Congratulations on your pregnancy!
You are about to embark on the most incredible journey in a woman’s life.
However, it does come with some challenges and discomforts, and if it’s your first time, you probably already have a million questions.
A lot of symptoms are about to hit you as well.
The most common conditions that expecting mommies typically face are headaches, morning sickness, bladder control, backaches, sleep deprivation, and stress.
If you are already dealing with these conditions then below is a list of pregnancy essentials you need to make things easier!
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By the way, this post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Pregnancy Essentials: Things You Need During the Journey
Healthy Nutrition and Use of Ginger
Nausea, also known as morning sickness, can occur around the second half of the first trimester.
It can be debilitating if you’re unlucky enough to have it really badly.
While some struggle with nausea only in the mornings, it’s a round-the-clock battle for others.
The first thing to do is to find the triggers and stay clear of them.
Letting yourself get too hungry and empty can be a trigger.
Also, fatty, spicy, and greasy foods are a big NO in such situations.
Easy-to-digest food such as bananas, toasts, and toasts are highly recommended.
But the most useful remedy that people find to work is the use of ginger.
It can be taken mixed with herbal tea or your meals. You can even get ginger candies like these.
Or you can drink a Ginger tea like this one.
There are also Ginger suckers that can be really useful.
Must Read:
Prenatal Vitamins
Even if you’re eating a balanced diet, it’s still possible to miss some essential nutrients.
So you should start taking your prenatal vitamins if you’re not already taking them. Here’s an AMAZING prenatal that we highly recommend here at This Little Nest.
Consuming vitamins is an easy way to fill in any gaps and support both your body and your baby’s growth and development.
You can easily get your monthly supply of pre-natal vitamins by filling out survey forms that ask questions about your pregnancy.
Take Care Of’s quiz can help you know the nutritional needs of your body.
Total Body Pillows
As the baby grows, the pressure on the bladder increases which means it can not hold the amount of urine it used to. This is so annoying….
As a result, you’ll wake up multiple times during the night to relieve yourself. But the real struggle is finding the right position to go back to sleep in which can take hours sometimes.
But a good body pillow can really help you get comfortable quickly. It’s a must-have.
They work wonders for pregnant women and they’re amazing on those long and uncomfortable nights.
Here’s the PERFECT pregnancy pillow and you can get it on Amazon for a great price!
Comfortable Footwear and Compression Socks
Due to the increase in blood volume and fluid retention in the body, it is very common to have swollen feet in the second trimester onwards.
You shouldn’t worry about excessive blood and fluid as it helps keep your body soft and prepared for giving birth.
You can switch to comfortable, soft, shoes like these that are very supportive during your second trimester. They’re not super cute but your feet will thank you….
Knee-high compression stockings have a gentle squeezing effect which keeps the fluids in your legs circulating. You can find some cute ones made just for pregnancy right here.
Maternity Clothes
Your body changes a lot as you progress in your pregnancy.
You are going to get bigger, your clothes won’t fit any longer, and finding what looks good on you with that baby bump will become frustrating. But it can be fun too!
It is important to get comfortable with and enjoy being big, relax! It will go away after giving birth.
Get yourself some maternity bodycon dresses, maternity pants with a stretchable band at the top, leggings and you’re good to go.
You’ll also need to purchase some new bras. You can go ahead and get nursing bras so that you don’t have to buy more after your babe is born.
Here’s a great option from Belly Bandit, the only clothing company we recommend for all your maternity and postpartum needs.
Speaking of Belly Bandit, they call their signature postpartum leggings ‘ Mother Tuckers ‘ … Isn’t that cute?! I have a bunch of them and I still wear them all the time!
Maternity Belts and Belly Bands
As your pregnancy advances, your body will go through many transformational changes and you will experience frequent back and pelvic pain.
The reasons are weight gain, posture changes, muscle separations, stress, and hormonal changes, of course. All normal but uncomfortable nonetheless.
The discomfort begins in most pregnancies around the 2nd half of the second trimester.
Your best option is exercise and stretching to boost your flexibility and strengthen your back muscles.
