I didn't get most of these things for my pregnancy, with the exception of leggings, I read some books - I recommend "Smart Mothering" and super comfortable slippers which I was already using before my pregnancy. They're orthotic ones, really comfortable and straight after having my baby I got plantir facitis which was so painful and really hard with all the getting up in the night to feed my baby. The slippers were a life saver. And your comment about feet growing is true! My feet are now permanently half a size bigger. The shoe person said pregnancy can make the arch of the foot drop due to the extra weight. So I had to get new shoes. I got rid of the high heels and do not miss them. Oh and re your comments about taking it easy during pregnancy. I really agree and wish I'd done this. I worked harder than I should have as my husband was volunteering overseas so i had noone to get home to and would work late as I loved my job. My manager tried to get me to take parental leave early as she was worried about me, but I refused and I couldn't see I was over doing it. I wish I had as I ended up having to deliver five weeks early and had one day between finishing work and becoming a Mama. And your comment about expectations, wow! You're so wise. I'm from New Zealand and felt that the person running my antenatal class was really pro natural birth and anti medicated birth and that a c section was the worst thing in the world (you can't actually choose to have a c section for your first pregnancy). Well I got pre eclampsia and had to have a c section to save my baby's and my life. I felt judged but at the end of the day we were both alive and that was all that mattered. And when i look at him im glad and proud of my "zip and rip" delivery!
I loved the book Expecting Better! My Doc had recommended it to me. Very informative (especially when craving bbq hot dogs during the summer 😅). One tip for if you haven’t bought one already is to invest in a good quality reclining rocking chair. I had a regular glider at first but when the arm broke I upgraded and honestly wish I had had the nicer one from the beginning. Still use it to this day and my little man is 2.5yrs old now.
I’m so excited for you! Please keep us updated when you deliver! I don’t have a pregnancy tip, but an infancy tip: Hyland’s Teething Drops! The baby’s teeth will start moving at around 3 months of age and it’ll hurt! These drops dissolve in the mouth and work very well! If the baby falls asleep after having them, it’s okay-it just means that the baby is no longer in pain and can sleep. My husband and I did this with both of our babies and boy was it a lifesaver! Hugs to you and your family!
I never used a heating pad for any of my pregnancies, but I probably could have used it for my last one. With my first baby, once I hit the 45 pound mark at 32 weeks, I got stretch marks. With my other two I didn't get any new ones but I also didn't gain as much weight. I loved rubbing cocoa butter on my belly though! Cool about the tea! For me, as long as I ate, I didn't have nausea. With my first, I worked a lot and had my own puke bucket. haha. That pregnancy was the only one I threw up a bunch even through second trimester, but for (the others I threw up 7 and 4 times). Cool about the shoes! I agree about the pillows being so huge and not cool. I just used a tiny pillow for in between my knees. My feet blew up like crazy this last pregnancy! It was so bad. My legs too. I didn't read any pregnancy books (though I probably should have). I just wish people told me things when expecting my first. You have all those little hats. . I think I used a hat once on my babies for like the first day. Take magnesium or get magnesium lotion for your legs. That was the best idea I had for my last pregnancy (I have three kids). THE POSTPARTUM STUFF I WISH I KNEW MOST ABOUT. If you need any advice for that, please ask people. Get some period panties for all the bleeding you'll have for a month after having your baby. Witch hazel pads feel great while healing. That is the best advice I can give you. If you are nursing, get nipple cream, a cover for being around people. You will have major nipple pain for the first month. You might bleed. You might get sores on them. Push through. It hurts. . .but it is so good for them. I went through a lot of pains nursing but it was so good that I did. Congratulations and hope your birthing goes smoothly and wonderful!!
