Foster
• Fable

Unusual Baby Girls Names that Start With G

• Grace
• Genesis
• Gabriella
• Gianna
• Genevieve
• Gracie
• Georgia
• Gemma
• Gwendoly
• Gloria
• Greta
• Giana
• Georgina
• Geraldine
• Goldie
• Grayson
• Gina
• Gretchen
• Greer
• Grettel
• Ginger
• Gray
• Ginny
• Gionna
• Gurnoor

Unusual Baby Girls Names that Start With H

• Harper
• Hazel
• Hadley
• Harley
• Hayden
• Harlow
• Hattie
• Holly
• Helena
• Henley
• Hallie
• Hunter
• Haisley
• Harlyn
• Heather
• Hartley
• Hudson
• Hendrix

Unusual Baby Girls Names that Start With I

• Isla
• Ivy
• Iris
• Itzel
• Ivanna
• Imani
• Irene
• Ivory
• India
• Iliana
• Ingrid
• Ila
• Indie
• Ireland
• Ida
• Imogen
• Indigo
• Irie
• Isadora
• Isha
• Inaya
• Inara
• Italy
• Ivey
• Ines
• Indiana
• Irelynn
• Irma
• Infinity
• Imelda
• Inga

RELATED: No B.S. Pregnancy Must Haves For Every Trimester

Unusual Baby Girls Names that Start With J

• Journee
• Juniper
• Jordan
• Jimena
• Jayleen
• Justice
• Jenesis
• Jovie
• Jubilee
• Joey
• Jersey

Unusual Baby Girls Names that Start With K

• Kennedy
• Kinsley
• Kendall
• Kamila
• Kali
• Kinley
• Kaia
• Kyla
• Kalani
• Kynlee
• Karsyn
• Kora
• Kenley
• Kenya
• Karma

Unusual Baby Girls Names that Start With L

• Luna
• Lydia
• Leilani
• Lyla
• London
• Lucia
• Lola
• Lucille
• Logan
• Lena
• Lyric
• Lennon
• Lorelei
• Leighton
• Liberty
• Lennox
• Livia
• Lara
• Libby
• Lincoln
• Leela
• Lenora
• Litzy

Unusual Baby Girls Names that Start With M

• Mila
• Maya
• Margaret
• Miriam
• Myla
• Miranda
• Millie
• Maddison
• Maeve
• Margot
• Magnolia
• Mabel
• Madelynn
• Mira
• Malaysia
• Meredith
• Matilda
• Maisie
• Marilyn
• Maren
• Monroe
• Meadow
• Mavis
• Mylah
• Magdalena
• Marlowe

Unusual Baby Girls Names that Start With N

• Nora
• Nevaeh
• Nova
• Natalia
• Nyla
• Nina
• Noor
• Noel
• Navy
• Noah
• Neva
• Nell
• Nubia
• Novalie
• Neela

Unusual Baby Girls Names that Start With O

• Olivia
• Olive
• Ophelia
• Oakley
• Octavia
• Oaklyn
• Opal
• Oriana
• Odette
• Odessa
• Oona
• Ollie
• Onyx
• Olympia
• Olga
• October
• Odelia
• Orion
• Ohana
• Ona
• Owen
• Ottilie
• Oliver
• Odyssey
• Osiris
• Olani
• Orchid

Unusual Baby Girls Names that Start With P

• Penelope
• Paisley
• Piper
• Peyton
• Paris
• Phoenix
• Priscilla
• Pearl
• Poppy
• Penny
• Perla
• Palmer
• Promise
• Persephone
• Petra
• Pepper
• Pippa
• Perry
• Paxton
• Prudence
• Philomena
• Philippa
• Pilar
• Primrose
• Pandora
• Porter
• Prim
• Peace
• Prairie

RELATED: Free Hospital Bag Checklist (for mom, dad and baby)

Unusual Baby Girls Names that Start With Q

• Quinn
• Queen
• Quincy
• Quinley
• Queenie
• Quorra
• Qwynn
• Qamari
• Quest
• Quill
• Quintessa

