When I found out that I was pregnant, I was excited. I couldn’t believe it, even though the text kit was beaming with two bright pink lines. The shock came right after the excitement and knocked me in my core, “I was pregnant!” I was elated when I realised I had become a first-time mom.
I had read blogs, followed some mom pages on social media, and asked questions, but they didn’t fully prepare me for what my first-time mom pregnancy journey had in store.
Pregnancy is beautiful, yes. But it’s also unpredictable, emotional, and sometimes downright weird. I have been through it, and by God’s grace, I have a six-month-old baby boy.
Today, I look at his insanely handsome face and acknowledge that it was all worth it. So, here I am, writing this post to share the things no one tells you- the real stuff I wish someone had sat me down to explain.
1. Your Body Will Surprise You in So Many Ways
Forget what the cute maternity ads and social media posts from new moms or celebrities show you. Some pregnant women look like pregnancy’s got nothing on them. Not many physical changes in their body.
Just a normal, beautiful baby bump. But let me tell you, your body will do things that feel strange, uncomfortable, and even funny. My nose became big and my skin got very dark.
You may feel bloated, gassy, and clumsy– like you’re walking in someone else’s body. I always felt bloated in my first trimester. Early mornings, my belly looked normal. By evening time, it looked like I was five months pregnant, even though I was barely three months pregnant.
Morning sickness can happen any time of day. Don’t let the term ‘morning sickness’ deceive you. It can happen at any time of day, night, or dawn.
During my first trimester and at the beginning of the second trimester, I couldn’t get any food down my throat. Everything I ate came right out of my mouth. I threw up the water I drank, too.
The only food that could stay a few seconds before coming out was blended kenkey. The next one was banku with pepper sauce. Eventually, the smell of it made me vomit too.
Your gums might bleed, your nose may run more than usual, and your feet might grow a shoe size. I used to wear a shoe size forty (I have a big foot, I know. Ha!), but when I was pregnant, I wore a size forty-one shoe.
“I didn’t know I could sweat and pant so much while doing nothing.”
2. Your Emotions May Catch You Off Guard
- Hormones are real, and they don’t play fair. Even if you’re the toughest woman in the world, you can’t win a war against pregnancy emotions.
- You may cry over something as small as a broken nail or a sad movie on TV. Just something that usually won’t make you cry, pregnancy will make you cry like a baby.
- There’s joy, anxiety, fear, and awe- all in one afternoon. One minute you’re laughing over a funny Instagram reel, and the next minute you’re anxious about a symptom you’re experiencing.
- Some days you’ll feel like a goddess. Other days? Not so much. My favorite spot was my three-in-one sofa. That was my bed for four solid months. I only got up when I was going to take a bath.
These wild emotions were all part of my first-time mom pregnancy experience– a journey full of surprises.
“I laughed and cried at the same time when my husband made a funny joke.”
3. Sleep Becomes a Whole New Battle
- If you thought sleep was your best friend before, pregnancy changes everything.
- First trimester: You should be taking nonstop naps and yawns. Unlike me, I barely slept because I had a difficult first trimester.
- Second trimester: In the second trimester, you will get a little energy boost. Towards the end of my second I got an appetite. I ate big meals.
- Third trimester = constant bathroom trips, discomfort, and tossing around with a belly that feels like a watermelon. Believe when I say I peed on myself on most occasions, even after emptying my bladder. I slept on my left side a lot. It was very uncomfortable. Heartburn robbed most of my nights. I had to sit upright for hours just to feel a bit okay before lying down. Drinking milk didn’t help it at all.
“I built a pillow fortress around myself and still couldn’t get comfy.”
My favourite sleeping position is lying flat on my belly, and just imagine that I couldn’t do that in my second and third trimesters. That’s six months of discomfort! The sleep struggle was real in my first-time mom pregnancy experience.
4. Everyone Has an Opinion
From the moment your pregnancy is visible, expect a flood of opinions.
- On your bump size, gender predictions, what you should/shouldn’t eat, and how you should give birth. I had friends and strangers predicting my unborn baby’s gender based on the shape of my bump. It was sometimes funny to listen to them predict wrongly, yet so sure of themselves.
