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Today we are talking about pregnancy hacks, every expecting mom should know!
Whether you’re a first-time mom-to-be or are pregnant with your second child (or third or more!), those nine months leading up to birth are an undeniably wondrous and life-changing experience.
However, pregnancy can also bring on a flood of conflicting emotions. There may be days when just powering through the day becomes impossible due to morning sickness or you are bothered by stretch marks, the swelling of your feet or the painful and sensitive nipples.
Whatever the case may be, these pregnancy hacks we've put together will make it easier for you, from coping with morning sickness to adjusting to the changes in your body and getting ready for the arrival of your baby.
“You are pregnant and you are powerful. You are bold and you are beautiful. Go forward in your boldness, in your beauty and in your contentedness. Trust your body to birth and know that the collective power of women worldwide will be with you.”
30 PREGNANCY HACKS EVERY EXPECTANT MOMS SHOULD KNOW TO MAKE PREGNANCY EASIER
1.Eat smaller, more frequent meals
Having an empty stomach will often make nausea worse. So try to eat smaller portions but more frequent meals, rather than eating three large meals, to keep nausea at bay.
2.KEEP A BASKET OF SNACKS ON THE NIGHTSTAND
Try eating some saltine crackers or even bread, as soon as you wake up. Saltine crackers contain sodium bicarbonate which helps to settle stomach acids and gives relief from feeling queasy.
3.TRY GINGER TO SOOTHE YOUR STOMACH
Ginger is great for an unsettled stomach. Try taking ginger tea, ginger ale or even some ginger preserves.
4. SKIP GREASY AND SPICY FOOD
Steer clear of greasy foods as well as spicy dishes, since they can make morning sickness worse.
5.wear a Sea Sickness band
Motion sickness bands are designed to put continuous pressure on your P6 acupressure points, which can help relieve motion sickness and morning sickness as well.
Recent studies have shown up to 70 percent of pregnant women suffering from morning sickness benefit from using motion sickness bands!
6.TRY Nausea POPSICLE'S
Another pregnancy hack that moms swear by? Pregnancy pops, of course! And it is also one of the more yummier remedies for morning sickness.
You'll need:
- 3 cups strawberries, hulled and quartered
- 1 cup Greek yogurt, vanilla (optional, you can make these without yoghurt)
- 2 bananas, sliced
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 cup apple juice
- 2 Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp fresh grated ginger
What to do
Pop everything into the blender and whizz it up, pour into popsicle moulds, freeze, and enjoy!
7.STAY HYDRATED
Stay well hydrated to reduce the severity of your morning sickness. Drink beverages with electrolytes, such as Gatorade, Pedialyte, coconut water or broths. And, definitely avoid caffeine!
8. AVOID STRONG SMELLS
Studies suggest that as many as two-thirds of pregnant women become more sensitive and reactive to the scents around them when they’re pregnant. So stay clear of strong smells that could potentially bother you.
Instead, surround yourself with scents that actually make you feel better. Mint, lemon, ginger and cinnamon are more likely to soothe your nausea than make it worse.
9. MAKER FREEZER MEALS
A pregnancy hack you should definitely consider, if you are suffering from severe morning sickness and bothered by the smell of food, is to get your partner or mom to make freezer meals for you until the morning sickness subsides.
Get all the meals made while you are out of the house one afternoon and you'll have food for the next couple of weeks.
10.START USING A STRETCH MARK CREAM ASAP
Begin using a moisturizing stretch mark cream or oil designed for pregnancy early on in your pregnancy. Don't wait until you start showing. Massage the cream generously into your belly, breasts, hips and thighs.
11.Cooking Oils for Itchy Skin
Itchy skin especially on your breasts, can be irritating and make you feel uncomfortable. Use a cooking oil such as olive oil to get relief.
12. GET MATERNITY BELLY BANDS
Many pregnant moms use these awesome extender bands to temporarily transform their favorite pre-pregnancy pants into maternity jeans.
The owner and creator of Maeban has been pregnant six times and invented the Maeband extender as a better way to keep wearing the jeans she loved.
13. INVEST IN A Donut Tailbone CUSHION
A pregnancy hack to alleviate your tailbone or sciatica pain during pregnancy, is to use a Donut cushion. It will help relieve the pressure you're feeling and provide some much needed support.
14.get bra back extenders
Perhaps your bras are feeling a bit tight? Bra back extenders are the perfect solution when you are in between bra sizes and not quite ready to size up. It allows you to wear your pre-pregnancy bras longer ,before you are ready to buy new ones, ensuring that you still have a comfortable fit.
