Our sweet girl is 4 months old & I’ve caught myself going through the pictures and memories of pregnancy and her first few days home with happy tears. It’s bittersweet seeing her grow and develop so quick. I want her to stay little and snuggly but also grow and develop. Anyone else know the struggles?!
If I’m honest, being pregnant wasn’t my favorite. I loved knowing that my body was capable of growing a tiny human and that God made me to do that. I loved getting to be “home” for our little girl for 9 months. But it was HARD! I was tired 24/7, physically slow and weak, swollen, and ate junk food way too much. Love the outcome and what we gained, not a huge fan of the process. Crazy because there are some people who love being pregnant. That’s just not me!
During those crazy times of change and weird symptoms, I found some things that I really enjoyed having to keep me comfy, ease pain, and make the journey easier. And I wanted to share those things with any soon-to-be moms or ladies who are planning to be pregnant anytime in the future.
Emetrol
Not everyone deals with morning sickness during pregnancy. And some have it worse than others. I didn’t have it consistently or in the mornings. My crappy-feeling episodes were random and at varied times of day. When I would get nauseous, I found that Emetrol was really helpful in soothing my stomach, and it was an easy medicine to take as far as taste goes. Plus, it was approved by my OB for me to take during pregnancy with no risks to me or baby.
Maternity Leggings
By the second trimester, jeans were not happening for me. I hated the discomfort of them and how tight they had gotten on me. If I wasn’t in scrubs, I had THESE LEGGINGS on for every occasion! I took a risk and ordered this 3-pack of maternity leggings from Amazon and they turned out to be my favorite thing to wear. They weren’t see-through or too expensive like most maternity clothes are. I bought a size XL because I knew I’d want some more breathing room and to be able to wear them the whole 9 months. The adjustable band around the belly made it easy to fit to my growing baby bump, too. Added bonus, there are multiple color options available!
Altra Tennis Shoes
I expected foot pain towards the end of the third trimester due to the added weight and stress to my physical self, but I started with pain in my feet within the first couple of months of pregnancy. Even when I would wear my Brooks tennis shoes, I would be in tears by lunchtime. My dad has battled with plantar fasciitis for years and raves about Altra tennis shoes. I tried THIS PAIR on and was instantly in-love. These are the only shoes that didn’t hurt my feet and allowed me to be up and at it for longer lengths of time. I ended up with another pair for Christmas and was able to alternate between the two the whole 9 months. I still wear and love them!
Auden Nursing Bra
By the third trimester, my pre-pregnancy sports bras weren’t fitting. I knew that I wanted to breastfeed if possible so I figured I would go ahead and buy some supportive nursing bras before Oakley arrived. No point in sizing up in basic sports bras and then spending more money on bras for breastfeeding. Pregnancy and babies are expensive! I’ve tried the Kindred nursing bras but am not a fan. They have too many layers for my liking and cause me to sweat even more than I already do post-partum. The AUDEN NURSING BRA from Target was, and still is, my favorite to wear. They are super comfortable, more breathable, and easy to use with breastfeeding.
Cushions
My back and tailbone pain really flared up at the end of the second trimester. At the time, I was working full time as a home health therapist. I was in and out of my car for 8+ hours 5 days a week. My back did not like the support my SUV gave me. I needed more lumbar cushioning. I added THIS cushion and it helped tremendously! I also bought a cushion for dinner times to soften the hard kitchen surface. Those of you guys who have heated seats in your vehicles, take advantage cause that would’ve been nice too!
To the pregnant gals, congratulations but also hang in there! It’s hard but so worth it! And if your OB approves the occasional latte, treat yourself! You deserve it!
Moms who have been through it before, what were some of your pregnancy must-haves or tips you found helpful during those 9-months? Comment below!
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Find your people!!! Someone who will give you a good foot/leg massage or a big hug, who will cook a meal for your family so you can relax, or someone who will hold a cold rag on your neck when you are sick….. someone who sees your pregnancy struggles and will find cool ways to relieve it! 🙂 Those people are lifesavers!