🤍 First Trimester: What’s Happening & How to Take Care of Yourself

You just saw the two lines — and suddenly, everything feels different.
Whether you’ve been waiting for this moment or still letting it sink in, the first trimester can feel like a storm of emotions: excitement, disbelief, exhaustion, and quiet joy all at once.

Those first 12 weeks are full of invisible work — most of it happening quietly inside your body. You may not see much change on the outside, but inside, a complete transformation has begun.

🌿 What’s Happening in the First Trimester

From the very start, your body begins one of the most extraordinary processes in nature — the creation of new life.
Every cell, every heartbeat, every system in your body is adapting to support what’s growing inside you.

• Hormones rise rapidly.
  hCG (the pregnancy hormone) doubles every few days early on. Progesterone and estrogen climb too, helping your uterus prepare and nurture the developing embryo.

• The placenta starts forming.
  Within just weeks, your body begins building the placenta — an entirely new organ designed to protect and feed your baby. It’s as if your body quietly decided to become an architect overnight, constructing the bridge between your world and theirs.

• Your blood volume increases.
  By the end of the first trimester, you’ll have up to 50% more blood than usual. Your heart is working harder to carry oxygen and nutrients to both of you — a powerful reminder that even when you’re resting, your body is performing miracles.

That’s why people often say, “your body is working harder than ever.”
Even when you’re still, your cells are dividing, organs are forming, and a heartbeat smaller than a pea is learning to keep time with your own.

💭 How You Might Feel

You might wake up queasy, crave naps in the middle of the day, or feel more emotional than ever.
It can be disorienting — your body feels different, your energy fluctuates, and your emotions swing between joy and worry.

But remember this: everything you feel right now has a reason.
The fatigue, the mood changes, even the nausea — they’re all signs that your body is adjusting beautifully.

You are doing enough simply by letting it happen.
Rest isn’t giving up; it’s participating in the miracle.

🩺 Doctor Appointments & What to Expect

Most first prenatal appointments happen between 6–8 weeks.
Your doctor may confirm your pregnancy with an ultrasound or a blood test and review your general health.

If you don’t have a provider yet, you can contact your insurance company to see which OB/GYNs or midwives are covered under your plan. Making that connection early will help you feel supported throughout your pregnancy.

🎥 Watch & Learn

If you’d like to understand what’s happening inside your body right now, this video from Nurse Dani at Intermountain Healthcare offers a clear, compassionate overview of the first trimester:
🔗 What to Expect in the First Trimester | Pregnancy Guide (Intermountain Healthcare)

It’s one of the most helpful, down-to-earth explanations we’ve found — walking you through what your body is doing, what you might feel, and why every change has a purpose.

Sometimes, hearing it explained calmly by a nurse makes everything feel less overwhelming — and reminds you that what’s happening inside you is truly extraordinary.

🌸 A Gentle Reminder 

You don’t need to have everything figured out right now.
The first trimester is often messy, emotional, and full of unknowns — but within that uncertainty, something sacred is happening.

Your body is creating life, adapting in ways you can’t see, and balancing two heartbeats at once. That’s nothing short of a miracle.

So take a deep breath. Be kind to yourself.
You are already doing something extraordinary — and it’s only just beginning.