Pregnancy Favorites

A year ago today, I found out I was pregnant.

So, after reflecting on those 9 special months, I wanted to share some of the things that helped me enjoy my pregnancy to the fullest.

I remember feeling totally overwhelmed for a minute with all of the rules, all of the stuff, and all of the opinions floating around me once I announced I was pregnant with Slater. But then quickly decided that it was my experience, so I would proceed accordingly — doing what felt best to me. I am by no means an expert, and I only have one pregnancy under my belt, but I enjoyed all nine months of my experience for a variety of reasons and wanted to share some of the things - frivolous and otherwise - that helped me along the way.

It doesn’t have to be complicated; just listen to what you need and what brings you comfort.

Pregnancy pillow - the jersey fabric was so comfortable and never left me overheated, even when I was ‘insulated’ in the final months!
Prenatal Acupuncture & Prenatal Massage - I had the privilege of living super close to an amazing holistic health practice that offered both acupuncture and massage. I truly believe that utilizing these two services helped me stay calm and grounded during my second trimester when my husband and I had a lot of pending changes coming up (ya know, like a cross country move and changing doctors for the third time kind of stuff!) Check if your insurance covers any of this prenatal care!
What to Expect App - there are tons of tracking apps, so find one you like, but I loved this one and looked forward to the (relevant) daily tips even into postpartum. It’s free and cute, and you can annoy your partner with the bizarre fruit and vegetable comparisons as your baby grows.
Adult Kyte Baby Pajamas — These were gifted to me early on in my pregnancy (thank you Kelsey!), and I loved them so much. The material is so soft and light weight (again, no overheating with hormones and body changes!) and I felt so comfortable going to bed every night. I was never a pajama person before, but the ritual of winding down and putting on something that made me feel relaxed & cozy helped me sleep — which was so valuable.
Expecting Better by Emily Oster — I listened to this book while going for walks, and I wished I had it during my first trimester. I really enjoyed the data analysis, and the fact that she challenges a lot of the “rules” women are expected to follow while pregnant simply because “that’s how it’s always been”. She explains things clearly, the book makes sense, and she even tries to add some humor. I found it informational, helpful, and comforting especially since this was my first time at this baby growing thing.
Hiring a Doula — I am so grateful for my decision to hire a doula for several reasons. First being that Riley and I didn’t know shit about preparing for and experiencing birth. Our doula met with us a few times leading up to birth, and helped prepare us for how things typically progress in terms of labor and what both of us could do. Her guidance to Riley was just as important to me as her guidance to me. I hoped that Riley would feel confident in his role during labor as well, and he certainly was! We also hired our doula because we were so isolated in Seattle. Both of our families are multiple time zones away, so having someone here who could come be with me if Riley happened to be on the road was such a comfort for me. She was an incredibly calming presence, which was so great. Lastly, I wanted an advocate in the traditional hospital setting. I wanted someone to help maintain my wishes for how I desired my birth would go, and to help me make decisions that were in my and my baby’s best interest when I was busy coping with labor. I know it’s an expense, and not everyone has access to this luxury, but if you can afford it & any of the above resonates with you — it’s worth it.
Belly Band - I had some serious varicose veins in my legs heading into my third trimester, and wearing this band on longer walks and during workouts did wonders for alleviating some of the pressure of the extra weight on my lower extremities. It also helped relieve the mild low back pain I had as things got large! Again, there are tons of these, but this is the one I had success with.
Journal — Another great gift I received. I filled out this journal monthly with all kinds of fun memories/questions. I love that I have this momento to show Slater someday, but to also look back on if/when I have subsequent pregnancies to see what’s different and what’s the same. I am very sentimental, so this may not be interesting to everyone. I also found filling it out to be a gratitude practice, even when I felt like a whale and overwhelmed by fears and emotions, I was able to fill that book with all the joys and excitements that growing my baby presented. It also has a space to record your birth story — and you know I love that!
Skims Bra — I’ve been able to wear this thing pre, during, and post pregnancy! It’s magical, and comfortable AF.
Ritual Prenatal Vitamins — I felt amazing on these, and I am also loving the postnatal formula. The prenatal ones smell like lemons and don’t taste like chalk…so luxurious. I know these are all over instagram, but I promise I am making zero cents sharing that I love them lol. Irrelevant to the health of my growing child, but my hair also grew 6 inches+.
Hypnobirthing Program — I purchased this one primarily for the recordings (which I now realize you can purchase independently!) I read through the other parts of the curriculum, but I found the most value in listening to the recordings as I went to bed, on a walk, or in a bath. The whole premise is to provide yourself with messaging that encourages confidence and power over your birth experience by eliminating the fear that often surrounds birth. If it sounds too 'woo-woo’ to you that’s fine, but I encourage you to give it a chance if your goal is an unmedicated birth. I approached this as just another tool, not the end-all-be-all of my birth experience and I really got a lot out of it.
Birth Skills - I read this book in my 3rd trimester as I tried to equip myself for birth. Being that it was my first time, I knew there was no way to be ‘ready’, but arming myself with ideas and coping skills that I felt resonated with my personality helped me go into the experience with confidence. The book is dated, but content is helpful and the pictures are hilarious. Again, a great resource if your ambition is an unmedicated birth experience.