- Some advice is helpful, but a lot of it is unsolicited. One lovely woman at my church advised me to take specific fruits and vegetables that can make the baby healthy and give him beautiful skin. I didn’t take the advice lightly. I ate a lot of fruits, and the result was a beautiful baby boy.
- Whether the advice is helpful or unsolicited, Learn to smile and say “thank you.” Some people do mean well. Then follow what feels right for you and what your healthcare provider recommends.
5. You’ll Worry a Lot as a first-time mom, and That’s Okay
You would be worried about things like?
- “Is this movement normal?”
- “Why am I cramping?”
- “Am I eating enough? Sleeping enough? Doing enough?” All of which are important questions to ask and find answers to.
Pregnancy comes with a fair share of worry. It’s okay. Ask questions, call your doctor if you need reassurance, and try not to Google every symptom at 2 AM. You’re not alone- every mom-to-be wonders if they’re doing it right.
My elder sister, Comfort, became my next search engine aside Google. Whenever I was worried about something, I would ask her if she had experienced the same thing during her pregnancy. She was so helpful to me. Her advice kept me through the journey. God bless her heart.
6. The Bond Begins Before Birth
- Those tiny kicks? They feel like magic when you’re experiencing it as a first-time mom. Especially when the baby is stretching. You can feel his tiny feet. Aww, so magical. You are creating another life inside you.
- Singing to your bump, rubbing your belly, and talking to your baby; these are moments of bonding for you and your baby.
- You may not have met them yet, but your baby already knows your voice and your love.
- You’re already a mom. Every breath, prayer, and belly rub counts.
7. Trust the Process
Pregnancy is a divine process. Even in the hardest days, God is working behind the scenes. Trust Him to carry you- and your baby- safely through every trimester.
He did it for me, and he will do it for you, too.
For his words say, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works and that my soul knoweth right well” – Psalm 139:14 (KJV).
Your baby is fearfully and wonderfully made.
You’re doing great, Mama.
Pregnancy is a wild, emotional, beautiful rollercoaster. Some days you’ll feel powerful; other days, not so much. But you are growing a whole human, and that’s nothing short of a miracle.
So, mama, give yourself grace if you’re just starting your first-time mom pregnancy journey. You’re doing great. You are strong, you are chosen, and you are already enough.
Did anything in this post surprise you? Or do you have a funny or heartfelt pregnancy moment to share?
Drop a comment below- let’s connect!
And if you know a mama-to-be who needs encouragement, share this with her.
Pregnancy FAQs (Real Questions, Real Answers for a first-time mom)
Yes! Hormonal changes during pregnancy can heighten your emotions. You might cry easily or feel anxious, even if you’re usually calm. It’s completely normal- but talk to your doctor if it feels overwhelming.
I know I cried a lot during my pregnancy. And if you’re experiencing this, there’s nothing wrong with you. You’re pregnant, and that’s the reason.
Pregnancy comes with a lot of weird symptoms. For me, I realised that there were tiny clots of blood that came after I threw up. That was one part of my first-time mom pregnancy experience that took me completely by surprise.
I reported this to my doctor, and he said it was because I strained my throat due to the intensity of the vomiting.
So, if anything feels intense, painful, or unusual (like bleeding, severe cramps, or dizziness), don’t hesitate to call your midwife. It’s always okay to ask.
Most first-time moms start feeling movement between 18 to 22 weeks, but it can happen earlier or later. At first, it might feel like butterflies or gas bubbles!
I genuinely can’t remember the exact week I felt my baby kick, but it was definitely within 18 to 22 weeks.
Try a pregnancy pillow, sleep on your left side, and avoid too much fluid before bed. A calming bedtime routine- like a warm shower or soothing music- also helps. What helped me sleep better was listening to rain sounds on YouTube before I slept. It really helped me.
Just smile and say thanks. Some people do mean well. You will be surprised to know that one or two advice from strangers or friends might help you sometimes. Remember, you get to choose what works for you. Every pregnancy is different. Trust your instincts.
In most healthy pregnancies, gentle movement like walking helps. But always get the green light from your doctor first.
The only exercise I did was walking, and I delivered a healthy baby boy.
Don’t follow some pregnant women who do intensive exercises on social media and put your pregnancy at risk. Every pregnancy is different. What works for someone might not work for you.
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