Below, you’ll find a breakdown of what I researched and what I did to support my pregnancy during the first trimester. This isn’t a prescriptive guide—you don’t have to do everything at once or do things the way I did. The first trimester is exhausting, and the most important things are rest, finding good information, and building habits that work for you. This is simply what worked for me.

These questions are important. Cannabis is increasingly being legalized and is the most commonly used illicit drug during pregnancy. It is often used by women/ pregnant people to manage symptoms of morning sickness during pregnancy, and postpartum stress and anxiety (Badowski and Smith 2020). 

When most people say they’re “doing their own research,” they’re scrolling through forums, watching YouTube videos, or reading blog posts. While these sources might feel approachable, they often rely on anecdotal evidence and rarely have a strong foundation in empirical research. This can lead to a misleading sense of confidence, especially if the information presented is incomplete or taken out of context. Worse, it’s all too easy to stumble across outright misinformation that adds confusion rather than clarity…

…it didn’t take long for the cracks to show. I’d see a doula share solid, evidence-based information about the risks and benefits of epidurals—then turn around and recommend lactation cookies as though they were a magic fix for milk supply. Birth influencers would confidently cite journal articles to back their claims but miss basic concepts, like the difference between correlation and causation.

I started to realize something important: not all “evidence-based” claims are created equal. Not everyone sharing “research” understands how to interpret it. And not everything that’s labeled “evidence-based” actually is.

Which raises some really important questions: What does it actually mean to be “evidence-based”? AND why does it matter to your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey?

I’m worked up. Actually, I’m pissed.

Have you ever seen something on social media that just enrages you?

Not because it is a video of something horrific. Not because it doesn’t align with your beliefs, values, or politics.

But because it is literal actual bullshit. The person who posted positions themselves as an expert. But has given zero thought to the impacts and implications of the misinformation they are spreading.

Last summer, my partner Jonathan and I decided to have a baby. We’d been together since our early twenties, testing our relationship (with great results!) through five university degrees, cross-country and international moves, and all the other chaos life throws at you…