The 5 Stages of Pregnancy and What to Expect During Each | Boise Idaho Maternity Photographer
While most everybody is familiar with the three trimesters of pregnancy, most don’t realize that there are really 5 stages to bringing your baby into the world. Today I am sharing what they are and what you can expect from conception to the mysterious “4th trimester”.
I remember first hearing about the “4th trimester” when I was pregnant with my first. While I knew postpartum could be challenging, there was nothing that could have prepared me for the exhaustion and ups and downs that that time brought.
While everybody’s experience throughout pregnancy and postpartum is different, today I’m going to share with you what you can generally expect in each stage, as well as give you some resources and tips you can use as you plan for your pregnancy, birth and postpartum.
First Trimester: The Secret Life of Pregnancy
Seeing a positive pregnancy test can come with a whole gamut of emotions from elation to apprehension. Whether you’re ready to share your news right away, or you prefer to keep it to yourself for a time, the first trimester is like a secret club where only you and your growing baby are members. Your bump won’t likely show until later in the second trimester (unless this isn’t your first baby) and so while you might feel pregnant, you won’t look pregnant. During these first 12 weeks, your body is working overtime to create a new life, and you might be feeling the effects (hello, morning sickness).
I remember when I was pregnant with my first, I had to be at work super early in the morning and the tiredness that came with pregnancy made it so hard to drag myself out of bed and out the door that early. Thankfully I wasn’t as nauseous with my first as I was with my other three pregnancies, but I did have to pee a lot, like all the time, and I felt like I was hungry all the time.
Here are some things I’ve done in the first trimester to try to set myself up for an enjoyable and healthy pregnancy.
Chiropractic care - There are so many benefits to Chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy starting as early as the first trimester. I actually started going to the chiropractic before I became pregnant and and credit it to part of the reason why I was able to get pregnant after infertility. I also continued going throughout my pregnancy and believe that the Chiropractic care I received was integral in relieving some uncomfortable pregnancy aches and pains as well as ensuring baby was in an optimal position for birth. If you are local to the Treasure Valley, Brandon Couchman at Elevation Health Center in Meridian is excellent!
The first trimester is also a great time to stock up on easy dinners or sign up for a meal subscription service. I tried Hungryroot during my first trimester and loved the easy, healthy meals and groceries delivered to your door. Sign up using my link to receive $50 your first order of $100 or more! Grocery deliver has also been my lifesaver.
Second Trimester: The Honeymoon Phase
For many, the second trimester is the honeymoon stage of pregnancy, where you can finally start enjoying the journey. As the placenta takes over the role of supporting the baby and hormones taper off, nausea subsides, and you may have a little bit more energy. Now finally you may see a growing baby bump and feel baby’s first kicks and flutters (typically around 20 weeks).
Though it’s totally fine to share your pregnancy as soon as you feel ready, the 2nd trimester and after the first ultrasound to confirm and date the pregnancy is when a lot of couples choose to share. How you choose to share the news can be so fun. Here is one fun way this family chose to share their 4th pregnancy!
Now might also be the time to start purchasing maternity clothes. Old Navy, Gap, Pink Blush Maternity, Target and Amazon are some of my go tos for maternity wear. Although since they are only worn for a few months, you don’t always have to purchase maternity clothes new. With my first, I had a friend who had her baby the month before I got pregnant with mine, and she gave me some of her maternity clothes to wear, then after I had my baby and she became pregnant with her second, I returned them along with a few new pieces I had purchased.
The second trimester is also when I feel like I have the most energy to workout. Aside from trying to walk often, I’ve enjoyed youtube workouts with Nourish Move Love’s prenatal workouts (search under playlists for workouts by trimester).
Third Trimester: The Home Stretch
The third trimester means that you are nearing the end of your pregnancy and things start to get real. During the third trimester, nesting (the urge to clean and organize everything in your home) might kick in or you may become really tired again like in the first trimester. Either way, as you prepare for your baby's arrival, you'll want to make sure you have everything in place for a smooth transition.
