These are a few of my favorite things…to have had during my first trimester! I really can’t complain, my first trimester was EASY compared to the stories that I’ve been hearing from my friends.
I didn’t throw up once, but I had plenty of nausea to go around, and I had a lot of trouble sleeping. I wasn’t hungry for ANYTHING. Ever.
Fortunately, I had these wonderful things to keep me comfortable, and I highly recommend them all to ANYONE you know who has just started her pregnancy journey.
Body pillow, a gift from my cousin, Cari! This helped me so much, that I can’t even put into words how grateful I STILL AM for this sleep miracle worker. That’s why this is Number 1 on my list.
These days when I sleep without it, I get pretty serious back pain, I don’t sleep well, and I feel really emotional (probably just the sleep deprivation).
Now, I can’t sleep without this little wonder, and the bigger I get, the more I’m finding out how well built it is for each trimester. There’s even a little cut-out for your growing belly, when the round ligament pain starts to become a bother!
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Cari!
Muscle Milk (approved by my doc) – one of my friends with terrible morning sickness would drink one of these before getting out of bed every morning, and it was the only thing that kept her from vomiting!
I would take one with me whenever I’d go for a long drive, or when I suspected I hadn’t had enough protein that day. VERY delicious and convenient!
Spinach salads – since I wasn’t eating a lot (thanks, morning sickness!), it was crucial that I satisfied as many vitamin and nutrient groups as possible with each dish.
Spinach salads really helped a lot, because spinach is a pregnancy “super food”, providing Vitamin C, iron, calcium, and of course satisfies the need for green leafy veggies.
Recipe from my friend, Natalie Jill: http://www.nataliejillfitness.com/best-kale-salad-recipe/. Also try Natalie’s book Body After Baby, And During Too… nutrition plans, meal plans, and exercise plans during AND after pregnancy. From a mom with the best abs you’ve ever seen!
Tums have been a huge help for me as I move along in my pregnancy! In the first trimester, my stomach was upset all the time, to the point where I wasn’t hungry and could barely eat, let alone get any sleep at night.
Tums helped settle my stomach enough to fall asleep at night (although I could only eat the berry flavors – the rest would make me even more nauseated), and my doctor said I could have up to six a day (be sure to check with your doctor, though).
Another huge sleeping tool for me is this eyemask, which is lavender scented to calm, can be heated / cooled for headaches, and completely blocks out light! This helped me take quick power naps during the day, and I kept it in my refrigerator, so that the coolness would relieve any sinus or tension headaches I was experiencing.
Nothing helps you sleep better (except maybe that body pillow!) than a lavender-infused bubble bath before bedtime! It relaxes all of your overworked and achy muscles, and puts your mind in the right setting to get a great night’s sleep. HIGHLY recommended!
As my reach got more and more difficult, I was grateful to have this back scrubber brush with the extension handle. I have a feeling that my legs and feet will benefit from this helpful little tool as my tummy continues to grow, too!
For those pregnant ladies dealing with migraines and tension headaches, this little neck warmer is the best thing since sliced bread! It relieves and loosens up tense, achy muscles in the neck and upper back, and is super comfortable to wear. Throw in a good movie, and relax away your headaches and backaches!
One of the first things my husband and I did when we found out I was pregnant, was to get a copy of the pregnancy bible, What To Expect When You’re Expecting! I used to see my mom give copies to co-workers and friends whenever they had a baby on the way, so I knew it was a must-have!
It’s packed full of information, but don’t feel overwhelmed – each chapter covers a month in your pregnancy, so you’re supposed to read it as you go. It has answered so many questions for me, and it’s full of wonderful advice and recommendations!
These super comfortable, slip-on bras are PARTICULARLY EXCELLENT during the first trimester, when your regular bra feels like a torture device! No underwire, adjustable straps, and plenty of coverage, so they’re perfect to wear with everything you own. The removable “contour pads” offer protection from bumping into painful objects, especially during the first trimester when sensitivity is through the roof.
As you know, pregnant women are restricted on what we’re allowed to do for working out. I’ve been a fan of running since high school, but ever since taking a spill during a run, I’ve had to resort to walking and swimming as my main forms of exercise during pregnancy. I did a lot of research before buying, and the best walking shoes I found for pregnancy are these: Nike Women’s Air Max 2011. Since pregnant women’s feet swell during pregnancy though, I do recommend getting a size larger than you’re used to, especially if you have wide feet. Allow for room to grow!
Do you travel a lot? Road trips? Flights? If so, I bet leg pain is an issue, and you don’t even realize it!
I was about to take a trip to Hawaii when my frequent-travelling friend Jaimarie gave me a HUGE tip! Dr. Scholl’s compression socks – her friends in the private plane industry swear by them to prevent spider veins and leg swelling, and now I will too! I didn’t realize that my legs were hurting on long trips until I wore these socks to Hawaii. I couldn’t believe how great my feet felt when I landed! Totally different from past trips. Needless to say, I recently wore them on a long road trip, and they worked wonders in the car, too. Take it from jet-setting model Jaimarie, get these socks and stay happy!
Yes To Carrots Super Rich Body Butter – Great for Pregnancy Relief from Itching and Stretching Skin!
Pretty quickly, skin starts to need a rich moisturizer like a body butter or cream for those itchy, stretching areas of skin that we all get during pregnancy. Yes To Carrots Body Butter is my favorite go-to for all of this, and stops tight, itching skin in its tracks! Massage this ultra-rich cream over your whole body every day, and feel like you’re doing something GOOD for your skin. You deserve it!
Pre-natal vitamins (gummies) – gone are the days of upset tummies over harsh pre-natal vitamins! These gummies are something that I look forward to taking! They taste like gumdrops, and they are packed with the vitamins and minerals that doctors recommend taking during pregnancy. Be ready for longer nails and fuller hair, too!
Best Pregnancy App: Foods to Avoid When Pregnant – Like its name, a pretty simple guide to the foods that you may want to avoid. Whatever it is that your cravings have you thinking about, you can check the app to see if it falls under the unsafe list of cheese, sauces, deli meats, and even other edibles you are asked to skip until your baby arrives.
In addition, this app discusses foods that need to be cooked to specific temperatures, and whether or not you must check for pasteurized versions to be able to eat them. Foods are easily broken down into simple categories for quick reference (meat and eggs, cheese and dairy, vegetables, etc.), so you’ll find it easy and simple to quickly check your phone while at the grocery store, or at a restaurant.
Also see my Father’s Day Gift Guide post, written by a new father-to-be!