Acupuncture, maternal massages, and chiropractic care are proven backache relievers. Just make sure they’re aware of your pregnancy so that they can be safe in their procedures.
Maternity belts and belly bands are really useful during this time because they will help support your belly and back as well as help you maintain correct posture.
I really recommend you have a couple of these and Belly Bandit is the place to get them. It’s our favorite place to recommend for maternity clothing and support as I mentioned earlier.
You should have one like this to support your tummy while pregnant. It will help a lot with back pain.
During Postpartum you should have one like this to help bring your separated abdominal wall back together postpartum. It’s called the Mother Tucker Belly Compression Corset and it’s actually pretty too.
I own one that I STILL wear. It rises up past your bra in the back so it hides any bulges so you have a smooth-looking silhouette in the back and front.
Read more about your abdominal wall and why you should use a band postpartum right here because it’s really important!
Pregnancy Books
Of course, you’ll want to have a couple of pregnancy books handy to reference. All new mamas need these!
There are plenty of informative books to walk you through your pregnancy and answer all your questions but no pregnancy is complete without this book right here. It’s THE pregnancy book and it’s updated often.
Massage oils, Itch Lotions, and Body Butter
Stretch marks are like battle scars and you should wear them with all the pride in the world as it shows how selfless you have been.
Having said that, stretch marks can be minimized if they bother you, and there’s is a good chance they will go away eventually or at least fade dramatically over time.
Here are some great tips that will help you avoid stretch marks through your pregnancy.
One thing you can do is keep yourself hydrated to maintain the elastin in your skin, as well as make sure you’re getting the essential Vitamins and minerals you need for healthy skin.
You can also use topical vitamin E oil along with a nice belly butter to keep your cells soft and stretchy.
Massaging your belly with coconut oil and body butter is reported to be very effective in relieving tight skin so give it a try!
Staying Hydrated
It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to stay hydrated.
When you are pregnant you get dehydrated easily and are more prone to UTIs as well.
So, try to drink lots and lots of water. If you want a little flavor, you can try a little coconut water, milk, and juices to mix things up.
In The End….
The bottom line is to make yourself as comfortable as possible during this beautiful and fulfilling journey and there are tons of ways in which you can do that.
This list of pregnancy essentials will help you with what you need to get you started.
Lastly, remember the golden rule: when in doubt, call your doctor. No question is too small.
We wish you luck, mama!
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So you found out you are pregnant and you’re feeling a mix of incredible emotions.
The feelings of happiness, joy, nervousness, or surprise – maybe all are brewing inside you!
I feel you because it happens to every mommy-to-be. It’s such a delightful AND terrifying moment.
Once you get past the initial excitement you realize this joyful news comes with huge responsibilities as well.
On your 9-month journey, you should take the best possible care of yourself. So, let’s go through all the things you need to do and consider when you find out that you’re pregnant.
The following tips will keep you on the right track.
**Want Freebies For You And Your Baby? Get $330 Worth Of Gear! I have partnered with many companies to give you the best baby freebies online including Nursing Pillow, Pregnancy Pillows, Nursing Covers, Baby Leggings, Baby Clothes and so much more. You can find out how to get your freebies in this post right here.
By the way, this post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Important Things to Do When You Find Out You Are Pregnant
Make a Prenatal Appointment with a Gynecologist
The first thing you need to do is book an appointment with your doctor.
In most cases, the first prenatal visit is between 8 to 10 weeks. Sometimes up to 12 to 14 weeks depending on where you live and who your Doc is.
It’s very important that you pick your doctor carefully and read reviews from past patients.
You need to make sure you and your Doc are on the same page with beliefs and philosophies.
It really sucks to become invested with a Doc and later find out they don’t respect your ideas around pregnancy and birth.
I know this from experience.
So check Google reviews and interview them as well when you go in. If you find that you and your Doc don’t mesh well you still have time to get an appointment with another.
Must Read:
Start Taking Prenatal Vitamins
While waiting for your next appointment date, you should definitely begin taking multi-nutrient prenatal vitamins.
These supplements contain vitamins and minerals crucial for your overall well-being – such as vitamin C, Zinc, Copper, and Magnesium, etc.
Make sure that you’re consuming high-quality supplements that contain a reasonable ratio of all important vitamins and minerals.
Once you see your doctor they may give you a prescription prenatal especially formulated for you and your baby.
But until then you should take a high-quality vitamin like this one.
Likewise, refrain from using vitamin A or Retinol supplements separately because excessive vitamin A consumption during pregnancy can harm a baby.
Consume Folic Acid till You Become 12 weeks Pregnant
In addition to taking multivitamins, you need to make sure you’re taking folic acid during the first trimester of pregnancy.
It is known to prevent major birth defects of the brain and spine in the baby.
Start consuming 400 micrograms of folic acid every day for 12 weeks. Don’t wait till your first appointment, otherwise, it can be too late.
You may think about consuming it only through a natural diet, but it is difficult to consume this much folate from diet alone.
So, it’s best to consume it through supplements to fulfill your body’s folic acid needs.
Note: For the ones having a history of neural-tube or brain development defects in the family, doctors often recommend taking higher doses of folic acid i.e. 5 milligrams. If it is the case with you, consult a professional as soon as possible, and mention it explicitly during your checkup so your doctor can recommend the appropriate precautionary measures.
Track Your Symptoms & Document Your Pregnancy
As you move further into the first trimester of your pregnancy you may start to have morning sickness, indigestion, nausea, and cramps in your body.
Relax! These are some of the common pregnancy symptoms that happen to the majority of pregnant women in the first trimester.
Keeping track will help you ask appropriate questions and get the best health care advice from your Obgyn.
You can also buy pregnancy journals that are available online like this one.
Dozens of pre-written questions help you log your condition precisely.
You can also get my free pregnancy journal below. Just add your email and you can get it right away.
If you consider writing a journal for every pregnancy, you’ll be amazed how each pregnancy can be so completely different from another. It’s fun to look back and see how they differed.
Along with writing stuff don’t forget to capture plenty of pretty pregnancy pics so you can add them to your journals.
Focus On Your Nutrition
In the past, you may not have been that conscious about your diet before but you now have the responsibility of feeding that tiny sweet babe that’s growing inside of you as well.
So, you need to focus on your nutrition needs.
You need to eat nutrient-dense foods that nourish both you and your baby.
For instance, to fulfill your body’s increased calcium and iron needs, increase the intake of dairy products – milk, yogurt, and cheese, etc.
Likewise, for high-quality protein intake, lean meat and eggs are good to consume.
As far as diet is concerned, potassium is recommended for pregnant women suffering from leg cramps. You can consume potassium enriched fruits such as bananas and avocados.
There are some foods to avoid as well. Let’s take a look at the most common ones.
- Excess caffeine is associated with poor fetal growth and low birth weight. If you are a coffee person then restrict caffeine intake to under 200 mg per day.
- Likewise, alcohol intake should be completely avoided. Because it can severely affect the baby’s brain development.
- Stop consuming junk foods as well. They can put on unnecessary weight which leads to pregnancy complications.
Exercise Regularly
You can prepare for birth and healthy delivery through regular exercise.
Walking, jogging, low-intensity weight training, and parental yoga poses are good in this regard.
These stretches and exercises help create a flexible body and fast delivery.
In addition, you should pay special attention to strengthening your pelvic floor through recommended exercises.
This will help you cope with growing baby weight. The key here is to start slow but stay consistent.
Download A Pregnancy App
There are some great pregnancy apps that can help you track your symptoms and keep you informed on all you need to know.
‘ What to expect ‘ has a good one called Pregnancy And Baby Tracker.
These apps will help you stay educated about your body changes and baby development stages.
Likewise, there are fitness apps specifically designed for mommy-to-be.
They help you to explore recommended exercise poses. These apps are also packed with useful tips to keep your pregnancy healthy.
There’s a good one called Baby2Body you should check out.