The nursery - Designing the nursery can be such a fun part of being pregnant. While it is fun to plan a nursery, know that it isn’t necessary and that baby won’t likely sleep in it for several months. However, if you do plan to have newborn photos at home, the nursery it one of my favorite room to shoot photos in.
Take a birth class and or hire a doula - There is so much to learn about giving birth and knowledge is power. I believe the role of taking classes or having a doula walk along side you in your birth is simply to empower you to know what you want for your birth and how to make decisions about interventions or pain management as your birth progresses. I recommend Bridget Tyler’s Built to Birth course. A doula can also be an additional support to your husband or support person during labor and is often able to recommend methods of pain management, and positions to help labor progress. I had a doula during my second birth and it was incredibly helpful to have somebody to trade off with my husband, as well as offer support and advice when labor was stalled or I was feeling ready to give up.
The third trimester is also the perfect time to take your maternity photos and capture your growing bump in all of its glory. If you are looking for a Boise area maternity photographer I would love to be your photographer!
Birth: The Main Event
The moment you've been waiting for is finally here: birth! Whether you're planning a natural birth or a C-section, or plan to have your baby at home, in a birth center or in the hospital, this stage is exciting and emotional!
My biggest piece of advice for when those first contractions hit is to try to distract yourself and ignore them until you can’t. I had prodromal labor for several nights before my water broke with my first. Every night I stayed up in the middle of the night wondering if this was the real deal when in reality I wish I would have done my best to rest while I could. By the time we finally did end up at the hospital, I was pretty tired and sleep deprived. I remember each moment they laid my baby on my chest and the relief I felt that he/she was finally here is indescribable. It really is true that all of the pain and discomfort will be worth it.
For tips on what to bring to the hospital, check out my post on What to Pack in your Hospital Bag
If you want more details on birth, make sure to check out this blog post all about 10 surprising options you have for hospital birth
Of course, capturing your first photos with your new baby are moments you’ll always want to remember. Hiring a fresh 48 photographer is something I’ve never heard anyone say they regret! I’d love to be your Boise and Treasure Valley Fresh 48 Photographer. Check out my Fresh 48 Photography here!
The 4th Trimester: What No One Tells You
Surprise! Your journey doesn't end with birth. The 4th trimester is the first three months of your baby's life, where both of you are adjusting to the world outside the womb.
I remember bringing my first home from the hospital and having the hardest time sleeping. I would stare at him in his bassinet wanting to know that he was breathing and he was okay. With time (and lots of prayer) my anxiety eventually subsided and I was able to get more rest. I can’t recommend enough having your village there for support. Wether it’s a parent or sibling who can come stay with you and help with the baby, meals and cleaning the house, or a group of people to sign up to bring meals for the first few weeks. It 1000% is worth it.
It is also so important to remember that your body is healing and that takes time. While it can be tempting to jump back into life as usual, in my experience overdoing it too early can lead to increased anxiety, aches and pains and even infections like mastitis.
Nourish your body well with food and water (if you are breastfeeding you’ll need extra calories and water), spend lots of time cuddling with your baby and let other tasks take a lower priority.
Finally, within the first few weeks after baby’s arrival, take those newborn photos. If you are local to the Treasure Valley and looking for a lifestyle newborn photographer to capture your growing family in the comfort of your home (or in a studio) I would love to be your newborn photographer! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to schedule your session!
Of course, every journey is unique, and it's okay to feel a whole range of emotions along the way. As long as you've got your support system and resources, you'll be able to navigate this crazy adventure.
Thanks for reading!
Since you made it all the way down here – I would love to capture your gowing family from bump to baby. I offer session for pregnancy announcements, maternity, fresh 48, newborn and milestone photography. Bundle two or more sessions and save! Click here to see options for bundling your photography sessions.
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