The First Trimester Rollercoaster: Pregnancy Cravings, Emotions, and Everything In Between

Pregnancy is often portrayed as a magical time, full of excitement and joy as you prepare to welcome a new life into the world. While that’s certainly part of the experience, the reality of the first trimester can sometimes feel like an emotional and physical rollercoaster that no one fully prepares you for. And boy, did it it me hard.

Very recently, two of our closest friends got married, and in the week leading up to their big day, my husband and I had a whirlwind of preparations. When the day finally arrived, we managed to get into the car (child-free, thanks to Grandma and Pa) and set off for the event. I was exhausted, and as we hit the first set of traffic lights, I completely crumbled. I had what felt like the emotional breakdown of the century, with tears streaming down my face as I continuously insisted that nothing was wrong through my sobs. My husband immediately grew concerned, asking what he could do and if I was okay. Eventually, I managed to explain, “I just really want kimchi, and I don’t have time to get any.”

Yes, you read that right, an emotional breakdown over fermented cabbage. But to me, in that moment, it was everything. That’s the kind of strange, unexpected chaos the first trimester can bring. You’re thrown into a whirlwind of hormones, cravings, fatigue, and emotional turmoil, and all you can do is hang on for the ride.

Pregnancy Cravings: The Weird and Wonderful

Let’s start with the cravings because, clearly, they can get intense. For some, it might be pickles and ice cream, but for me? Kimchi. Spicy, pungent, and hard to find when you’re running on empty.

Cravings during pregnancy are notoriously unpredictable. Some days, it’s all I thought about, and other days, the sight or smell of a previously adored food sent me running for the hills. It’s this bizarre push-and-pull, where you’re constantly trying to manage what your body suddenly demands. And when you’re tired and emotionally drained, not having that one thing you want can feel like the end of the world. Hence the kimchi meltdown.

Exhaustion: The Constant Battle

Fatigue in the first trimester is no joke. I’ve experienced tiredness before, as both a shift worker and as a mother to newborns but there is just something about that first trimester fatigue that hits like nothing else. It feels like no matter how much sleep I got, it was never enough. Every day felt like I was dragging myself through wet cement, trying to keep up with my normal routine, but feeling like my energy reserves were permanently depleted.

The hardest part about the fatigue is that life doesn’t slow down just because you’re pregnant. There are still things to do, places to be, and responsibilities to manage. And even though people tell you to “rest when you can,” that’s not always practical when you’re juggling a household, kids, and everything in between.

Nausea: The Sneaky Culprit

While I’ve been lucky to avoid the worst of the nausea, it still snuck up on me here and there. Sometimes, it was the smell of something cooking that turned my stomach. In my case, it was eggs, and when my toddler asked for an omelette first thing in the morning I felt I had no choice but to grin and bear it.

For some women, nausea can dominate the first trimester, making it hard to keep food down or even think about eating. For me, it was more of an annoying background noise... something that came and went but never quite left entirely. I’d be in the middle of enjoying a meal, and suddenly, my body would decide it’s had enough. But compared to some, I know I’ve had it relatively easy in this department.

Emotional Whiplash

Where the first trimester is hit me hardest was the emotional rollercoaster. One moment, something was hilarious, and the next, I was crying uncontrollably because someone said "I love you" in a movie that really wasn't supposed to be that emotional. The mood swings are intense and unpredictable, and they take a toll.

In the first trimester, your body is changing so quickly, and you don’t always have the words to express what’s going on. Sometimes, it all just comes out in an emotional tidal wave, and you’re left picking up the pieces.

Finding Humour in the Chaos

Despite all the challenges, there’s one thing that kept me grounded through the first trimester: humour. Yes, it’s hard, and yes, there are days when I felt like I was losing my mind, but sometimes all you can do is laugh at the absurdity of it all.

My husband and I still joke about the kimchi incident. Looking back, it’s amusing to think I was so upset over something so trivial and random. But at that moment, it felt like a very real and urgent crisis. That’s the thing about pregnancy, it amplifies everything. The highs are exhilarating, and the lows can be pretty intense, making it all a bit overwhelming. And like the good man should following my crisis, my husband took our two-year-old and one-year-old on a little road trip the following weekend to find some “premium kimchi” for me. He couldn’t help but laugh as he watched me devour the entire container in one sitting! I was very grateful.

Embracing the Journey

As I move through this pregnancy, I’m learning to embrace the ups and downs. The first trimester was a whirlwind of cravings, exhaustion, and emotional meltdowns, but it was also a reminder of the incredible things my body was and is still doing as I push into the third trimester. It’s hard, yes, but it’s also temporary. Soon, I’ll move into the next phase, and while that will bring its own set of challenges, I know I’ll look back on this time with a sense of pride for having made it through.

For now, though, I’m just trying to take it one day at a time, kimchi cravings and all.