1st Tri

First Trimester: what to buy

What to expect

The first trimester is dominated by symptoms — nausea, fatigue, and sensitivity to smell and taste — while you wait through the highest-risk weeks before telling most people. Physically there's usually nothing to buy for the baby yet; almost everything at this stage supports you feeling functional day to day.

Why get this sorted now

A well-chosen prenatal vitamin and something for nausea (ginger, sea bands, or a doctor-approved anti-sickness tablet) can be the difference between a manageable trimester and a miserable one. Getting these sorted in week one means you're not scrambling for solutions mid-flare-up.

What to buy first

Continue your prenatal vitamin if you started one — this is the one non-negotiable across the whole trimester.
A nausea remedy (ginger, sea bands, or a GP-approved tablet) so you have something ready before symptoms peak.
A booking-appointment folder or app to keep scan dates and midwife notes together.

Typical spend for this stage

~£50

Rough estimate, based on one pick per essential category — not every option on the page.

What you could do without

Maternity clothes — most people don't need them until the second trimester at the earliest.
A pregnancy pillow — bump support isn't usually needed yet; wait until sleep actually gets uncomfortable.
Multiple nausea remedies at once — pick one or two and give them a proper trial before buying more.