Making Pregnancy Comfortable – Recommends:

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E. C. Gliva

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Seeing that double line on that test can bring a flurry of thoughts and emotions but one thing is for sure: You’re pregnant! Whether this was planned or an accident, you have entered a world of unknowns. You start asking yourself “what do I need?” And there are a lot of products out there for you to choose from. Some of it is great and makes your life easier. Others, are just stuff that looks helpful in theory, but you probably won’t use it. Here are some basic things I would recommend to start with to make your pregnancy more comfortable.

First of all, I used the app BabyCenter Pregnancy Tracker. It gave some useful information and kept you informed of what was coming. Plus, it is free. I also watched YouTuber @Soul Tribe Mama. She provided a lot of helpful tips and products I did not initially consider when I was pregnant. My midwife also recommended the Spinning Babies website, which includes exercises I used to help get my son to flip.

I do buy a lot on Amazon, which is why I am an Amazon Affiliate. I do earn on qualifying purchases.

Pregnancy Pains

You may be a lucky one that loves the pregnancy experience. That is wonderful! Enjoy it! Revel in it and count yourself blessed. Some of us did not, or do not enjoy the experience. I love my babies, but I was miserable for most of my pregnancy, especially the second one. To alleviate some of the re-occurring pain lift some of that stress burden and make you more comfortable. A lot of normal remedies are off the table when you are pregnant, so below are some that are safe for you and the kiddo.

Nausea – I was in a constant state of nausea. My second pregnancy got to a point that I asked for some anti-nausea medication. However, there are a few ways to mitigate the nausea without a prescription that I found helpful:

  • Ginger chews – I actually bought these at Ross when I saw them while waiting for checkout. They tasted good and helped ease my stomach.
  • Peppermint and Ginger herbal teas – Just be certain you are getting herbal teas and not the green tea infusions.
  • Peppermint candies – keep them in your bag and hand them old like the old ladies do. You can ease stomach aches and have fresh breath at the same time.

Body Aches – As you get further along in your second and third trimester your body is going to change, and not just growing a bump. Your ligaments are loose, your feet start to spread, your hips are widening, and your back hurts. Well, you can’t take ibuprofen. You can take Tylenol, and that is it. I tried not to take it, simply because what you take, your baby also takes. So I used it sparingly. Here are some ways to add a little comfort and help ease the pain without medication:

  • Foot Soaks with Epsom Salt – I recommend fragrance free. You don’t know what is going to bother your nose (and nausea).
  • Massages (yes! You can get a full body massage during all trimesters. Most massage therapists are trained to give massages to pregnant women. If you are uncertain, just ask.)
  • Heat Wrap – just remember not to apply to your belly. Just like you don’t want to be in hot tubs or hot baths, you don’t want to overheat your body.
  • Stretch! – hip opener stretches will do wonders for your legs and low back. Cat/cow for your upper back. And stretch those calves! Just keep the twists to a minimum.

**a note on chiropractors, I would recommend ones that are familiar with the Webster Technique.

Pregnancy Clothes

As you start growing that baby bump you deserve to be comfortable! A lot of women like to buy all the cute clothes, and that is wonderful. Maternity clothes, unfortunately, get expensive for only using them for a few months. Luckily, some of the shirt and pant styles are made with post-pregnancy in mind.

I would wait on getting a new bra until closer to the end of the third trimester. You really don’t know how much these puppies will grow. Use a low impact sports bra if you are spilling out of your normal bra until you level off.

  • I liked PinkBlushMaternity. Their shirts were long enough to cover everything and I can still wear them today.
  • Rinfit Silicone Ring – It’s not really something you think about, but your fingers swell too. I bought this ring for cheap and it is nice looking, and durable.

Comfort

Just as you want to be comfortable in your clothes, you will also want to be comfortable sitting and lying down. I overlooked these small details until it was too late and just suffered through it when it was not necessary to do so.

  • Yoga Ball – This is something that your doctor or midwife will encourage you to use. And it feels great on the back and hips. It also strengthens your core, so, win-win. When I was still working and on desk duty while 8 months pregnant, I used a yoga ball at my desk. It made sitting tolerable.
  • Body pillow – As you start getting front-heavy you will have to start laying on your side, but this needs support. You could use a bunch of pillows like I did, but it gets frustrating. Get yourself a good body pillow to give your arms and legs the support they need.
  • Coconut Oil – get yourself some pure coconut oil to keep in your bathroom. I would recommend using it to massage the lady bits to minimize tearing. Starting sooner, the better. Plus it can keep UTIs at bay since it is a natural anti-microbial.

To Sum it all Up

These are just a few of the items to consider. But, for all the flurry around baby stuff, most of it is around comfort and ease. If you are planning on having multiple children, I would recommend investing in good items that you can reuse. Find deals and free items for the ones you can’t reuse. The most important thing is that you keep yourself healthy.

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