Haven't finished the video, but I do have an emesis bag alternative. I have Hyperemesis Gravidarum [HG], and making it to the toilet to throw up is never an option. I need something beside me at all times. I put a couple of grocery bags that I already have in a small trashcan and keep it near wherever I'm laying. So if I'm on the bed or couch, it is in arm's distance. Also, I get car sick so taking it with me is essential. I didn't go anywhere in the first trimester without it, and that was pretty much only to the ER or doctor's appointments. I'm almost 24 weeks and it has lightened up a lot, so mostly dealing with nausea. I still have my trashcan ready to go for bad days and in the car. I realize that grocery bags are not anymore eco-friendly in regards to plastic, but it does give a second life to something I already have on hand and it's free.
Vomit bags... genius. I was nauseous the whole pregnancy all 4 pregnancies. Once I threw up in a Tim Hortons parking lot. Another time in the Meijer parking lot where traffic had to stop. Soooo embarrassing.
Pro tip: those vomit bags are generally a good idea to keep in the car when your baby is older. Sometimes when kids are sick in the car, you're not always able to pull over when they feel like they're going to vomit. So it can be helpful to have on hand because then you don't have to worry about it getting everywhere. This tip was given to me from a friend. It's getting close! I hope everything goes well!
To add on: people are going to judge regardless. I was judged for breastfeeding. I felt judged because I with my first I had to have a second, which meant with my second (for my situation), I had to have another one. For not finding out the genders of our babies. It goes on and on. Also, there is a very real guilt, that doesn't seem like it's talked about a lot, of moms actually resting. Mom's taking time for ourselves. When I sit down to rest, I feel like I need to be doing something instead of resting. It's very annoying and still something I am working on, but a very real feeling. So if you can go easy on yourself at an earlier time in your motherhood journey, please do. No guilt for taking it easy. You are making another human. And when they come into the world, you are keeping that little human alive as well as yourself. You deserve rest too.
Excellent, excellent video Elin! Sure wish I would have had something like this to watch years ago before I had my kids. Such practical and helpful information ❤
Happiest baby on the block could have been a pamphlet. I thought that book sucked. I liked expecting better and cribsheets though. I bet you’re all over evidence based birth.
I didn't get most of these things for my pregnancy, with the exception of leggings, I read some books - I recommend "Smart Mothering" and super comfortable slippers which I was already using before my pregnancy. They're orthotic ones, really comfortable and straight after having my baby I got plantir facitis which was so painful and really hard with all the getting up in the night to feed my baby. The slippers were a life saver. And your comment about feet growing is true! My feet are now permanently half a size bigger. The shoe person said pregnancy can make the arch of the foot drop due to the extra weight. So I had to get new shoes. I got rid of the high heels and do not miss them. Oh and re your comments about taking it easy during pregnancy. I really agree and wish I'd done this. I worked harder than I should have as my husband was volunteering overseas so i had noone to get home to and would work late as I loved my job. My manager tried to get me to take parental leave early as she was worried about me, but I refused and I couldn't see I was over doing it. I wish I had as I ended up having to deliver five weeks early and had one day between finishing work and becoming a Mama. And your comment about expectations, wow! You're so wise. I'm from New Zealand and felt that the person running my antenatal class was really pro natural birth and anti medicated birth and that a c section was the worst thing in the world (you can't actually choose to have a c section for your first pregnancy). Well I got pre eclampsia and had to have a c section to save my baby's and my life. I felt judged but at the end of the day we were both alive and that was all that mattered. And when i look at him im glad and proud of my "zip and rip" delivery!
I don't know how I missed this, that you're pregnant! Congratulations to you and your husband!
I loved the book Expecting Better! My Doc had recommended it to me. Very informative (especially when craving bbq hot dogs during the summer 😅).
One tip for if you haven’t bought one already is to invest in a good quality reclining rocking chair. I had a regular glider at first but when the arm broke I upgraded and honestly wish I had had the nicer one from the beginning. Still use it to this day and my little man is 2.5yrs old now.
I’m so excited for you! Please keep us updated when you deliver! I don’t have a pregnancy tip, but an infancy tip: Hyland’s Teething Drops! The baby’s teeth will start moving at around 3 months of age and it’ll hurt! These drops dissolve in the mouth and work very well! If the baby falls asleep after having them, it’s okay-it just means that the baby is no longer in pain and can sleep. My husband and I did this with both of our babies and boy was it a lifesaver! Hugs to you and your family!
