8 More Things You Need to Survive Your Pregnancy
On May 7, 2021 by Megan FolsomLet’s face it. Pregnancy is not always rainbows and butterflies and it’s not a quick, walk in the park. Everyone’s experience with pregnancy is so different, but I think we can all agree that there’s a learning curve and some discomfort.
We all just want to thrive and feel comfortable. As pregnant moms, we want to do what’s best for our cute babies and take care of our bodies. No matter what you’re struggling with as you prepare for your new baby, these pregnancy must-haves will be useful for you!
These things will enhance your pregnancy, help you stay feeling well, hydrated and comfortable. Plus, they all make amazing gifts for any pregnant mom friends in your life. I definitely would have appreciated a thoughtful care package full of pregnancy must-haves when I was pregnant and sick as a dog!
Before you read this one, make sure you have read part 1 of the other 9 Things You Need to Survive Your Pregnancy. That one has a lot more ideas that will help with issues like nausea, morning sickness and back pain that often accompany pregnancy.
Related Post: 9 Things You Need to Survive Your Pregnancy
Pregnancy Must-Haves
Exercise Ball
When I was pregnant, my doctor and chiropractor both recommended ordering an exercise ball. I found a very affordable one that has held up really well.
You can use these in place of a chair, to give your back some relief. Plus, you can use them to roll out your back and hips. When you’re trying to prepare your body for labor, you can also bounce on the exercise ball daily. Finally, exercise balls are often used once you are in labor for relief and are also used for certain birthing positions.
The exercise ball that I ordered (below) is under $20 and also came with its own pump to inflate it!
Loose Dresses
If you’re anything like me, you will probably LIVE in comfortable dresses, especially around the house. At some point, probably pretty early, in your pregnancy, everything starts to feel tight. Even though my belly wasn’t huge yet in my first trimester, I actually found that I felt even more nauseous if I had tight clothes on around my waist.
During my pregnancy, I had some cuter maternity dresses for going out and some more casual, loungewear ones for hanging out at home. Fortunately, I was able to wear the lounge dresses throughout my pregnancy at home, at the hospital and then during my postpartum recovery period.
RELATED POST: Maternity Dresses and Loungewear for Pregnancy, Delivery, Postpartum and Breastfeeding
Maternity Leggings
If you’re pregnant in the Fall or Winter, you will probably appreciate a good pair (or three) of comfortable, maternity leggings. (You’ll probably switch them out for biker shorts or skirts and dresses if you’re pregnant through the Spring and Summer, though.)
I had a few pairs of inexpensive leggings that I cycled through during my pregnancy. Next time around, I will be investing in a nice pair though, because I will definitely get my money’s worth out of them. Higher quality ones will last longer and will be more flattering for sure!
Pregnancy Pillow
Anytime I ask moms what their must-haves were for pregnancy, they mention pregnancy pillows! I hear that it completely changes your sleep and level of comfort when laying down. A lot of people use them to help stay comfortable during postpartum recovery as well.
If you run hot like me, you’ll want a more breathable fabric like cotton, rather than the typical polyester.
To be completely honest, I have actually never owned or tried one of these before, but I fully intend to get one next time around. These are the top-rated pregnancy pillows online.
Naps
Honestly, take them where you can get them. If you have other kids, do not, under any circumstances, feel guilty for sleeping while they nap or hiring a babysitter so you can rest. Pregnancy is EXHAUSTING and your body is working HARD.
If anyone tells you otherwise… they either haven’t been pregnant before or they have forgotten how tiring it is. Either way, grab your pregnancy pillow, take a nap and enjoy it (every day, if you can).
But, if you’re feeling like being productive would help you feel more rested… be sure to start doing these 15 things to prepare before going into labor! They’ll definitely help the time pass by faster and help you feel less stressed during your first few weeks with your cute, new baby.
Tums
That pregnancy indigestion is SO rough sometimes… Maybe TMI (too much information), but I definitely woke up in the middle of the night more than once with food coming back up.
Once the baby gets bigger, usually in the third trimester, your stomach starts losing significant amount of space in your belly. That means, there’s not much room for it to expand or hold your food, unfortunately. The acid reflux is a result of that and one of the only things I found that helped was Tums.
Actually, I kept an entire bottle of Tums in my nightstand, because it usually hit me worst at bedtime or in the middle of the night. I also kept another bottle of them in the bathroom, because that’s usually where I went when it got bad enough. You’ll probably also want to have some in a baggie or travel case to toss into your bag when you go out. Definitely better to be safe than sorry!
Insulated Water Bottle
Keep one on hand always! It’s so easy to get dehydrated when you’re not feeling well, but it’s really important to stay hydrated for everyone’s health. Plus, it will help prevent headaches, swelling and cramps.
I’d even recommend keeping different water bottles filled and available in different areas of the house where you spend a lot of time. That way, if you forget one and you’re feeling too sick or nauseous to stand back up and get it, you’ll have another one nearby.
I really loved using this one or any good, insulated water bottle, because they keep your water cold for much longer and icy water was much easier for me to keep down.
Ice
For some reason, ice just makes everything better. It’s pretty common in pregnancy to crave ice, too. Some types of ice are definitely better than others, AKA Sonic’s pebble ice trumps all. Either way, it was a lot easier for me to get drinks down and stay hydrated when they were ICE cold.
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