A Breakdown of Our First Trimester Expenses

In a perfectly curated world, first trimester expenses is all about surprise reveals and tiny shoes. But let’s be real: when you’re navigating extreme fatigue, spending takes a tactical turn. While the second trimester is for chic procurement, the first is the foundational phase. It’s unglamorous, essential, and where the survival impulse can blow your budget.

Here is how we navigated the first 12 weeks without losing our financial cool.

The First Trimester Expenses Breakdown

Category	Amount	% of Total
Body Care	₱4,348.00	34.2%
Medication & Supplements	₱4,296.25	33.8%
Doctor Visits	₱2,100.00	16.5%
Maternity Clothing	₱1,573.67	12.4%
Lab Tests & Screenings	₱250.00*	2.0%
Events	₱142.00	1.1%
Total Cost	₱12,709.92	100%

*Note on Lab Tests Costs and Screenings: Essential screenings—including my Urinalysis, CBC, HIV test, TVS Scan, FBS, VDRL, and HBsAg—were fully covered by my HMO. Since these were processed directly, the specific costs incurred aren’t reflected here.

1. Data is Peace

In this house, information is the ultimate luxury. While our out-of-pocket table shows body care at the top, our true #1 priority was lab tests and screenings.

Because my HMO covered the bulk of these (Urinalysis, CBC, HIV, TVS Scan, FBS, VDRL, and HBsAg), the financial cost is invisible in the breakdown, but the value was massive. We prioritized aggressive testing to confirm two things: that the baby had a strong heartbeat, and that I was stepping into this journey as a healthy mother. Finding out my sugar and vitals were normal gave us something money can’t buy: the ability to stop doom-scrolling and start planning.

2. Daily Nutrients Stack

The baby doesn’t need a nursery yet, but they need high-grade nutrients right from the start. Medication and supplements are a major line item. At roughly ₱75.00 per day, my prenatal stack is a non-negotiable daily investment in our foundational phase.

3. Body Care Reset

My spending on body care spiked early for a tactical reason: the immediate purge. I cleared out my entire routine, ditching ingredients like retinoids and salicylic acid that aren’t pregnancy-safe. Replacing these with clean, curated alternatives was the first step in building a safe and healthy space from the inside out.

4. Discipline and Minimalism

Financial peace is just as much about what you don’t buy. We stayed fiercely minimalist:

The “Stealth Wardrobe”: Despite the disrespectful bloat, I haven’t touched traditional maternity wear. I’m living in the stealth wardrobe: oversized blazers, loose dresses, and the classic hair-tie-on-the-button hack. The few pieces I did buy were strictly for comfort (bras and comfy pambahay), because being functional at home is a priority.
The Impulse Nursery Ban: It is so tempting to nest early. However, we stayed disciplined. We’re keeping our cash liquid so we can strike when we find those high-end, pre-loved “Green Light” items later in the second trimester.

The Takeaway

Notice the zeros for furniture and gear. We aren’t buying anything until we actually need it. Instead, 70% of our budget went straight to health and body care. When things feel heavy, taking care of your physical self is the only thing that actually matters.

Thank you for reading this blog post about the breakdown of our first trimester expenses! More to come soon. Meanwhile, here are other lifestyle blog posts you might want to check out: