I was not going to get a 'pregnancy pillow' because I figured it was just a glorified body pillow and would make no difference. Well, Nick decided I should try it (I really do have the most incredible husband) so we got one, and it turned out to be a life saver! I totally recommend it!! It makes getting comfortable so much easier, it really does fit your body better than other pillows, and it makes for a much better night sleep. I can only speak about the Boppy total body pillow, but this is the one I suggest over all the others. There are a lot of options on how you can position it and sleep with it, and I am in love! Nick even kind of uses it and plans to steal it when I am no longer pregnant!
Cardigans!! I kinda love them anyway, but they are perfect for when you are pregnant. You can stick to buying regular ones...no need to waste money on maternity ones. For a while they will still button over your belly, they will even stretch some, and then you can wear them open. They work throughout the whole pregnancy, plus you can still wear them after the fact. It also allows you to have light layers because you never know when the pregnant hot flash will occur. They gave my lots of clothing options without having to drop loads of money on maternity clothes that I won't wear again for awhile. Comfort, style, practicality, and ease all in one!
Palmer's Tummy Butter! I know they say you can't prevent stretch marks and that lotion companies say you can, but whatever the case I love this stuff and, finger crossed for the next two weeks, I have no stretch marks!! So, I am a full on believer of the stuff. More than that though, it keeps your skin super moisturized, soothes itching, and keeps your skin firm all at the same time. I originally had no idea that my stomach would itch because I was pregnant. My mom and Nick would yell at me if I scratched at all, but sometimes I just couldn't help it. The tummy butter totally helped with that! It also made my skin so soft and helped it from getting dry while it was stretching to ridiculous limits. Plus, it helps to also keep your skin firm. I will keep using it for a little while after Mason is born because of this. I still want moisturized skin, and this will help firm it up while it is trying to shrink down. Again, I love this stuff and didn't get any stretch marks while using it! Nick wasn't the biggest fan of rubbing it on me, but he was an excellent sport and did it every time I asked. It does start out kind of greasy but that goes away once your skin starts to absorb the moisture it needs. The smell is good too; however, Delilah, one of our dogs, tries to lick my stomach when she can smell it on me.
What to Expect When Expecting App! I have an I-phone and I love this app! It gives you weekly info about the baby and your body, and it has daily information too. I loved reading my little daily info each morning to start my day. It also has a place for your weekly pictures so you can see your belly getting bigger. Plus, it keeps track of how far along you are, counts down how long is left, tells you about how big the baby is getting, and gives you a wonderful fruit reference for the baby's size. Nick and I both have it and love reading it and having a daily update/suggestion/information/idea. The picture is not of mine but this is exactly what it looks like.
Linen Maternity Pants! I got mine from Motherhood Maternity, and they are the best and most comfortable thing ever! Once you get a full on belly these pants are wonderful. They are super comfortable, light and cool, you can dress them up or down, and they are cute and fashionable too! These pants have seriously been amazing in my last tri-mester because they allowed me to be comfortable yet work appropriate. Highly recommend that you find a pair if and when you are pregnant!
These are a few of the things that helped me survive my pregnancy. I would recommend them over and over to anyone expecting. I know several bloggers have shared things they are loving the first few weeks and months of their babies lives and thought I would share something for those who are still waiting on their little ones to arrive!