Though these apps are helpful, you shouldn’t rely on them solely. Nothing can replace going to your Obgyn and getting regular checkups.
To Wrap It Up
There are lots of things you need to do when you find out you’re pregnant and this list is just a start.
You should keep practicing these recommendations till your first prenatal care visit.
After that, your Doc will provide you with further recommendations for your particular circumstances.
Happy pregnancy and we wish you luck!
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Pregnancy is a whirlwind of fun and excitement. It’s a little different for every mama and everyone has an opinion about how it will go for you.
But some surprising things happen that many don’t talk about and some weird symptoms often show up that can be confusing.
In the list below I go over strange things about pregnancy you may have not heard of until today.
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By the way, this post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
23 Things About Pregnancy That No One Tells You
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Morning Sickness Is All Day Sickness
Morning sickness often doesn’t go away in the mornings. It sometimes lasts and lasts all day long.
You may have heard of this before, it’s pretty common knowledge.
But you just can’t imagine how bad it can be until you’ve experienced it. Luckily there are safe medicines you can take if it gets out of control.
It can also last your whole pregnancy so if you feel like you need something talk to your doc and get a prescription to help.
Must Read: How To Survive The First Six Weeks With Your Baby
The First Hour After Birth, How To Make It Better And What To Expect
What To Expect The First 24 Hours After Birth
And What To Expect The First Week Home With Baby
There are some simple things that can help too like these pregnancy pops and these bands for your wrist. They are for motion sickness but work well for Morning Sickness. I used them myself so I highly recommend them.
Food Aversions are a thing
This is something I totally didn’t expect. You’re told that you’ll be so hungry during pregnancy and want to eat so much.
But for some ( like me ) everything will seem gross. Apples will taste and smell like onions and meat will be a complete no go.
****Want Freebies For You And Your Baby? Get $330 Worth Of Gear! I have partnered with many companies to give you the best baby freebies online including Nursing Pillow, Pregnancy Pillows, Nursing Covers, Baby Leggings, Baby Clothes and so much more. You can find out how to get your freebies in this post right here.
This is more common than you think and many don’t mention it when talking about pregnancy.
You feel sick when you don’t eat yet everything seems too nasty to ingest. I ended up drinking liquid cream just to get enough calories.
I have no answer for this issue. All I can say is I hope it is not as bad for you as it was for me.
You Shouldn’t Actually Eat For Two
If you’re one of those lucky gals who can eat then make sure you keep it in check. Don’t believe the old wive’s tale that you’re eating for two.
If you do this you may gain way more weight than you are supposed to.
You actually only need 300 to 500 extra calories a day throughout your whole pregnancy so keep that in mind when you’re enjoying all that food.
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The Tiredness Is Out Of This World
We all know that being tired is part of being pregnant, especially in the first trimester. I mean you’re building a brand new human and that takes a lot out of a person.
But the tiredness you experience is so intense it’s like a sickness. You feel SICK from exhaustion and this happens to most pregnant mamas. It’s very common.
I would go to work, get off at three, and go to bed by six. This happened my whole first trimester.
I was that tired. If I were able I would have stayed in bed 24 hours a day for three months.
So prepare yourself for this exhaustion by making plenty of room for sleep. Don’t make plans during that first trimester and warn your partner that you’ll need lots of extra rest.
You May Get Varicose Veins In Your Vagina
This one can be a real nasty surprise. You can actually get these thick bulging veins known as Varicose Veins that stick out of your vagina.
One morning during my third pregnancy I woke up and took a shower and I felt discomfort, itching, and swelling. I checked myself and what I found was crazy and scary.
Overnight I got huge veins just sticking right out of there. I called the doc and they said this is actually not that uncommon, especially if you’ve had more than one pregnancy.
So don’t freak out if it happens to you. It usually goes away after pregnancy and doesn’t become any sort of problem.
And Hemorrhoids
As your uterus gets bigger during pregnancy, the pressure it puts on veins can cause them to swell, also leading to hemorrhoids.
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anus and rectum and are common during pregnancy, unfortunately, especially in the third trimester when the enlarged uterus puts pressure on the veins.