Unusual Unusual Baby Girls Names that Start With R

• Riley
• Ruby
• Reagan
• Raelynn
• Rose
• Reese
• Rowan
• Remi
• Ruth
• River
• Ryan
• Regina
• Remington
• Raven
• Rosemary
• Renata
• Rory
• Reyna
• Romina
• Raquel
• Raylee
• Robin
• Rowen
• Raleigh
• Ripley
• Reem
• Ramsey

Unusual Baby Girls Names that Start With S

• Savannah
• Stella
• Skylar
• Sloane
• Sawyer
• Sage
• Saylor
• Selah
• Shiloh
• Sutton
• Stevie
• Salma
• Spencer
• Scout
• Seraphina
• Salem
• Soleil
• Suri

Unusual Baby Girls Names that Start With T

• Thea
• Talia
• Tatum
• Tenley
• Tinley
• Tinsley
• Treasure
• Temperance
• Tallulah
• Tyler
• Tesla
• Tilly
• Toby
• Tova
• Timber
• Tate
• Truly
• Tennyson

Unusual Baby Girls Names that Start With U

• Unique
• Uma
• Una
• Ursula
• Unity
• Umme
• Uri
• Umaima
• Uliana
• Umi
• Ubah
• Ulla
• Ursa

Unusual Baby Girls Names that Start With V

• Valentina
• Valeria
• Viviana
• Virginia
• Veda
• Vienna
• Vada
• Violeta
• Valencia
• Venus
• Vania
• Verity
• Vanna
• Vesper
• Valkyrie
• Vanya
• Vanellope
• Venice
• Vega
• Valentine
• Vella
• Vivi
• Vaughn
• Van
• Vani
• Vannah
• Valen
• Valley
• Videl

Unusual Baby Girls Names that Start With W

• Willow
• Winter
• Willa
• Wren
• Waverly
• Whitley
• Westlyn
• Wyatt
• Winona
• Winry
• Wednesday
• Weslyn
• Wrenley
• Wrigley
• Wesley
• Winslow
• Wilder
• Wilma
• Windsor
• Wrenna
• Walker
• Whisper
• Ward
• Wakely
• Winston
• Willoughby
• Windy
• Witten

Unusual Baby Girls Names that Start With X

• Ximena
• Xiomara
• Xena
• Xyla
• Xitlaly
• Xaria
• Xia
• Xara
• Ximenna
• Xylah
• Xandria
• Xolani
• Xoe
• Xela
• Xavia
• Xola
• Xanthe
• Xander
• Xochi
• Xana
• Xitlally

Unusual Baby Girls Names that Start With Y

• Yara
• Yuliana
• Yaritza
• Yuna
• Yamila
• Yoselin
• Yusra
• Yanely
• Yelena
• Yuki
• Yesly
• Yousra
• Yazlin
• Yeily

Unusual Baby Girls Names that Start With Z

• Zara
• Zelda
• Zion
• Zola
• Zora
• Zoya
• Zaya
• Zahara
• Zadie
• Ziva
• Zinnia
• Zamira
• Zelie
• Zena
• Zipporah
• Zakiya
• Zo
• Zaila
• Zenaida
• Zenobia
• Zephyr
• Zayley

What are some unique names for a girl?

Sometimes unique depends on who is hearing the name. Some really old names may seem unique even though they’ve been around for so long simply because you haven’t heard them before!

Or unique may mean taking a traditionally male name and using it for a female.

Here are some of the top unique girl names:

• Arantxa
• Alabama
• Tinsley
• Magnolia
• Frankie
• Ember
• Ezra
• Henley
• Vans

What are the cutest girl names?

Some of the cutest girl names also mean they can be turned into really cute nick names as well:

• Emmeline– Emma, Emmy, Emily
• Eleanor– Elly, Nora, Elle
• Victoria– Tori, Ria, Vicky
• Margaret– Margot, Maggie, Greta, Maisie, May
• Meredith– Edie, Mary
• Lydia– Liddy, Lids
• Jameson– Jamie, Jay Jay, James

What is the most beautiful name for a baby girl?

