Your little love’s heart starts to beat at around 5 weeks. You may be able to hear and see the action at your first exam when you’re about 8 weeks pregnant, so brace yourself for ALL the feels.

If you don’t hear it then, try not to stress too much. How early the sound can be picked up depends on your baby’s position in your uterus, your weight, and the accuracy of your due date.

We all have that one aunt “who gained 11 pounds!” and that friend who almost doubled her weight. We don’t know what exactly is behind the official recommendations, but we do know that all you need to do is eat a healthy, balanced diet to get your babe the nutrients they need to grow at a healthy  rate.

You don’t need to eat for two, but you should eat when you want to or need to. Check in with your healthcare provider on what the optimum number is for you, depending on your height, weight, age and any pre-existing medical conditions. Don’t be surprised if you don’t gain an ounce during the first trimester and suddenly cluster gain in the middle.

Don’t be surprised if you lose a little weight at the end of your pregnancy.

Our bodies are going to do what they’re going to do, so don’t stress it.

Just stay healthy, mama!

As soon as you realize you’re pregnant (or even before), you’ll want to start looking for a healthcare provider to help bring that gorgeous babe into the world. The type of medical practitioner you choose can vary, and a lot can go into weighing your decision beyond whether you want paid meds or not.

If you have an ongoing condition like high blood pressure, a history of seizures, heart disease, or diabetes, or if you had complications in your last pregnancy, you’ll be considered high risk. In this case, you’ll need to see an ob-gyn + possibly one who specializes in high-risk pregnancies.

If you’re looking for a more  holistic vibe, you may want to choose a certified nurse-midwife (CNM), who helps you through birth but intervenes only when necessary. Births assisted by CNM’s have fewer interventions, like continuous electronic fetal monitoring, epidurals + episiotomies. Women who choose midwives tend to have a lower rate of C-sections, too.

Don’t stress it, though. Know that if you start out with a midwife and develop a problem down the road, or if you realize you want a more hands-on approach, you can always switch over to a traditional ob-gyn. You may also be able to have both types of professionals handle your care, or choose an OB who specializes in a more holistic point of view.

Your call, mama! If you want to shout it from the rooftops or post on Instagram as soon as you get a positive sign, go for it!

(Hey, at least you won’t have to fake drinking wine.) Just know that the risk of miscarriage or complications is highest in the first trimester.

That’s also when you’ll be undergoing some pretty important testing and scans to make sure the baby’s doing well. For that reason, many mamas choose to wait until week 12 when they find out their little babe is thriving. Some women wait even longer, especially if they have to undergo more rigorous testing like an amnio at around 16 weeks. Just know that it’s entirely your decision, so do what feels right.

  

Your first appointment with a healthcare provider should be at around 8 weeks after your last period, or as soon as you know you’re pregnant. At the appointment, your doctor will check your medical history and perform a physical exam, ie a pap smear, cervical culture and possibly an ultrasound if you’re far along enough.  She’ll also draw blood and run several tests, including hemoglobin, RH Factor and blood type, Rubella screening + other vaccination screenings, Hepatitis B and C testing and an array of genetic testing, if you haven’t had them done already. She’ll also check you for HIV.

She’s also going to break down your new very healthy new habits, such as dental care (hello floss) and prenatal vitamins, pregnancy safe exercise and diet, nutrition + weight gain details. She’ll go into ALL of your commonly asked questions like travel, working out, headaches, sex, nausea + risks of miscarriage. It’s all very chill.

You might want to bring along a series of questions, such as whether there’s a nurse line to call if you have questions, what they consider an emergency and what kinds of testing they recommend. You may also want to get their thoughts on various forms of pain medications, cesarean rates, what situations would lead to an episiotomy or labor induction and how long they’ll let you go past your due date. Take your time and get the answers you need.

If you feel like you need a nap 10 minutes after waking up, you’re not alone. Your body is working HARD right now. During early pregnancy, you’ve got hormones coursing through every inch of you, and these changes, (like heightened progesterone levels) can make you tired, too. Your body is producing more blood to carry nutrients to babe, plus your blood sugar + blood pressure levels are also lower. Not to mention, you might be feeling anxious + ALL types of emo, which can take its toll. Remember, this is a totally normal part of pregnancy and by the second trimester, you should start feeling back to your busy self. If you think your exhaustion levels are bordering on the extreme, check in with your medical provider asap.