Navigating Pregnancy: 5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Expecting My First Baby — Real Talk for First-Time Mamas

Pregnancy is wild — emotional, beautiful, exhausting, and everything in between. There’s so much that feels unknown with your first baby: what to expect, what tiny details matter, and what things you’ll laugh about later. In Navigating Pregnancy: 5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Expecting My First Baby, I’m sharing what I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) so you feel more grounded, more prepared, and a little more gentle with yourself.

1. It’s Okay to Grieve Your “Old” Self

Your routines will change. Your energy, priorities, body image — all shift. I wish I had given myself permission to feel loss without guilt. It doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’re human.

2. The Anxiety Is Real (and You’re Not Alone)

Even the calmest people feel worry — about health, labor, prepping the nursery. Hormones, sleepless nights, constant “what-if” thoughts—they’re part of the journey. Talk about them with someone you trust. Sometimes just naming the fear helps it lose its power.

3. Your Registry Doesn’t Need 200 Items

What really matters: a safe place for your baby to sleep, a few soft baby pajamas for night changes, diapers, and something cozy. Less is more. Instead of a full Amazon wishlist, I wish I'd focused on what we’d use day one.

4. Your Body Is a Powerhouse

Whether you birth naturally, with epidural, by C-section, or another way — your body is doing something incredible. You’ll be surprised by your resilience. Trust that. Build a support circle and rest when you need to.

5. You’re Becoming a New Version of You

The “old you” isn’t gone — she’s evolving. You will change, priorities will shift, and you’ll see life through new eyes. Give yourself grace. Embrace curiosity about who you’ll become as much as you wait to meet your baby.

Final Thoughts

From one first-time mama to another: you are doing something big. There will be moments of self-doubt, moments of wonder, and moments you didn’t expect. Be kind to yourself. You are stronger than you think. If you can, surround yourself with soft comforts: cozy muslin swaddles, a favorite blanket, or easy, non-toxic sleepwear for baby. These small touches can bring peace in the chaos.