Pregnancy is a complete mash-up of a time. On the one hand, it’s absolutely amazing – I mean, you’re growing a human being! And it’s also really hard – I mean, YOU’RE GROWING A HUMAN BEING!
As such, there are some things that can make your pregnancy experience easier and more comfortable, or at least take the edge off some of the more problematic pregnancy symptoms.
My top ten items that I truly appreciated during my pregnancy were (And please note that the links provided are affiliate links, so I would earn a small commission if a sale is made through them, at no extra cost to the buyer. All products listed are products I have used myself postpartum and genuinely would recommend):
A good Moisturiser or Body Lotion
Your body is going to stretch and grow during pregnancy, and you’re going to need a good product to keep your skin hydrated and supple as it goes through this ordeal. If you’re ‘lucky’, like me, you may experience itchiness in pregnancy as well, which a good moisturiser can help. I used Sukin Sensitive Soothing Body Lotion: https://amzn.to/2WUHD4B
Prenatal Vitamins
While you should be attempting to make sure your diet incorporates all the nutrients you need to sustain and nourish both yourself and your baby, it’s highly recommended that you take a prenatal multivitamin including folic acid. I used a vegan formula from Solgar which didn’t make me feel nauseous, as I found other brands to do so: https://amzn.to/2xyEm0i
Ginger Tea
If you’re suffering from morning sickness, as I did, you’ll be looking for something to help stem the nausea. For me, ginger tea really helped! I loved Pukka’s Ginger Tea: https://amzn.to/3ayLKqW
Snacks
Despite the fact that snacking regularly and not allowing your stomach to get empty has been proven to help with morning sickness, snacking throughout your pregnancy, whether suffering from nausea or not, helps make sure you’re keeping your energy levels up and eating enough to sustain your growing baby. I loved snacking on things like flapjack and energy bars during my pregnancy.
Pregnancy-safe Nose Spray and a Humidifier
During my first trimester and into my second, I experienced nasal congestion, which I found out was a common pregnancy complaint. At night my nose would be so dry and stuffy that I couldn’t breathe through it, and when sleep was already getting difficult due to general pregnancy discomfort and the constant urge for the loo, adding another barrier to a good night’s sleep was not ideal. Something that really helped for me was Sterimar nasal spray. Most nasal decongestants on the market are not safe for use in pregnancy, but Sterimar is basically just water and salt, so it’s safe for pregnant ladies: https://amzn.to/2Ut3RZQ. I also ended up investing in a humidifier which helped a lot as well: https://amzn.to/39pvXJS.
Water Bottle
Keeping hydrated is so important during pregnancy! Having a water bottle nearby all the time makes staying hydrated a breeze. Need I say more? My choice is a stainless steel bottle like the Klean Kanteen. I plan to replace it with a proper Klean Kanteen once my knock-off’s lifespan is complete: https://amzn.to/33W4ZZj
Pregnancy Pillow
As I mentioned earlier, sleep can be tough when pregnant. Your growing body, changing in shape, is sometimes difficult to manoeuvre into a comfortable sleeping position. And then once you can’t sleep on your back or stomach anymore, your side can get very sore from constantly lying on it. A pregnancy pillow to support your bump and your hips can be an absolute lifesaver! I used a DreamGenii: https://amzn.to/2UOEMr9
Ina May Gaskin’s Guide to Childbirth
This book changed my whole outlook on pregnancy and childbirth, helped ease any anxieties I had about the event of childbirth, and helped shape my ideas over what I wanted throughout my pregnancy care and during my labour and birth. I cannot recommend it enough! https://amzn.to/39wJWO2
Comfortable, well-fitting clothing
Let’s face it, our bodies change during pregnancy. Soon you won’t fit in your regular clothing – and there is nothing worse than feeling uncomfortable in too-tight clothing whilst bloated or expanding. Invest in some comfortable clothes to fit your changed body shape. I bought all my maternity clothing secondhand, apart from my maternity and nursing bras, which I bought first-hand.
Red Raspberry Leaf Tea
While there is a lot of debate about this particular item online, I believe in what the majority of midwives say about it: Red Raspberry Leaf Tea helps to strengthen the uterus, but won’t actually bring on labour. I’ve been drinking it in my third trimester, building up the number of cups I drink a day, and not only is it theoretically preparing my uterus for an easier labour, but it also tastes great and helps keep me hydrated! Win win. I Drank this one: https://amzn.to/39sRYHD
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