First Trimester: The Secret Life of Pregnancy

The first trimester is like a secret club — only you and your growing baby are members. During these first 12 weeks, your body is doing incredible, unseen work. It’s thrilling and exhausting all at once.

I remember during my first pregnancy, sneaking out of my classroom between lessons just to sip ginger tea and breathe through the waves of nausea — while still keeping everything hush-hush. It felt like living a double life… one filled with anticipation, quiet joy, and a lot of saltines.

If you’re local, here are a few resources that might help you through this stage:

• Andover Acupuncture Clinic – specializes in prenatal treatments that help ease nausea and fatigue.
• The Good Earth Co-op in St. Cloud (worth the drive!) – carries clean, mom-safe supplements and gentle teas for morning sickness.

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Second Trimester: The Golden Age

For many, this is the best stage of pregnancy. Energy returns, nausea fades, and your bump starts to bloom. It’s when most women start to really enjoy being pregnant — and it’s also my favorite time to photograph expecting moms.

If you’re thinking about documenting your pregnancy, this is the perfect time to schedule your maternity photoshoot. Your bump is showing beautifully, but you’re still comfortable moving and posing. I always tell my clients that between 28–32 weeks is the sweet spot for glowing, graceful portraits.

Local favorites for this stage:

• Pink Blush Maternity (online) or Ever Eve at Riverdale Village – for light, flowy dresses that photograph beautifully.
• Yoga Borealis in Ramsey – offers gentle prenatal yoga classes that keep you active and relaxed.

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Third Trimester: The Home Stretch

The countdown is on! Your baby is nearly here, and nesting mode kicks in full swing.

Some of my clients have their nursery picture-perfect by 30 weeks. Others? Still painting walls with a newborn in their arms (and that’s okay too!). I always remind moms — your baby only needs you at first. Everything else can come later.

If you’re in the Andover area, consider:

• The Mama’s Circle Birth Education in Blaine – a wonderful resource for birth classes and doula connections.
• Planning a little babymoon — even if it’s just a cozy weekend up north before baby arrives.

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Birth: The Main Event

And just like that, it’s time. Whether your birth story includes an epidural, a water birth, or an unexpected turn, this is the moment that changes everything.

Each mom I meet has such a different story, and every single one is beautiful. My second baby came so fast I barely made it to the hospital, while my third gave me hours of quiet reflection before arrival. Both experiences reminded me how sacred and unpredictable birth can be.

If you’re preparing for this stage:

• Nurture Lactation Services (Anoka County) offers wonderful postpartum and breastfeeding support.
• Consider hiring a birth photographer (or at least scheduling a newborn session) — I promise, it’s something no one ever regrets. Those first moments go by faster than you think.

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The 4th Trimester: What No One Tells You

Surprise — your journey doesn’t end after birth. The “4th trimester” is the first three months of your baby’s life, when both of you are adjusting to this new world.

Your hormones, your emotions, and your body are all shifting again. This is a tender stage — full of love, tears, sleepless nights, and indescribable joy.

If you’re walking through postpartum recovery, please remember: you are not alone.

• Postpartum Support Minnesota offers free local support groups and one-on-one help for new moms.
• MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) groups around Andover and Anoka are also wonderful for connection and encouragement.

And if you want to freeze this sacred, fleeting season — I’d love to help you document it. My newborn photography sessions are gentle, baby-led, and capture the beauty in simplicity. You deserve to be in the photos too, mama — your baby will want to see the love on your face one day.

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Since You Made It All the Way Down Here…

Are you looking for an Andover maternity photographer to beautifully document your pregnancy journey?
Click here to explore my maternity portfolio and see how we can create timeless, natural images that tell your story — from bump to baby.