I never used a heating pad for any of my pregnancies, but I probably could have used it for my last one.
With my first baby, once I hit the 45 pound mark at 32 weeks, I got stretch marks. With my other two I didn't get any new ones but I also didn't gain as much weight. I loved rubbing cocoa butter on my belly though!
Cool about the tea! For me, as long as I ate, I didn't have nausea. With my first, I worked a lot and had my own puke bucket. haha. That pregnancy was the only one I threw up a bunch even through second trimester, but for (the others I threw up 7 and 4 times).
Cool about the shoes!
I agree about the pillows being so huge and not cool. I just used a tiny pillow for in between my knees.
My feet blew up like crazy this last pregnancy! It was so bad. My legs too.
I didn't read any pregnancy books (though I probably should have). I just wish people told me things when expecting my first.
You have all those little hats. . I think I used a hat once on my babies for like the first day.
Take magnesium or get magnesium lotion for your legs. That was the best idea I had for my last pregnancy (I have three kids).
THE POSTPARTUM STUFF I WISH I KNEW MOST ABOUT. If you need any advice for that, please ask people. Get some period panties for all the bleeding you'll have for a month after having your baby. Witch hazel pads feel great while healing. That is the best advice I can give you. If you are nursing, get nipple cream, a cover for being around people. You will have major nipple pain for the first month. You might bleed. You might get sores on them. Push through. It hurts. . .but it is so good for them. I went through a lot of pains nursing but it was so good that I did.
Congratulations and hope your birthing goes smoothly and wonderful!!
Haven't finished the video, but I do have an emesis bag alternative. I have Hyperemesis Gravidarum [HG], and making it to the toilet to throw up is never an option. I need something beside me at all times. I put a couple of grocery bags that I already have in a small trashcan and keep it near wherever I'm laying. So if I'm on the bed or couch, it is in arm's distance. Also, I get car sick so taking it with me is essential. I didn't go anywhere in the first trimester without it, and that was pretty much only to the ER or doctor's appointments. I'm almost 24 weeks and it has lightened up a lot, so mostly dealing with nausea. I still have my trashcan ready to go for bad days and in the car. I realize that grocery bags are not anymore eco-friendly in regards to plastic, but it does give a second life to something I already have on hand and it's free.
I’m so happy for you! Praying for a calm & safe birth!
I hope the rest of your pregnancy is less painful and challenging😀
Vomit bags... genius. I was nauseous the whole pregnancy all 4 pregnancies. Once I threw up in a Tim Hortons parking lot. Another time in the Meijer parking lot where traffic had to stop. Soooo embarrassing.
Pro tip: those vomit bags are generally a good idea to keep in the car when your baby is older. Sometimes when kids are sick in the car, you're not always able to pull over when they feel like they're going to vomit. So it can be helpful to have on hand because then you don't have to worry about it getting everywhere. This tip was given to me from a friend.
It's getting close! I hope everything goes well!
To add on: people are going to judge regardless. I was judged for breastfeeding. I felt judged because I with my first I had to have a second, which meant with my second (for my situation), I had to have another one. For not finding out the genders of our babies. It goes on and on.
Also, there is a very real guilt, that doesn't seem like it's talked about a lot, of moms actually resting. Mom's taking time for ourselves. When I sit down to rest, I feel like I need to be doing something instead of resting. It's very annoying and still something I am working on, but a very real feeling.
So if you can go easy on yourself at an earlier time in your motherhood journey, please do. No guilt for taking it easy. You are making another human. And when they come into the world, you are keeping that little human alive as well as yourself. You deserve rest too.
Excellent, excellent video Elin! Sure wish I would have had something like this to watch years ago before I had my kids. Such practical and helpful information ❤
Happiest baby on the block could have been a pamphlet. I thought that book sucked. I liked expecting better and cribsheets though. I bet you’re all over evidence based birth.