Before I move on to the second trimester, I would like to share 10 purchases/practices/people that helped me survive the first 32 weeks.
- The Bella Band - I would have lost probably 3 or 4 outfits had it not been for my husband purchasing me 2 Bella Bands for my birthday. Honestly, I need to get more but just haven't forced myself to sit down and do so yet. These bands made of stretchy material have so many different functions. When just barely pregnant, some women can't fit into their own jeans anymore but maternity clothes are still too large. They can either unbutton their too-tight pants and wear the Bella Band over, or they can wear oversized maternity pants and use the Bella Band to hold the pants up. Then, once the belly takes over and starts to push the pants down, the Bella Band still will hold their pants up and create a layered look, which is great if there is a little gap between the poor, pushed-down pants and the shirt.
http://www.ingridandisabel.com/bellaband.html - Stomach Acid Reducers - I had two different phases: The Tums Phase and the Zantac Phase. While I was in the second trimester and heartburn was just beginning, I chewed Tums throughout the day. They worked great and, though some people may think I am crazy, I love the taste of the mint ones! Plus, I felt like I was giving the baby an extra shot of calcium. Still, the day arrived when I was eating the maximum amount of Tums I could consume in one day, and once I hit that point, there was no relief. My doctor recommended that I tried a magnesium based product, which simply did not work. So, I moved on to Zantac with my doctor's permission, and I am so glad that I did! It was to the point that I was not sleeping, and that is NOT fun when pregnant.
http://www.tums.com/
http://www.zantac.com/ - A Body Pillow - Now, take my advice on this ladies, PLEASE, do not buy a cheap body pillow. I got mine for $14.99 from a discount store which shall remain nameless, and it has lost its shape entirely. Still, the use of the body pillow helps me sleep and keeps the hip pain down to a minimum.
- Tylenol - This one may seem a little lame as this is the only pain reliever most doctors will allow pregnant women to use. Regardless, with a headache, muscle aches or fever, Tylenol works great.
http://tylenol.com/ - A Neti Pot - My husband and I both purchased SinuCleanse Neti Pots from the drugstore and both enjoyed the benefits. When pregnant, women are limited on what types of medicines they can take. At the same time, many women start experiencing sinus troubles including nasal swelling and even some bleeding. Using the neti pot to flush out my sinuses kept me from using OTC meds that tend to make me jittery on a non-pregnant day, much less a pregnant one!
http://www.sinucleanse.com/ - Pre-Natal Massages - I don't typically indulge myself on a regular basis with spa treatments, however, when I struggled with joint pain and swelling, these massages were a great way to get some relief. I went every other month, and it was worth it! It is important that women seeking the relaxation of massage search out the services of someone specialized in prenatal massage. Be sure to be rubbed the right way! Certain pressure points are to be avoided when pregnant.
- Exercise - Some people will say that pregnancy is the ultimate time to for women to enjoy months away from the gym; after all, you're going to blow up like a blimp anyway, right? Women should always consult their doctor before starting up a work-out routine while pregnant, but this is what they are likely to say: If you were doing it before you were pregnant, you can continue with some modifications. The thing to remember is not to exercise with the intention of losing weight. A. You have to keep your heart rate in check to keep from denying the baby blood flow. B. You also should keep your temperature from rising too high. Now is not the time for women to start new routines. For example, someone who doesn't jog should not decide to take up running. Still, what exercise gives to a pregnant woman is: endurance, energy, swelling prevention, and, an overall sense of well-being.
- A Pregnant Friend: I have a dear friend who had her baby at the tail end of December and it has been great to share the pregnancy experience with her. Lee has frequently said she gives us a sense of our "upcoming attractions." Of course we all know, again, that all pregnancies are different, it has still been nice to ask "did your boobs leak while you were pregnant?"
- Pregnancy Books: Okay, pregnancy books for me have honestly been a double edge sword. On the one hand, it has been very nice to read through and see how my body and the baby's body changes each month. On the other hand, there are several pregnancy symptoms that can either be completely normal or a sign of a problem. For example, round ligament pain (often low and to one side) feels similar to what I have experienced with a UTI, thus, I convinced myself I had a UTI after consulting such book. Still, they are very helpful in keeping me focused.
- My Supportive Husband, Lee - Picture it, 4:30 a.m. I have been up since two trying to get my heartburn to go away. The magnesium based medicine is not helping, the Zantac is in the car (it is about 15 degrees outside) and I'm completely out of Tums. I'm frustrated. I'm exhausted. I start to cry. The crying turns into sobbing, and my husband wakes up. At first, he goes into fix-it mode, then he realizes that what I need is comfort. He starts to rub my back and says "Now is a good time for us to practice our breathing." And we lay there, he rubs my back and we breathe, I fall in love with him all over again.
Hope you enjoyed and got something out of that!
GLYASDI,
Sara
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