Things (items, hints, tips) that got you through your pregnancy

[sedgiebaby]

I'm 39 wks now, there are some things I just wish I had been told/issued that are not in the books and would have been useful to know!

Mine: (A bit tongue in cheek...and yet true!)

1st Tri

(Very very very greasy hair somehow)
Baptiste Dry Shampoo

(Too tired to cook)
Pre-prepared food ( I wondered who used this stuff!! e.g. M&S foil trays of roast veg, frequently on offer saved my life) and easy cuts of meat to bung in the oven.

(Hiding pregnacy at work)
Draping waterfall cardigans and scarves, layer, layer, layer (OK not good for summer 1st tri's)

Last Tri

Old persons grabber tool to pick things up from the floor. (These should be issued at 29 weeks IMO)
This kind of thing...www.mobilitysmart.cc/home-garden-aids/reachers-grabbers/bettergrip-reacher-p-13231.html

Throughout

(Sallow tired skin)
Blusher, nice pink water melon colour with flicks of bronzer over that (massive ammounts of comments about being glowing and glamorous lol!) also eyeliner (bottom water line hiding any redness)

(fat swollen legs)
Primark support leggings black or marl only £4!! You can wear these under smart work wrap preg dresses with flat pumps/heels and hide the puffiness and stabilise the hips (I had/have SPD) and still look quite modern (ok possibly stretching it, also horrifying to have to buy big 'normal' size e.g. normally a size 10 had to get 16-18 and wished they had 20-22 in stock but still I wore them to death)

(Need to still feel human)
Isabella Oliver - if you can afford it fantastic maternity clothes. If not, like me, trawl ebay. (Boss asked me when I was going to buy maternity clothes when that was all I had been wearing!)

Last few weeks/days

(feeling uncomfortable and ginormous?)
Fit Flops (avon do a version also really cushioned and cheap) and black Yoga Pants which almost look like trousers for going out but feel like PJ's (I think I will wear this for the rest of my life)

Ooh, where did you get your yoga pants from Sedgie? Have been looking for some with a really soft waistband as everything seems to dig in at the moment...

Good idea for a thread.

My tips (only 26 weeks)...

Throughout

(spd/pgp)
Get referred for physio as soon as you feel the first twinge in your pelvis!

(feeling uncomfortable, achey & stressed)
If you can afford it and can find someone good (and trained in massage in pregnancy) near you, get specialist massage, ideally myofascial release therapy, regularly. Your back will thank you and it's so relaxing.

(struggling to sleep)
Get a maternity side-sleeper pillow early - they're so much better than making do with a few normal pillows!

(comfort and exercises)
Get a birthing/exercise ball pretty early on - they're not just for labour, but are great for physio exercises, getting baby in a good position and just getting comfy.

(spotty, dry, sallow, difficult skin)
Liz Earle Clean & Polish is great for keeping pregnancy skin under control. When you're exhausted it's even harder to keep a good skin routine going, but cleanse, tone and moisturiser regularly and it does help.

(stretchmarks)
Realise that even though creams & oils are not supposed to prevent stretchmarks, they will make your skin feel better...and you feel better about yourself. Find one you like to use (not one that's a right faff) and use it alot - and all over! When you're feeling really crappy, realising that your skin on your arms/legs/wherever is better than it's ever been is a surprising boost.

(doing too much)
Accept that you're growing a baby and may have to slow down now.

redbird79 get urself to TKMAXX and look for the Calmia ones, they are normally £50 or something outrageous but you can get them for about £15 or £16 there I think, I have loads of them. The other ones I like are Pineapple the ones with the double thin stripe down the side, sort of more slimming also lol. both sit low with a soft waist band (get larger ones than you think you need though) also long in the leg which is great for me (I'm v tall)

japhrimel now you are a kindred spirit, I go with everything you say from the physio )mine - nhs - was brilliant, I would also add osteo who I also saw privately) birthing ball to the liz earl to the stretchmark oil...

Now I will go as far as to say the oiling up does work to prevent stretchmarks. I only have tiny stretchmarks on the perimeter of my bump (in other words where I was not bothering) these areas being far far to my sides towards my back (little dots of purple marks) and one on a boob. None, none I tell you on or around my massive belly which has been greasy greasy greasy for nearly 9 months. I should have done the whole torso.

Going back to your post, that last comment is very good advice, though I'm still having trouble with that being a restless soul...

This is great - keep them coming! I am seriously considering that grabber thing. And the yoga pants sound perfect.

definitely a maternity pillow! I just ordered mine and Im 28 weeks and really struggling to sleep on a night! Wish i got one earlier!

Thanks sedgie I certainly will do. Would totally agree about Liz Earle and oiling up your bump too. Even if I do end up with stretch marks, at least I will feel nice!

Magnum whites for heartburn. Seriously, bin the gaviscon and don't look back

Ooh I have Gaviscon by my bed (it is my best friend) and swig it out the bottle like a right slob, will check out Magnum whites which I have not heard of before. Don't mind the aniseed flavour Gaviscon mind you, nicer that then sickly peppermint one (yuck)

LOL, it is an ice cream, so may not do so well by your bed. Unless you live in an igloo, then perfect

Oh lol, of course I know what you mean!!! I'm a pregnant woman with a freezer full of ice cream. I was thinking some kind of rennie at first reading!

(Is this also where I confess to eating icecream in bed)

There is something special about Magnum whites over other ice cream for helping heartburn but not quite sure what it is

Jacksmybaby The grabber thing is worth considering, it has become an extension of my body today like I'm some bionic woman, it is quite versatile. To give you an idea in the last hour I have; picked up a cotton wool bud, a powder compact, my laptop lead, a full bag of shopping (I could of reached that but was checking the sturdiness sp?) and pinched DH's bum when he popped home to say hello (serve him right I was busy on mumsnet what do I want to see him for lol)

Brilliant - love the bum pinching potential .

Sit on a birthing ball instead of your normal chair at your desk.

I found it so much more comfortable for my back and hips