The most popular names have held up for quite some time- that’s because they’re really beautiful:

• Charlotte
• Ava
• Amelia
• Olivia
• Aurora
• Violet

Pregnancy Essentials Every Mom To Be Should Have

This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure at the bottom of the page.

If you are newly pregnant- I’m sending you so much love, momma! What a crazy and exciting time. Being pregnant the first time is truly magical. Subsequent pregnancies are exciting too, but nothing quite like the first time.

When I first found out I was pregnant, I really didn’t know what I was in for. Between the morning sickness, sleepless nights, endless bathroom trips and throwing joints out of place (yeah… that can happen), it’s no wonder us pregnant moms might be googling

“what pregnancy essentials do I actually need?”

• Red Raspberry Leaf Tea
• Prenatal Vitamins
• Morning Sickness Relief
• Pregnancy Books
• Pregnancy Journal
• Water!
• Pants and Bra Extenders
• Pregnancy Leggings
• A Good Prenatal Class
• Belly Oil
• Belly Band
• Maternity Clothes
• Pregnancy Pillow/Wedge
• Ways To Stay Fit
• Snacks
• Maternity Support Belt
• Magnesium C
• Compression Socks
• Time for Pampering Yourself
• Hospital Bag Checklist
• Knowledge

You might be wanting to buy all the things. There are a LOT of cool gadgets and things you can buy to help you through your pregnancy! Unfortunately, that can cost a fortune. This pregnancy essentials list is for moms who might be on a budget or just not wanting to spend a lot! And of course, it’s up to you to buy what you think will serve you best- 

For instance, some moms may look at a pregnancy support belt and scoff because their belly isn’t giving them much trouble at all!

Be realistic for YOU and YOUR needs ☺

RELATED: FREE New Mom And Baby Stuff (that doesn’t SUCK)

First Trimester Must Haves- What should I buy for my first trimester?

The first trimester is surprisingly hard. Between the nausea, extreme fatigue and the whirlwind of emotions, you also need to figure out pregnancy essentials- first trimester edition!

Think practically- you won’t need much! Home remedies work great for being nauseous and extenders help save some money in the beginning instead of buying maternity clothes.

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea

Something that I have used and loved for 2 out of 3 pregnancies is red raspberry leaf tea. It has been known to shorten labor, reduce risk of c-section and help tone the uterus for a shorter pushing time.

Before consuming red raspberry leaf tea, please consult with your doctor.

Start with 1 cup per day in the first trimester, 2 cups per day in the second trimester and up to 3 cups per day in the third trimester.

When I gave birth to my son, the whole birth was 6 hours and I pushed for 3 MINUTES.

With my daughter, the whole birth was less than 4 hours and I pushed for 5 MINUTES.

I can’t tell you for sure that red raspberry leaf was the sole reason for this but I will tell you that I’ll never go through another pregnancy without it!

You can purchase individual bags but that does get expensive if you want to drink it throughout your pregnancy. I ended up switching to bulk leaves from here and using a tea strainer.

Prenatal Vitamins

Prenatals are a pregnancy MUST HAVE. Do not mess around here- they’re ultra important. Prenatals have been shown to decrease your risk of birth defects as well as make sure your nutrient bases are covered if you are throwing up a lot or only able to eat limited types of food.

I specifically started buying this kind because they’re for sensitive stomachs- I found other kinds made my stomach upset no matter when I took them. Or, if you really can’t stand swallowing pills, try these yummy vegan prenatal gummy vitamins!

Pro Tip: Don’t take your prenatal first thing in the morning on an empty stomach as that can make you queasy. Take it later in the day when you’ve eaten! I thought I had morning sickness for the first 2 months of being pregnant until someone asked if I was taking my prenatal on an empty stomach- lesson learned!

Morning Sickness Relief

You might be lucky and not get morning sickness, or you may have a mild case of it. Or, you might be like my sister in law who literally could only eat plain noodles up until she gave birth (true story!)