So you can expect this as well. Here’s a good cream that can help if this becomes an issue for you as well. A good donut pillow is an excellent idea for the whole area while pregnant and especially after during your postpartum recovery.
It Can Hurt To Poop
Once your Uterus gets really large having a bowel movement can be painful. Especially if you become constipated.
While pushing you can touch some of the nerve systems inside of your body and it can hurt to push past them.
It only hurts for a moment but it is NOT good.
This was happening to me and that was how my doc explained what was going on. She said it doesn’t happen to every pregnant mama but it does to some, especially if your baby is big.
I had three pregnancies and it only happened during my first with my biggest baby.
Hopefully, this won’t occur with your pregnancy but if it does now you’ll know what’s going on.
Your nose will be stuffy
Your nose may become very blocked during pregnancy. It’s extremely annoying because on top of everything else you cannot breathe well.
It usually happens in the second trimester and lasts through the rest of your pregnancy.
If it does contact your doc, you may be able to take an oral decongestant.
You Can Get Carpal Tunnel
If you have tingling, numb and painful hands during pregnancy, especially at night, you likely have carpal tunnel syndrome.
CTS is very common in pregnancy. It happens when there is a build-up of fluid in your wrist and it puts pressure on the nerves in the area.
If you have CTS in one pregnancy, you are likely to have it in later pregnancies as well.
This condition typically goes away after you have your baby so don’t worry about it too much unless the pain becomes unbearable.
You Are Smelly
While pregnant your body is producing a crazy amount of hormones and it can make you smell strong. And because you’re pregnant you’ll be able to smell it much more than you otherwise would because your senses are heightened.
You may need to bathe often to wash away that hormonal residue so that you can feel more comfortable in your own skin.
Something else that is not often talked about is the smell after birth.
After birth, your body is spewing even more hormones as many changes begin to occur. You’ll smell double strong and it can be seriously unpleasant.
You’ll also have an intense smell from down there. It smells like a wound healing because, well it is.
Your placenta was ripped from the walls of your uterus and it has to heal. All those blood vessels were attached to it and it is, in fact, an open wound.
That wound smell can last for a couple of months unfortunately and it can be embarrassing. You can use a peri bottle like this to help cleanse yourself and you can bathe often. But until the inside of your uterus totally heals the smell will likely stay present.
Sex Will Change
Sex can go two ways during pregnancy. It will either disgust you and you’ll want nothing to do with it or you’ll be horny.
It seems that when women are pregnant with girls they’re more interested but with boys, it’s the other way around.
Or at least that is the pattern I’ve noticed with myself and others I have interviewed.
But everyone is different and we all respond to pregnancy hormones in our own way.
Your Skin Will Grow Things
Pregnancy hormones stimulate the hyperactive growth of certain cells in the top layer of skin. This can create unusual yucky bumps like skin tags.
Many women get these on their face, neck, underarms, and around their breasts during this time, but they usually go away after pregnancy. If they don’t head to the dermatologist.
There Will Be Cramps
Sometimes while pregnant you’ll have cramps and they can be scary.
During the first trimester as your uterus grows you can have them, or during the second trimester when your ligaments start to stretch.
It’s usually nothing to be alarmed about unless the pain is accompanied by blood in which case you should call your doctor right away.
You May Feel Sad
Not everyone is super excited to be pregnant. Even when you can’t wait to meet your baby you still may have depressed feelings.
It’s those pesky hormones that cause so many ups and downs so don’t expect to be over the moon all the time.
If you’re feeling down the best thing to do is get some extra rest. This will likely make all the difference in how you feel.
Heartburn Can Be Awful
Heartburn can be a real problem for mamas because of progesterone, the hormone that relaxes muscles during pregnancy.
It relaxes the stomach valve that keeps acid out of the esophagus. The growing uterus crowds the stomach as well, forcing acid into the esophagus.
You can avoid heartburn as much as possible by following the tips in this post on Healthline.