15.buy wide shoulder strap COTTON BRAS
It's very common during pregnancy for your breasts to increase by as much as two cup sizes. Opt for styles that offer wide shoulder straps to take pressure off your lower back.
16. GO WITH NURSING BRAS
As you head towards the third trimester, you might want to consider getting nursing bras. Your breasts will feel tender, perhaps even engorged, and a nursing bra is a good option since they are seamless and designed without underwire.
There are a number of breasts changes during pregnancy that you should expect. From growth and enlargement to tenderness and hypersensitivity, it is a lot to take in for sure. If your nipples are bothering you and you feel that wearing a bra is just too much, consider going with silicone nipple covers.
18.use a pregnancy pillow
During your second and third trimesters, finding the right sleeping position can be quite a challenge. A pregnancy pillow can help support your growing body and help prevent aches and pains.
The Leachco Snoogle Chic Supreme is shaped like the letter C and is a favorite of expecting moms because it has a curved top where you can rest your head, an extra-long midsection to support your back or belly and a slightly straighter end that you can tuck between your legs to ease hip pressure.
19. BUY SLIP ON sneakers
With pregnancy comes swelling that can make your feet and legs feel heavy and achy. So buy pregnancy shoes such as these slip on shoes, that are flexible and accommodate fluctuations in swelling.
20.Turn your tennis shoes into slip-ons.
The last thing you really want to do when your pregnant is bend over, particularly to tie shoe laces. If you don't want to spend money on new shoes, easily convert your tennis shoes into slip-ons using these elastic no tie laces.
21. CHOOSE COMFORTABLE MATERNITY PANTIES
You’ll want maternity panties that’s comfortable and feels good on your body. With over 5600 ratings, these maternity panties are low in the front and sit under your belly, but offer fuller coverage in the rear, so they never feel like they’re going to fall off.
22.wear COMPRESSION SOCKS
If you have swollen feet or suffer from varicose veins, then wearing compression socks can help provide relief for you. Put compression socks on at the start of the day and wear the socks for as long as it is comfortable, but especially when walking, standing or sitting.
23.Soak swollen feet in Epsom salt
When pregnant it's inevitable that feet get swollen. Soak your feet and ankles for 15 to 20 minutes in a cool bath filled with Epsom salt to relieve swelling-associated pain.,
24. use a squatty potty
Constipation is a very common symptom during pregnancy. And the squatty potty helps create a healthy toilet posture to relieve and prevent constipation.
25. get moving
Got gas while pregnant? You’re not alone. Gas is a common and embarrassing symptom of pregnancy. One of the best remedies for gas is to add physical activity into your daily routine. It will not only help you physically, mentally but also help alleviate constipation while speeding up digestion.
25. download a good pregnancy app
The WebMD pregnancy app is great to see what’s happening at various stages of pregnancy, and keep track of how your baby is growing. You can check out interactive images of your baby’s development, track your weight and blood pressure, and record the number of baby kicks you feel!
26. Stash plastic bags full of snacks in your purse and car.
If you happen to get hungry or start getting nauseous while on the go, having snacks on handy whether in your handbag or in the car will be helpful!
27. use panty liners
During pregnancy the amount of discharge may be more than usual as your cervix secretes more cervical mucous. Use panty liners if it makes you more comfortable.
28. CARRY TISSUES OR ABSORBENT BREAST PADS IN YOUR HANDBAG
Some women notice leaking from their nipples during pregnancy, and this is normal. This is because the breasts may start to produce milk, weeks or months before you are due to have your baby.
If it happens regularly, you'll need to put maternity breast pads, or nursing pads in your bra. Otherwise, as you get closer to the due date, make sure you have some breast pads handy in handbag.
29. USE A PREGNANCY PLANNER TO DOCUMENT YOUR PREGNANCY
A pregnancy journal or planner is a great way to help keep you focused on pregnancy and to journal about your pregnancy and milestones. They also help you to plan for doctor visits, create a birth plan and more.
We've created a pregnancy planner to help you. It's absolutely free. You can download it here.
30. DON'T WAIT TILL THE LAST MONTH OF PREGNANCY TO GET READY FOR BABY'S ARRIVAL
There's so much to do from getting the nursery ready, purchasing baby's essentials to organizing the home for a new baby. Start methodically working your way through the many checklists, so you don't end up putting too much stress on yourself during the third trimester.
SAVE THIS PREGNANCY HACKS PIN TO YOUR PINTEREST BOARD FOR FUTURE REFERENCE!
Last Updated on October 20, 2020 by Tira Attygalla
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