Best morning sickness remedies:

• Ginger- make some ginger tea, eat a Ginger Chime or make some homemade ginger ale!
• Sea Bands
• Preggy Pop Drops
• Small frequent meals
• Eating crackers first thing in the morning
• Staying hydrated
• Lemons- squeeze some lemon into a glass of water or make a hot lemon tea! Lemons have been known to help nausea. (source)

Pregnancy Books

If there’s one thing I wish I would have done with my first baby- it’s read up all things pregnancy, baby, childbirth and beyond. I really read much and just thought “I’ll go with the flow!”

Well, that’s a good attitude to have, but why not go with the flow while being informed on as much as you can? It will help you make stronger decisions around you and your babies health.

• What To Expect When You’re Expecting – this book has over 2700 reviews (which you can read here), and for good reason! It will answer questions like
  • Can I keep up my spinning classes?
  • Is fish or soft cheese safe to eat?
  • What are my rights on the job?
  • And so many more!
• Ina May’s Guide To Childbirth – I recommend this book to any newly pregnant momma. It’s normal to be afraid of giving birth. This book will help alleviate some of those fears by focusing on real, positive birth stories and helpful advice that you can USE. So many birth stories focus on horror stories- they’re not all like that!

Pregnancy Journal

Some people love to write things down and some people (me) ain’t got time for that and like to type things into their phone!

So! If you love to write, a pregnancy journal is such a cute idea to document your journey. Or, if you’re like me, download a journal app (there are lots for free!) and document things in your phone. Choose whichever you’re most likely to follow through and use.

Water!

Keep hydrated, seriously! Your body is working incredibly hard at growing a new human and with that means you are using the bathroom more frequently. Treat yourself to a beautiful reusable water bottle that you can carry around with you everywhere. I freaking LOVE Contigo water bottles with a spout– they’re so easy to drink out of.

Or, if you really aren’t that keen on drinking plain water, try these fruit and herb infuser water bottles. You can put whatever combination you want inside to flavor your water. Sometimes I would even freeze the fruit to make fruit ice cubes and keep my water cool.

Pants and Bra Extenders

Even though you’re not showing yet or big at all, things are still growing and even being bloated can make it hard to get your jeans zipped up.

I found with all my pregnancies that I pretty much needed an extender for my pants right away because it just felt so uncomfortable to have jeans done up.

You can get these pants extenders for free if you use the code NEWMOMMA20 or you can do the hair elastic hack.

I personally never used a bra extender because I bought a super comfy/stretchy nursing bra right away.

Bra extenders can be helpful if you find your cup size isn’t changing much in the beginning but it’s getting tight to do up at the back.

If you feel like bra extenders would help you, these ones have the highest rating on Amazon.

For myself, my cup size started changing almost immediately with my second baby so I opted for this bra, which I have told every pregnant person I know about! (My first pregnancy I was handed down some old nursing bras that didn’t fit properly, then bought some that were insanely big on me. When I finally discovered this nursing bra, I loved it so much I bought two and would buy it again in a heartbeat.)

This bra will grow with you throughout pregnancy and still be able to be used throughout nursing- in fact, I’m wearing mine right now and it’s the comfiest bra ever- you can check it out here.

RELATED: 10 Things to do After a Positive Pregnancy Test

Pregnancy Leggings

You might find that pregnancy leggings make more sense in the second trimester- I’ll leave that up to you! I found that my absolute favorite leggings were the ones with spandex sewn onto the top of the leggings.

These over belly maternity leggings are sooo comfortable and I found they almost gave some support to my growing belly! In the first trimester, they might be nice to have on hand just because they’re so comfy and you’ll grow into them anyway.

Again, this might be a case where you really dislike something covering your belly- in that case, trying some of the under belly maternity leggings, like these ones!

Second Trimester Must Haves

Honestly, the second trimester is usually the best time (for me) of the whole pregnancy. Yes, you’re getting a bit bigger BUT you have your ENERGY back!!!

That in itself is such a pleasure after the horrifying tiredness of the first trimester. It’s the high before the general decline of the third trimester where you are uncomfortably big, unable to sleep and full of general aches. (not that every pregnancy is like that or that the third trimester is all negative- it’s just generally more uncomfortable.)