You’ll Be Constipated
Constipation in pregnant women is thought to occur due to hormones that relax the intestinal muscle and by the pressure of the expanding uterus on the intestines.
To avoid it as much as possible drink plenty of water and get lots of fiber. That will help some but you’ll have to live with it until you have your baby for the most part.
Your Feet May Get Bigger
The pregnancy hormone relaxin, which loosens the joints around your pelvis so your baby can make her way down into the birth canal, also loosens the ligaments in your feet, causing the foot bones to spread.
So your feet will be wider and this tends to be permanent. Just use it as an excuse to buy some new shoes.
Your Nose Will Get Bigger Too
This is one of the weirdest things that happen during pregnancy.
Nose swelling is due to increased estrogen levels, which helps blood flow to the mucous membranes and plumps up your nose as a result.
It does shrink back to normal after your baby is born though so at least there’s that.
It’s Hard To Breathe
When your baby is pressing up and all your organs are crowded breathing can become difficult.
It will feel like you just can’t take a deep breath and it’s exhausting. But like all other things in pregnancy, it will be over before you know it and you’ll be able to take that deep breath you’ve longed for all those months.
And You May Pee Yourself
When you laugh, when you cry, when you sneeze or cough. Or when you’re just breathing. These are all instances that you may wet yourself.
This is just one of the many woes of pregnancy but after your baby comes all the pressure will be gone and your muscles will strengthen back up. Usually.
You May Not Enjoy Being Pregnant
Pregnancy can be hard and not everyone enjoys it. I did for the most part but plenty of women can’t wait for it to end.
Don’t feel guilty if this is you. With all those changes comes a lot of discomforts so it’s no surprise that some women feel this way.
Just take it one day at a time and know that it will come to a glorious end and all that hard work will pay off and you’ll have your beautiful baby.
You’ll Be An Emotional Wreck After Delivery
Once your baby is born your body will move so fast that your mind cannot keep up. The changes that happen immediately are so profound it’s like being punched in the stomach.
Not to mention the emotional factors of having a baby, the relief that the birth is over and the overwhelming feelings of what will happen next.
You will be a wreck. It’s unavoidable but if you know to expect it that will help you keep some sense of calm and things will be just a tiny bit easier because of it.
So just be aware that there’s a storm coming. Take a few deep breaths and face it bravely.
Your Belly After Childbirth Will Be Horrifying
It sucks that our belly’s don’t just shrink back to their former glory.
But they certainly don’t and the crinkled saggy yet hard thing before you can be alarming. You have to accept that it will take time for things to get back to normal.
Most mamas know that this is the case but there is still some level of shock and worry when you’re weeks postpartum and you still look six months pregnant.
Give your body time to heal and then move into a fitness routine that is created just for postpartum mamas.
That is the safest and quickest path to recovery and weight loss. I highly recommend The Postpartum Cure if you want to get your body back as soon as possible. It’s the most popular program of it’s kind and it has helped thousands of mamas get that flat tummy back. You can see it here.
Pregnancy can be really fun but it also comes with a lot of weird surprises and I hope this list has helped you prepare for some of the unexpected!
Best of luck to you and your baby!
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Pregnancy is so exciting but It’s also a lot of hard work. Your body changes so quickly from day to day you never know what to expect when you wake up each morning.
Fortunately, there are tons of pregnancy hacks that will make the whole nine months so much easier.
Read on to discover the best pregnancy hacks across the internet that will help make your pregnancy a breeze.
Must Read: 6 Ways To Induce Labor Naturally At Home And One Way I’m Not So Sure About
And 18 Lifesaving C-Section Recovery Tips you Need To Know Right Now
**By the way, this post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Pregnancy Hacks That Will Every Mama Should Know
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Make A Belly Band Yourself So You Can Wear Your Regular Shirts
Picture Via A Beautiful Mess.
You can make your own belly band so that you can wear your pre-pregnancy clothes for so much longer. It’s simple and you can find out how to do it over at A Beautiful Mess, one of my favorite blogs!!
