Belly Butter, Oils & Creams
NOBODY wants stretch marks so this is one of my most crucial regimes. I’ve been using this Mother’s Special Blend Toning Oil which I absolutely love. It can take some time to absorb so when I’m ready to put my pajamas on right away I apply this belly butter from the Honest Company. It has a thicker consistency and I run out of it much faster than the oil but I really liked it. I also started using Mustela’s Stretch Marks Prevention Cream. I’ll usually apply the cream liberally after a shower massaging it well into my breasts, belly, hips and thighs.
Pregnancy Apps
There are so many apps out there, when I got pregnant my sister in law who is a mom of four suggested the babycenter pregnancy app. Since she’s been a mom to four babies and knows a thing or two about pregnancy I had to check it out and see what it was all about. The app tracks your weekly pregnancy showing the growth of your baby as it compares your growing baby to the size of fruits and veggies, this week I’m 24 weeks and my baby is the size of an ear of corn! It also shows you articles of many different concerns you might have while pregnant. Like, is it safe to eat honey? The app also gives you great tips on safe exercises and healthy eating & recipe tips while pregnant.
Maternity Support Belt
Since my 20th week of pregnancy I began getting a lot of back pain. My mom told me that she used a maternity support belt by Loving Comfort while pregnant to help ease pain in your lower back and fatigue. So of course my mom got me my own maternity support belt for me to use. Since using it, it’s helped take the strain off my back and helps support my tummy and back since I have added weight in my abdomen. It makes a huge difference when you wear it all day and I’m so glad I have it now that I’m pregnant. Saying this though, not everyone is going to have a support belt, which is fine. There are many other ways that women can help ease back pains while pregnant. A friend of mine mentioned that even if someone decides to change their pillows/mattresses, this could be a way to help improve comfort and reduce the pains in the back. It may be worth it to click here for a beginner guide to buying a back pain mattress. Being pregenant isn’t easy, but there are ways that can make it a lot more managable.
Books
There are lot of books that I’m enjoying reading while being pregnant. When my family & friends found out I was pregnant they immediately gifted me pregnancy books to help guide me through my pregnancy. One of the books I was gifted is Your Pregnancy week by week. This is my first pregnancy and this book has given me a breakdown of what I should be expecting each week. Since there are rapid changes to both mothers and babies, doctors refer to a pregnancy in increments of weeks not months or trimesters. So far I’ve been right on track with each week according to my OBGYN. Some symptoms I don’t have… for the most part my pregnancy has been a smooth ride, thankfully.
Prenatal Vitamins
I researched so many different prenatal vitamins and I tried a few different types before sticking to one that I loved. I must say, each pregnancy is different and what works for me may not work for you. I found that trial and error was the best way to find the right vitamins and although it did take a while to find some that I liked, I did finally do it. After much research I found that the Prenatal Daily Duo: Prenatal One + DHA by Rainbow Light was the prefect pair of vitamins for me. It consists of one tablet and one soft-gel per day. It’s a one month supply of vitamins so you have to either stock up on them or head to the store each month. I like taking mine each morning while I eat my daily breakfast my nails and hair have definitely benefited from these vitamins as well!
Pregnancy Pillow
Once I hit my 2nd trimester into my 5 month of pregnancy I started having a lot of back aches and my stomach began to finally expand, I can feel the stretching and aching. At night I opted for a pregnancy pillow to help position my body more comfortably. I really like the Boppy Prenatal Support Pillow which helps me rest more comfortable but I’ve also heard that the Snoogle is a great option for a pregnancy pillow.
Pregnancy-Safe Beauty & Skincare
Since becoming pregnant I’ve definitely changed up my skincare & beauty routine. There are so many ingredients in beauty products that should be avoided while pregnant & breastfeeding like salicylic acid, retinoids and paragons just to name a few. Since I had problematic skin I was always relying on a cleanser with salicylic acid but I’ve switched my facial cleanser to an organic all natural cleanser by Tata Harper. I love their Nourishing Oil Cleanser. It’s a great makeup remover and softening daily face wash. It leaves my skin feeling hydrated without feeling greasy. I’ve also switched out my daily moisturizer for raw and unrefined Shea Butter by Alaffia, I actually purchased this at my local Whole Foods market you can find all natural unrefined shea butter at any natural food store or online. Shea butter is great because it softens your skin and also reduces inflammation.
So this is what I’ve been relying on while being pregnant. I’d love to know if there’s any must-have essentials you found helpful during pregnancy? Any products that made your life a little better? I’d love to hear and try them out as well!