So what are some second trimester must haves??

A Good Prenatal Class

Hilary has been an OB nurse since 2001. She’s offering a free online prenatal class that is meant to empower you and put your mind at ease about labor and delivery.

You can check it out here.

Belly Oil

It’s getting serious, momma! Your belly is growing and sometimes that makes for some itchy skin. Not to mention the possibility of stretch marks.

Bio Oil is a big one that most people know about but I find it pretty ridiculously overpriced. Burt’s Bees has a really nice one that is way more reasonably priced. OR you can just scoop some coconut oil right out of the jar from your cupboard and rub it on your belly.

Belly Band

These are SO helpful. A Belly Band is a stretchy piece of fabric that fits over jeans or pants so you can leave them unbuttoned and unzipped while having things look seamless. They usually come with a silicone non slip ring so they don’t slide around. I used my belly band from the end of the 1st trimester until well into the third until I was too big for it to make a difference!

You can grab a belly band for free using my code NEWMOMMA20❤

Maternity Clothes

Here’s something I wish someone would have told me- normal clothes in bigger sizes can double as maternity clothes! For so long I bought into thinking that I needed clothes that came with a maternity label while I was pregnant but guess what? Maternity clothes are expensive af! For my third baby, I went and bought some exercise tanks, shorts and stretchy pants 2 sizes too big and they worked great 🙂

I think it’s practical to get your hands on a nursing tank or nursing tee (especially in the beginning with a newborn who eats all the time), actual maternity leggings and some maternity jeans. Other than that?

Grab some clothes from the thrift store that are stretchy and a couple sizes too big that you can wear for your pregnancy and the next little while after baby is born.

Maternity underwear are also something I recommend splurging for. Oh my goodness, the relief of loose and comfy maternity panties are worth every cent.

Pregnancy Pillow/Wedge

I did not personally use a pregnancy pillow or a wedge! Instead, I made do with an old body pillow that never bent the way I wanted it or supported my belly like I needed. It sucked.

After reading reviews and talking to some pregnant friends who DID use a pillow or wedge- I can see why they are a thing.

You can get a pregnancy pillow for $50 dollars off if you use my code MORESLEEP50

Pregnancy wedge pillows are cool because you can wedge them under your belly, your back or in between your knees to help stay comfy while trying to get some sleep while pregnant. They’re a great budget friendly alternative to a full blown pregnancy pillow.

Ways To Stay Fit

Staying active doesn’t need to be hard core activities. Go for walks, practice yoga if you like it or whatever you like.

Being fit during pregnancy and through childbirth is really, really awesome. Your muscles will stay toned and birth will be a lot easier.

Snacks

I pretty much don’t stop eating when I’m pregnant and I don’t know about you but I want good stuff to eat, dang it!

Fruit is a great snack to reach for, same with veggies and hummus. Or if you’re short on time, these Kind Bars are soooo good and don’t have a single bad ingredient.

Try to sneak some good nutrients in for you and baby but don’t beat yourself up over indulging here and there 🙂

Third Trimester Must Haves

The third trimester can be brutal. You’re back to peeing a million times a day (and night), your joints are looser, you’re running as hot as a furnace and it’s hard to freakin breathe from baby pushing on your ribs. Not to mention- you’re actually getting close to HAVING A BABY! EEK!

These third trimester must haves include things you need to be comfortable and some knowledge you might want to stock up on:

RELATED: The Ultimate Third Trimester Checklist (with a free printable)

Maternity Support Belt

My chiropractor recommended a maternity support belt when I had an SI joint go out of place near the end of my first pregnancy. I’m going to be honest with you- I really didn’t give it much of a chance. I think I wore it maybe 3 times and just felt like it was too weird and bulky.

However-

For some moms experiencing awful lower back pain, a maternity support belt may help you more than cause you annoyance.

Magnesium

Have you experienced a pregnancy muscle cramp yet? They are HORRENDOUS.

I was getting them so badly at the end of third pregnancy that I would literally start crying and saying no no no if I could feel one coming on. Sometimes they would wake me up from a deep sleep. Awful.