Use A Pregnancy Planner
Using a Pregnancy Planner is a great way to log the events of your pregnancy as well as make important decisions. You can get a completely free Bohemian style pregnancy planner I created below and print it out and use it to plan everything from your nursery, your budget, your appointments and more. You will also get a weekly sheet to write out your thoughts and feelings that will tell you the size and shape of your babe that week as she grows. It’s all a lot of fun! Grab your’s free below.
Consume Ginger To Fight Nausea
Drinking Ginger Tea or Eating Ginger candy will work WONDERS when you are nauseated. The natural compounds in ginger will soothe your stomach muscles and prevent you from vomiting, at least some of the time.
It’s well known and has been used for this purpose for centuries. Here’s a great ginger candy that many pregnant women use and love and here’s an awesome tea.
Just Posted: 5 Things that happen when you have an epidural that no one tells you about!
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Must Read: How to get through Postpartum pain without crying
And 7 Horrible ways You’re Making your Labor So Much More Painful
What Nobody Tells You About The First Few Weeks Postpartum
Or Use Preggie Pops or Drops
These are the go-to drops for pregnant mamas who have a lot of nausea. They work really well and you can find them on Amazon right here.
I used them all the way through my pregnancy all the way up to labor ( because my nausea wouldn’t die ) and they kept me from vomiting so many times.
Want Freebies For You And Your Baby? Get $330 Worth Of Gear! I have partnered with many companies to give you the best baby freebies online including Nursing Pillow, Pregnancy Pillows, Nursing Covers, Baby Leggings, Baby Clothes and so much more. You can find out how to get your freebies in this post right here.
Apple Cider Vinegar For Reflux
Many women who’ve never had reflux before discovering the physical torture it can cause during pregnancy. It can be terrible and it often happens at night when you’re trying to get your precious sleep.
One easy way to remedy acid reflux is with some good old Apple Cider Vinegar. It will help neutralize the acid and calm your system down and it does work wonders. I used it myself and still do.
Plus it’s just good for your health. You need to get Raw Vinegar and Braggs is the best on the market.
Organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar (like Bragg’s) also contains “mother,” strands of proteins, enzymes and friendly bacteria that give the product a murky appearance. That’s the good stuff that makes it so potent.
Use Belly Armor To Protect your Babe
Everyone uses devices these days and we often have a tablet, laptop, or phone in front of us sitting on our bodies. But this has been proven to cause harm. Well, Belly Armor Can Help Protect your babe.
You should be actively working to prevent this kind of electromagnetic radiation exposure for your unborn child ( and after he’s born as well ).
Belly Armor makes products to help minimize the risk. I wholeheartedly support their efforts and products and I think they are a must for every mother and baby.
You can get the belly armor belly wrap, Nursing Wraps, blankets, and even hats for after your babe is born. Really good stuff and there should be more companies like this making awesome products that address this issue. You can find out more about Belly Armor right here or in the banner below.
Use Kinesiology Tape
Photo via the Diary Of A Fit Mom.
Using Kinesiology Tape will help support your skin and the weight of your belly. Many pregnant women use it and find it very helpful. You can wear the tape for several days at a time comfortably. I highly recommend it.
TheraBand Kinesiology Tape is your best choice and it comes in pretty designs and colors. It’s also waterproof so you can wear it in the shower if needed.
Find out more about Kinesiology tape and pregnancy over at Diary Of A Fit Mom.
Eat Dates To Shorten Labor
Eating Dates to shorten labor is an old wive’s tales that’s been passed around for centuries. But now there are studies proving this old myth to be true.
It’s certainly worth a try and with scientific evidence backing it up, it may be a good idea, because you’ll want your labor to be as short as possible. Believe me… Find out more over at Wellness Mama, another blog that I adore and recommend.
Take A Prenatal Course And A Breastfeeding Course Too
Taking a prenatal course is the single most proactive thing you can do to prepare your body and mind for what’s to come. There’s a great online course you can take in the comfort of your home that was created by a labor and delivery nurse named Hillary. It’s very popular and the first part of it is totally free. You can sign up for free right here.
