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What is really a necessity… I am here to debunk the unnecessary. Fads VS Fundamentals. Pregnancy is already full of so many unknowns… especially during your first expecting experience. If I remember one thing from being pregnant the first time around… I scoured Pinterest and IG looking for all the tips and tricks to make my pregnancy as easy as possible. Article after article had lists and lists of products I wasn’t even sure I needed. Compression socks? Splurging on actual maternity clothes… or stretching out your normal wardrobe? Will that giant pregnancy pillow actually help my sleep or are they a waste of $40+??
Welp- I am here to hopefully help shed some light on the topics and share what has truly been essential the second time around… while chasing my tornado toddler.
Let’s get this preggo party started
Pregnancy is spread over 9 months- and split into 3 trimesters!
Trimester One
weeks 1-13
You need a nap. Read that again- and now I give you permission to go take a nap.
The recommended 90 oz of water a day may seem like a daunting amount of water… but you will need it. Which is why a huge insulated tumbler will be your best friend to keep you hydrated between hugging the toilet time… and encouraging you to up your amount of daily ounces! Plus- make it cute, you will take it absolutely everywhere.
Also, you will need plenty queasy pops- and a really nice memory foam bathroom rug.
They also help with motion sickness in the car! I had an awful time at the grocery stores during my first trimester, and wearing the mandated masks in my state due to the pandemic… I had one of these in my mouth almost constantly to keep from losing my breakfast in the frozen food aisle!
You do not need to spend any money on clothes… yet.
Meanwhile, start hydrating and moisturizing your belly and hips ASAP. As soon as you pee on that stick- start to lather your midsection daily. Your skin might not be tight or dry yet- but you will thank me in 6 months when your belly is happily hydrated.
Also- NEVER SCRATCH YOUR BELLY.
I use Cocoa Butter Massage Lotion by Dr. Palmers everyday, and when my second trimester started I introduced Bio Oil which has been such an incredible addition to my skins health!!
The process gets tedious, but you will so so so thank me in 6-8 months when you’ve evicted your little one and your body is back SOMEWHAT to what you remember!
Your midsection will never look the same- but remember that you created and carried a little life and that in of itself is absolutely AMAZING!!
Trimester Two
weeks 14-27
You are almost half way through your pregnancy. 20 Weeks is such a huge milestone!! Especially if you had to wait to find out the gender at your anatomy scan!
Meanwhile- you have some of your normal energy back- you are feeling incredible and your bump isn’t overly huge. Some *ahem* activities are a little more enticing these days… enjoy. By the time the 3rd trimester starts any -er… canoodling is almost impossible without some extreme use of imagination. Fads VS Fundamentals…. amiright?
Next, is the big fads vs fundamentals: Yoga pants, or biker shorts will be your besties depending on the season you’re pregnant! For some odd reason, my husband and I prefer to make babies in the summer… who are then due in the spring! So yoga pants have always been my jam. I truly have 4 pairs of these- AND they’re still great to wear postpartum when you don’t want anything super tight yet. Pus they’re perfect when you’re no longer pregnant or healing and just want to veg on the couch after bedtime with a bottle of wine, binge watching New Girl or Friends for the thousandth time!
I wear my true size medium in the yoga pants! 2nd-3rd tri I just unfold the band to cover the belly!
I did size up one to a large in the shorts to account for the bump!
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BellaBand- will lengthen your pre-pregnancy jeans life. Don’t pack up your favorite pairs and say goodbye for the next 6 months! Leave them unbuttoned, step into (or while sitting) and slide the fancy not-quite-a-tube-top over your hips to hold your jeans closed! I folded mine over in the beginning because its tighter to hold the pants up- and now there is no need to fold because the belly keeps everything snug!
Also helpful postpartum to hold everything in while healing-
but not in a waist-trainer ridiculous way that is completely miserable.
A normal body pillow will suit your sleeping needs just fine- there is absolutely no need to spend the money on a pregnancy pillow that you’ll have no use for in less than 6 months. Buy the normal person body pillow- your hips will thank you! And so will your budget!
Meanwhile: during Trimester 2 is when you start to notice clothes are getting tight. I really do not see the big deal in splurging on a whole new maternity wardrobe! I personally have enjoyed browsing the second hand stores and picking up lightly used maternity tops and sweaters. Filling in the gaps where things might not fit is helpful- but you aren’t breaking the bank on an outfit you’ll wear for 4 months and then who knows if/when you’ll be having another baby! You are allowed to splurge to make yourself feel good- but keeping the budget low helps a ton in the long run.
The one outlier to this could be if you know you will be having 3+ babies back to back to back. If you are planning on a big family, and want everyone pretty close in age, you will probably be thankful for a good pair or two of maternity jeans/shorts and some tops.