When I was reading about what to do and came across magnesium as a solution I was pretty skeptical but willing to try pretty much anything.

I now recommend a magnesium supplement to ALL pregnant mommas- it is a dang miracle for pregnancy muscle cramps!!

Compression Socks

Compression socks stimulate blood flow and improve oxygen delivery to your muscles. They help with swelling and muscle cramps!

By the end of my first pregnancy, my feet had swelled up so bad that you couldn’t see my ankles. Not pretty! I didn’t even know compression socks were a thing- I think they really could have helped me!

Check out the reviews for compression socks here.

Pamper The Hell Out Of Yourself

I cannot stress this enough- as a busy mom of 3 kids under 6- PAMPER THE SHIT OUT OF YOURSELF BEFORE YOU GIVE BIRTH.

Take time for yourself, go out to eat, go to a movie, do whatever it is you want to do! It’s not that you won’t ever be able to do those things again, it’s that you’ll be kind of locked down for the first little while with a newborn. And after that, it’s not as easy as just walking yourself out the door. So soak up what time for yourself you can and don’t apologize.

Find Out What To Pack In Your Hospital Bag

It took me 3 pregnancies to realize… you’re not moving into the hospital when you give birth! Pack what you need and leave what you don’t.

The No Bullshit Hospital Bag Checklist has a free printable you can use and download to keep things in check! You can find that here.

Knowledge

Girl, arm yourself with some serious wisdom! Having a baby is no joke. The more you know, the better you’ll feel when situations arise that you KNOW about instead of being like ‘whaa the fuu??’

Here are some free resources for you:

• Epidurals- Should You Get One?
• Free Beginning Prenatal Class
• The Best Natural Birth Tips For First Time Moms
• No Bullshit Breastfeeding Essentials
• No Bullshit Newborn Essentials
• How To Breastfeed (tips for first time moms!)
• The Only Things You Need For An Quick Postpartum Recovery

What do pregnant mothers need?

• Prenatal vitamins
• Healthy foods rich in vitamins and minerals
• Ways to stay actives
• A good support system
• Education around pregnancy, labor and birth
• A good birth plan
• Making sure to drink enough water
• Keeping germs at bay
• Indulging in cravings
• Read about postpartum depression
• Know when to call the doctor

Prenatal vitamins

Prenatal vitamins are important because they contain folic acid which can stop birth defects from forming. They also help to cover your bases if you have morning sickness or have really bad food aversions and aren’t eating a lot of variety.

Healthy foods rich in vitamins and minerals

You don’t need to obsess over every single thing you eat- try to eat a wide variety of fruits, veggies, dark leafy greens, nuts and healthy protein. If you’re having trouble eating meat, try some plant based protein like lentils, beans, tofu, quinoa, chia seeds, hemp seeds, etc.

Ways to stay active

Keeping active and fit is so important but don’t think you need to do anything drastic- walking, swimming, stretching or yoga are all great options if you don’t want to lift weights or practice cross fit.

A good support system

Have friends, family and especially other pregnant women or women with kids. You need people you trust that you can lean on- being pregnant is hard!

Education around pregnancy, labor and birth

Don’t go in blindly- take a free prenatal course, read some books on pregnancy (or watch some Youtube videos!) and be confident in your knowledge.

This will help you to advocate for yourself. Knowledge is power.

A good birth plan

If it’s your first baby, you may want to fill out this birth plan template. It is NOT meant to be a do or die plan- it’s meant to have the things you’d really, really like to see happen. In the end, you need to be okay with trusting in your health care providers.

Drinking enough water

Your body can produce up to 50% more blood while pregnant- this means that you’re working harder to pump that extra blood, heating up easier and therefor sweating more.

Get a fun water bottle you love and stay hydrated 🙂

Keep germs at bay

Wash your hands often and be proactive about your health- it’s not fun to get sick at the best of times but getting sick while pregnant is especially not fun.

Indulge in cravings

If you’re eating fairly healthy, there’s no reason not to indulge in some cravings.

