This will not be your average top 10 list of favorite products. Instead, I really wanted it to be a holistic look at pregnancy needs, not limited to the latest and greatest things on the market. Preparing for a baby is a lot of heart work, just like preparing for marriage is more than picking out the best silverware, so is preparing for motherhood.
Mom friends.
Find someone who’s been there before and will be upfront about all the insanity that is pregnancy and motherhood. For real, super crazy stuff happens. A lot of weird things you won’t find in a copy of “What to Expect When You’re Expecting.” You need to find someone who’s gonna tell you like it is, and a voice of solidarity when all that stuff is going down. Also, having a friend that is win the same stage is so comforting! You get to go through all the crazy together! Having a Mom Squad has been one of my favorite things about motherhood!Naps.
I do not nap. Ever. Except when I’m pregnant. Your body NEEDS it. Find some time to take naps. If you can’t take one daily, take one on the weekends or when you can. You may not feel like you’re doing much, but your body is hard at work and could use some extra rest. I also highly recommend a pregnancy pillow. It will save your belly and your back & hips once you are further along!Some good clothes.
You are going to want to be comfy. Find some versatile clothes that can transition through pregnancy. Old Navy and H&M have lots of great options for inexpensive basics. Going to a wedding or other special occasion: ASOS has some beautiful dresses! For the everyday, some athletic shorts or leggings (these Blanqi ones are AMAZE), t-shirts or tanks (even long length and not necessarily maternity work well too, then you can wear them post baby too!), and a comfy bra. Also, I highly recommend splurging on one outfit that just makes you feel good, beautiful, and sexy. You’re body goes through a lot and you’re doing an insanely hard work growing another human, you DESERVE to feel beautiful!Oils
You know I’m going there. I know some of you may not be into oils, but during pregnancy I feel like it’s a no-brainer. The list of meds you can’t take is a mile long and even the ones you can might not be the best for you little one. Pregnancy is the best time to get into oils, if only for the reason of limited options. Did you know that citrus and mint oils can help with nausea and other digestion issues? Lavender and Frankincense are amazing for that itchy, stretching baby bump. Joint pain and muscle aches, gotcha covered. My favorite is valor and copaiba together rubbed on problem spots, hello widening hips! Feeling emotional? Bergamot, White Angelica, and Stress Away can help. Ningxia and Super B can boost your energy, trust me, you need these. Total life changers. And there are so many more, give me a shout if you’d like to learn more or click here!Worship, Prayer, & Jesus Friends
I don’t know if you know Jesus, but I sure hope you do. Pregnancy can bring many unexpected things, and He personally led me through some pretty dark times. I had two high-risk pregnancies with many uncertainties. Knowing that no matter what, Jesus was in control gave me so much peace. And having a group of women to pray over me and hear me and speak truth into me gave strength to me when I wasn’t sure if I could go on.Pre-natal massage
Go ahead and pamper yourself. Especially in that third trimester when all the aches and pains are happening. A massage will feel wonderful on your body and on your mind as it helps you to relax. Find someone local who specializes in pre-natal massage and be upfront about your trouble spots!Nutrition.
Eat well, and often. Plus get a rockin’ prenatal. I know, from personal experience, that morning sickness may keep you from eating for a while, but as soon as you are able, try your best to eat nurtrient dense foods to fuel your body and your baby. I know pregnancy can be an excuse to eat all the junk food and sweets, but try to limit those (I definitely had a snow cone or two) and really give your body food that will make you feel good and not worse! Also finding a prenatal that is good is so important. Do some research and find one that will be best for you, here’s a hint, it’s probably not one from Walmart.Water
Water is EXTREMELY important during pregnancy. Get you a nice, big water bottle and carry it around with you everywhere. Hydration is so key and will help you feel so much better. It can help with headaches and muscle aches and much more!Exercise
Whether its walking around the block, or doing yoga in the living room, excercise will keep you and your baby healthy. It will also do wonders for your upcoming labor. Labor is like a long, very intense, work out. And taking care of your body during pregnancy will help give your body an edge during the labor process.A great OB/midwife
I can’t even stress how important it is to have a healthcare provider that you trust and that trusts you. Schedule a meeting before you pick a doctor. See if they are going to be on your side when it comes down to delivery. Remember they work for YOU! My first pregnancy was twins. I wanted the BEST twin doctor available because there are so many more risks with two babies. But I also wanted a vaginal delivery, I did not want a doctor that was going to automatically schedule me a c-section. I was so blessed to find my OB. He was completely on board with a medication-free, vaginal deliver of twins, and I DID IT! My next pregnancy was also high risk, and having a vaginal delivery would have likely killed one of us. I trusted him with my c-section and he even said, “I am going to do this with as little incision as possible because I know you want another vaginal delivery with your next babies.” Um, hello, amazing. And he kept his word and helped me through an unmedicated VBAC with my next child. I am forever grateful that he heard what I wanted and made sure to honor those wishes. Find a provider that is going to let you trust your body and help you make hard decisions!