I have one pair of maternity jeans I was gifted and they are convenient but I am also particular with my closet and not having an obscene amount of pieces that are simply “seasonal.”
Trimester Three
weeks 28-42
Again: You will need a nap. This is your permission to go take a nap.
Go ahead and start wearing your nursing bras. They’re like sports bras… but even more comfortable. I have two different kinds that are my favorites, one has a little more support and the other is basically complete comfort.
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You have a huge belly, everything is sore and the last thing you need to be doing everyday is smooshing the ever-growing milk jugs into some tight, uncomfortable underwire cups- you deserve comfort.
Your Own Personal Back Massager-
This is probably the biggest fads vs fundamentals item on my list- but believe me. It is worth the hype!!
You will need this for the lower back, and tushy area. Prop yourself up, put on some Grey’s and just sit back and enjoy. It’s so affordable and I use this thing on a weekly basis, sometimes daily. It has a heated setting too that is to die for!! You will thank me later!!
Prenatal & Probiotics
The best investment I made in my pregnancy was in my supplements. I want to know exactly what I’m taking and what is being passed along to baby! Also giving him every bit of nutrition I can to help him grow big and strong!!
Finding what I felt was important, with complete help and guidance from my OB was so encouraging. Fads vs fundamentals or not: your health is incredibly important! Especially when it’s directly connected to a little bundle of joy.
Locating a prebiotic, probiotic, and folate was highest on the list. Then I learned what Magnesium does to help with digestion, regularity. Also with muscle function and the benefits it adds to lesser the chance of preterm contractions and labor!
As your little bun in the oven grows.. and gets bigger in your ever growing belly, things get a little cramped. When things get cramped in there- everything starts moving a little slower. Your step loses a little pep while baby will get less active with less room, but he will also camp out directly on your intestines and slow down your regularity!
All natural, plant based ingredients and vegetable based capsules caught my attention.
But the reviews and testimonies from other mamas are what sold me on the products!
My Daily Routine:
Magnesium and Vitamin C supplement every morning, which keeps me regular and eases discomfort and bloating!
Every night I take a probiotic that helps keep my intestinal yeast in check and removes unwanted microbes. It also helps encourage deep sleep while it works its magic- YES PLEASE!
A daily Prebiotic that feeds my gut with healthy microbes, which in turn my probiotic eat. It also helps balance my hormones and regulate my blood sugar levels.
Lastly I make sure baby is getting everything he needs by taking a Fully Methylated Folate supplement. Folate is the all natural form of Folic Acid, which is synthetic. Methylated is a fun word that means its easily absorbed and passed along to baby quickly!
I am happy to share more about my supplement routine and help answer any questions one-on-one if needed! You are always welcome to reach out over social, or you can email me directly here: connect@sparklegigglesmile.com
Fads VS Fundamentals: Maternity Essentials
DEBUNKED
There is one more “fad” I want to debunk… and this one might be the most important. Which is why I saved it for last!
You will lose part of yourself in motherhood- if you’re pregnant for the first time or if you are just adding a new addition to your littles tribe.
There will be long nights, there will be little sleep. There will be plenty of tears to be had by you and that sweet babe you carry. You will look at your spouse and their insignificant nipples with hatred you didn’t know existed, because it was with love you both decided to bring this little one into this world, right??
What I want you to remember is that you are not alone- you are not in motherhood alone. You deserve a moment here and there to take care of you.
Take that shower alone when someone is offering to look over that babe. Wash your hair- accept the stupid casserole your MIL brings over and be thankful for a warm meal you didn’t have to prepare.
Ask to leave the house to pick up the grocery order alone. Make a pitstop at the coffee shop and splurge on a latte. Every once in a while, it will feel amazing to treat yourself and YOU DESERVE IT!!
When your spouse has nothing planned for an afternoon, leave the house and enjoy a stroll through target alone.
Read a book while you’re breastfeeding. Listen to a podcast while you’re doing dishes! Put on some music and dance while you wrangle the tribe for bath time.
Do NOT Forget To Do What You Love.
Don’t Forget Who YOU Are!
Mama- you are an absolute rockstar. There is magic happening inside that belly of yours, and you deserve to enjoy every moment that is ahead. The little person will change your entire world. And you deserve every ounce of love they have to give you!!
Thank you so much for hanging out with me today- I have so much fun doing this together. I may not have it all together… but together we have it all. Which fads vs fundamentals did you add to cart?? I would very much love to hear down below on how you’re feeling! How are you thriving in this season? When is your new bundle due? Let’s grab a some tea and chat! I WANT to hear from you sweet friend!
Thank you!!
Queasy Drops – Massager – Drink Tumblers – Belly Band – Biker Shorts – Bio Oil – Single Nursing Bra – Set of 3 Nursing Bras – Yoga Pants – Dr. Palmers Cocoa Butter for Stretch Marks – Body Pillow