Read about postpartum

There is so much that happens postpartum that isn’t talked about. When you get there, it can be a total shitshow.

I ended up going back to the hospital when my first baby was 7 days old because I still couldn’t sit down to pee, it hurt so bad.

The doctor kindly told me that was normal and I was just really bruised… oy vey.

What feelings are normal vs postpartum depression? How much blood should there BE? Is breastfeeding actually this difficult?

The New Mom Postpartum Guide is something I 100% believe in. It’ll go over all those questions and more so you aren’t blindsided when you bring your baby home- get your copy here.

Know when to call the doctor

Go over preterm labor signs and regular labor signs to make sure you know what’s normal and what isn’t.

What products to not use while pregnant?

• Certain cleaning products
• Pesticides/herbicides
• Solvent based paints
• Mercury
• Certain skincare products

I’m sending you so much light and love on your pregnancy journey and beyond. Having babies and raising kids are some of the hardest and most rewarding things you’ll ever do. Stay strong, trust your intuition.

Don’t forget to get your free pregnancy must haves checklist emailed to you- sign up below!

MORE PREGNANCY ARTICLES:

• Pregnancy Gifts For First Time Moms
• Super Early Pregnancy Signs
• How To Conceive Twins (naturally!)
• Should I Have a Third Baby?

PREGNANCY ESSENTIALS: MUST HAVES FOR EXPECTING MOMS

What to Do in Third Trimester of Pregnancy?

You’ve made it to the third trimester- congratulations! Sometimes by the third trimester your energy will be waning and you’ll start feeling the pressure (literally, haha) of those last to-do items before your baby arrives.

It’s good to have a plan for the last months of pregnancy for a few reasons:

• To keep yourself busy instead of obsessing over when baby will arrive.
• To get all the really important stuff done so you aren’t trying to do it with a newborn.
• Soaking up the last bit of time you have before your life drastically changes.

This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure at the bottom of the page.

Things to do Before Baby Arrives Checklist

• Make your birth plan.
• Take care of yourself.
• Go to all your last minute appointments.
• Take time for yourself.
• Install car seat.
• Set up nursery.
• Complete any deep cleaning.
• Take a childbirth class.
• Take a breastfeeding class.
• Freezer meals.
• Prepare for the postpartum period.
• Stock up on newborn essentials.
• Prepare your baby registry.
• Pack all 3 hospital bags.
• Auto payments for bills.

Don’t miss out on these new momma FREEBIES 💕

Use the code NEWMOMMA20 to grab any of the following for free:

• Nursing Pillow
• Reusable Breast Pads
• Car Seat Canopy
• Nursing Cover
• Baby Leggings
• Pregnancy Pillow– code will be for $50 off
• Custom Pacifiers

Make Your Birth Plan

Now is a good time to figure out what you want on your birth plan and why you want it. It’s important to keep it simple and easy to follow. Only put the most important things you want to have happen on your birth plan.

You can print and download a free birth plan template here.

Take Care of Yourself

Do you have any aches and pains that need to be dealt with? Issues with sleeping that need to be helped?

Do what you need to and don’t push it aside. It’s important to take care of your physical and mental health before your baby gets here.

Go to All Your Last Minute Appointments

If you need to see your doctor or chiropractor, dentist or heck- even just get a pedicure, now is the time to do it.

It’s a lot harder to leave the house to do these things when you are in the thick of the 4th trimester.

RELATED: Signs Labor is 24-48 Hours Away

Take Time for Yourself

This might be the most important item on this list. I don’t want to scare first time moms but really, truly, your life is going to change.

Getting time for yourself will be harder to do after baby is born. Enjoy reading a book in peace, drinking a hot cup of tea or heading out the door for doing whatever you want.

Install the Car Seat

Make sure this is done before you’re heading to the hospital. You’d think installing a car seat would be easy but it’s really not, especially if it’s your first baby.

Send your partner out to install the car seat and make sure it’s properly installed. This will make leaving the hospital so much less stressful!