If you plan on breastfeeding there’s another great course called Milkology that teaches you everything you need to know about breastfeeding in a couple hours and it’s only $19.
Many women think breastfeeding is a natural, simple process but actually, it’s pretty hard work. Getting the latch right can be super hard and painful if you don’t get it right in the first hour or so. Taking a course prevents all the guesswork. You can check out Milkology right here.
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What To Expect During The First Trimester
Use A Pregnancy Pillow
After the first trimester of pregnancy, you’ll need to sleep on your side and a pregnancy pillow is an absolute must-have for comfort. Sleeping While pregnant is hard enough and without the proper support, you’ll be losing rest you really need.
Here’s a really great one available through Amazon at a good price. It’s the one I had and loved through two of my three pregnancies.
Use These Jeans Extenders to Keepy Wearing Your pre-pregnancy pants
Pregnancy Jean extenders are these little nifty things you attach to the button of your pants so that your pants are looser. They will allow you to wear your regular jeans for a couple more months.
I had a bunch of them and wore them after pregnancy too while I got back into shape. They’re another pregnancy must-have. You can find the one pictured above here on Amazon.
Use Cocoa butter On Your Tummy
Using Cocoa butter on your pregnant belly will help prevent stretch marks, at least from my experience. I have had three babies and it worked every time.
Some say that this doesn’t work but every mama I know who used it didn’t get the dreaded marks and the ones who didn’t bother did! You be the judge.
Many women claim that it helped them and I’m inclined to believe it does as well. You can find a great belly butter right here. It’s my favorite and I used it each time I was pregnant.
Padsicles
If you don’t know much about postpartum yet you’re probably wondering what the heck a padsicle is.
Padsicles are Perineal Cold Packs that you put up against your vagina after birth to help ease the pain and take down the swelling. They are VERY necessary and really help take the pain away. You can buy them here.
I’ve always said here on the blog that so much education and effort is put into learning about what to do during pregnancy and childbirth but we ignore the aftermath, which can and often is very painful.
Getting Educated about how to help yourself during the postpartum period is vital for your comfort so that you can enjoy your little bundle as much as possible. Here’s a great post that will tell you everything you need to know.
Do Prenatal Yoga For Easier Birth
Prenatal yoga is an excellent way to condition your body so that you will be ready for birth. It helps pregnant women to develop proper breathing and relaxation techniques for easier and more comfortable labor.
It also helps stretch you out just right. It’s a really good low impact exercise that will help keep you fit and calm. Look for a local class near you, buy a video or just look up some videos on YouTube.
Buy Bra Extensions
Bra extensions are a good way to keep using the bras you love as your body and breast begin to expand. They will allow extra comfort and can be used over and over.
You can also use them on your nursing bras until you lose the baby weight. You can get them in any color to match your bras. Here are some great ones you should check out. Priced well too.
Get A Pregnancy Box Subscription!
Pregnancy box subscriptions are a fun way to discover products that you can use while pregnant and when the baby comes. It’s exciting to see what comes each month.
Ecocentric Mom sub boxes are the best you can get. They carry all organic products that are safe for both you and your babe. You can get boxes from the very beginning of your pregnancy up until your babe is two or so. Check them out here or in the banner below.
Soak Feet In Tonic Water
Your feet can get really swollen during pregnancy. It’s a real problem.
It happens because your body retains more fluid during pregnancy. Also, your growing uterus puts pressure on your veins, which impairs the return of blood to your heart. Hormonal changes also play a role as well.
Soaking your feet in room temperature – or cold tonic water can help relieve the swelling. The quinine and the bubbles can help reduce inflammation. It works so give it a try!
Oatmeal Bath For Itchy Skin
As your belly and body expand there will be some itching, and An oatmeal bath is very soothing to your stretched out skin.
Use the recipe below to help soothe your skin:
Blend together oats, baking soda, and milk powder in a food processor or mixing bowl. Then scoop 1/2 cup of this mixture into your bath water and soak for 20 minutes.
Do you have any awesome tips you want to share that helped you get through pregnancy? Let us know in the comments below!
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