RELATED: Practical Hospital Bag Checklist (you’re NOT moving in)

Set Up the Nursery

This is kind of obvious but still worth mentioning.

You’d be wise to not only finish decorating but also setting up all the furniture you’d like in your baby room.

Are you buying a new crib? A change table? Organize the diapers and wipes, outfits, etc before you come home with a newborn baby.

But especially make sure the crib and furniture are all set up beforehand!

RELATED: Woodland Nursery Decor Ideas

RELATED: Best Mini Cribs for Small Spaces

Complete Any Deep Cleaning

Do you have any weird things in the house you’ve been thinking about cleaning but haven’t got around to it?

Now is your chance to get it done!

We moved into a new house a couple of months before my baby was born (super smart, I know) so I was deep cleaning the craziest stuff but I’m so happy I got it done because after you have a baby everything kind of goes to shit for a few months after.

Take a Childbirth Class

If you haven’t taken a childbirth class yet, the third trimester is a great time to get that done.

Childbirth classes are important because you need to know what you’re going into and how you can advocate for yourself if there’s anything you want/don’t want to happen.

Hilary has been an OB nurse since 2001 and offers a free online prenatal classes from the comfort of your home. She’s super down to Earth and has made it her mission to empower women during childbirth. Check out her class HERE.

Take a Breastfeeding Class

If you’re planning to breastfeed, try to take a class before you have your baby.

You’d think that breastfeeding would come naturally but it really doesn’t.

Milkology is an online breastfeeding class for less than $20. You’ll be able to finish it in 90 minutes making it perfect for busy mama’s.

Stacey is a certified lactation consultant and mom of 3, she knows her breastfeeding stuff 🙂 Check out the course HERE.

RELATED: Breastfeeding Essentials For New Moms

Prepare Freezer Meals

These don’t have to be complicated. Anything you can throw in a bag to dump in the slow cooker one day after baby is there will work great!

Check out this list of super simple and healthy vegan freezer meals 🙂

Buy Your Postpartum Essentials

It’s a good idea to be stocked up for postpartum fun before getting home with your baby.

Perineal spray, nipple cream, giant pads and a peri bottle are all much needed. Read a full postpartum checklist here.

RELATED: The Appalling Truth About Postpartum

RELATED: DIY Padsicles

Stock Up on Newborn Essentials

You do not need a lot to be prepared for life with a newborn. They need to eat, sleep, poop and be cuddled.

The most important things are:

• Diapers– you can grab a diaper bundle from HelloBello for $16 off plus free shipping through this link. Use the code SAVE16 🙂
• Wipes
• Comfy newborn clothing
• Nursing pillow– you can grab a free nursing pillow from here, use the code NEWMOMMA20

RELATED: The Only Newborn Essentials (you REALLY need)

Start Your Baby Registry

If you haven’t started a baby registry yet, no worries. It’s free to sign up for Amazon’s Baby Registry and they’ll actually send you a free welcome box of stuff worth $35.

Pack All the Hospital Bags

35 weeks is a good time to have your bags packed. It’s not too early but does ensure enough time in case there are any surprises!

Here is a free, no B.S. printable hospital bag checklist.

RELATED: What To Pack in Your Partner’s Hospital Bag?

Set Your Bills to Auto Pay

Maybe you’ve already done this but if you haven’t- do it! It’ll make your life so much easier during the first few months with a newborn baby and dealing with that new mom exhaustion.

Third trimester Checklist PDF

Click here or on the image to download your free printable 3rd trimester checklist 🙂

Things to Do to Prepare for Baby

The last month of pregnancy seems to fly by and drag on all at once. Be prepared for the 4th trimester by going through this list and making sure you’re all set!

Don’t over do it though and don’t worry if you don’t accomplish everything- it’s more important to listen to your body than complete a checklist.

Enjoy your last bit of time and get excited to meet your precious new baby <3

More Pregnancy and Birth Articles:

• Pregnancy Gifts for First Time Moms
• The Best Gifts for New Moms (in the hospital)
• How to Conceive Twins (naturally)
• Non-Traditional Signs of Labor

3rd Trimester To-Do List