Pregnancy Hacks To Make Your Life A Little Better While You’re Busy Creating A Human
Anyone who ever said pregnancy was easy is a straight-up liar, but there are ways that you can make those nine months a little easier on yourself. There's a hack for everything nowadays, and moms are always willing to share what trick of the trade got them through their pregnancy.
You've got wicked heartburn? We've got a hack for that. Swollen ankles? We've got you covered. Morning sickness? There are a couple of tricks for that coming your way.
Electrolyte Ice Cubes
For those moms who are struggling with morning sickness, one mom suggests freezing electrolyte solutions made of papaya juice, ginger, and coconut water so you can stay hydrated while also relieving nausea and replenishing your electrolytes! Another option is to just freeze Gatorade.
Support Your Bump With Kin Tape
Kinesiology tape is meant to keep things in place, so it makes sense that you could also use it to keep your baby bump in place. Taping like this works the same as a baby belt but can be a cheaper alternative, and just as effective. Kin tape can help with postural aches and pains, and general mobility because it provides stable support while you grow a literal person.
Maternity Clothing
The best way to get cheap maternity clothes is to ask your friends who have children! Most women don't sell their maternity clothes — they either keep them in the back of their closet or pass them along to other women. It's a rite of passage. One, or more, of your friends definitely have some dresses or maternity jeans lying around that they'll want to give you.
Pregnancy Pass Works For Parking Too
Did you know that in a lot of states, as long as you have a note from your doctor, you can apply for a temporary disability status parking pass? Some stores have parking spots for expectant mothers but a disability parking pass could come in handy for during your third trimester when you can no longer see your feet.
Compression Socks For Your Cankles
Compression socks aren't just for the elderly you know! They can be a great choice for pregnant women who are struggling with puffy ankles/feet or circulation issues — which is basically every pregnant woman.
A Traditional Baby Belt Can Make Life Easier
If you're not comfortable with kin tape or you don't want to deal with it, a bump support belt is another great option. You can wear it under or over your clothes, and it takes some of the weight off your body, especially your bladder!
Heartburn Be Gone
If you're dealing with heartburn that just won't go away, one pregnant momma who's currently in her third trimester shared a remedy she found: coconut oil, lemon EO and peppermint EO. Just mix it together and spread it onto wherever you normally feel your heartburn (chest, throat etc) and you'll be good to go.
The Hair Elastic Hack
If you're just starting to show and your pre-pregnancy jeans don't quite fit but also you're a little too small for maternity jeans, try the hair elastic hack. It adds a little bit of wiggle room in that first trimester without having to buy new pants every few weeks.
Step Into The Garden
As weird as this looks, this is actually intentional. If you wrap cabbage leaves around your feet it can supposedly help with puffy feet as well as ankles, and can even help with painful breasts while breastfeeding.
Float Through That Third Trimester
Your floaties don't always have to stay in the pool — anything goes when it comes to pregnancy. An inner tube can be a great way for pregnant women to lay on their stomachs if they want to lay outside, and some women have been known to use it to sleep at night!
Grab And Go - Or Don't
If that baby bump is getting in the way and you can no longer bend over, or you're just sick of moving, you can get one of those grabbers to make your life significantly easier.
Buy A Pregnancy Pillow ASAP
Invest in a pregnancy pillow/body pillow — it'll be worth it. Women swear by their pregnancy pillows and say they make a world of difference, so make sure you buy one before you hit that third trimester — you're guaranteed a comfortable sleep.
Ginger Everything
Ginger is supposed to be helpful in battling morning sickness, so make sure you're stocked with ginger, Ginger Ale, Ginger Beer (make sure it's the nonalcoholic kind though), ginger candies — the whole nine yards.
The Difference Between Needs And Wants
Before you go out and buy every baby product known to man, talk to your friends who have kids and ask what products they can't live without. Buy all the essentials and then hold off on some of the extra stuff, and see what you need and what you don't after a few months. It's easy to go overboard with things like clothing or toys, but remember they're just going to grow out of it in a couple of months!
A Pregnancy Hack For Spouses/Partners
One thing Reddit users cannot reiterate enough is if your partner/spouse is pregnant, you just have to accept the crazy mood swings and emotions. She's probably going to yell at you for something ridiculous, but remember, it has nothing to do with you. Blame the baby.
Make A To Do List
Have a list of things that you need to get done on a daily basis or on a bigger scale, and when your friends or family ask "is there anything we can do?" or "what can we help with?" say yes. They're asking because they want to be there for you, so if your brother-in-law asks what he can help with, tell him it'd be great if it went and picked up that package for you.
Midnight Snacking Is Encouraged
If you're dealing with early-morning nausea, try having a small snack in the middle of the night after you, yet again, have to get up to go to the bathroom. Nausea can often be worse on an empty stomach, so if you get ahead of it by having a snack at 3 am it can lessen your morning sickness symptoms.
Always Have A Water Bottle With You
Even though it seems obvious, a lot of women can get dehydrated while pregnant because they're busy growing a person inside of them. Keep a water bottle with you at all times — you'll drink more water without even having to think about it.
Extend Your Wallet And Your Bra
If you're not down to buy a new bra every month, buy a bra-extender instead. You just clip it onto the bras you already own and it'll extend the band by a couple of inches, so you don't have to spend tons of money on new bras that you won't be able to use after you give birth.
Freezer Burn
If you're pregnant during peak summer months, or you just run hot naturally, keep your bras in the freezer. Seriously. It's guaranteed to cool you down instantly and make your pregnancy just a little more comfortable.
Invest In Some Essential Oils
A lot of pregnant women swear by essential oils to help with anything from migraines to nausea to swollen ankles. Even if you're not using them for a specific issue, they're great for overall relaxation as well.
Theft Is Also Encouraged
After you give birth, snag a bunch of the maternity pads and mesh underwear from the hospital. They'll come in handy for a while, and you just gave birth, so you deserve to be at your most comfortable, even if that means you need to steal things from a hospital.
Make Getting Dressed Easier
If you want to look nice and put in minimal effort, invest in some maxi dresses, or whatever dresses you're most comfortable in. Even better, if you buy any sort of bodycon dresses, they'll expand as you grow, but then you can wear them afterward as well!
Cooking Oil To Relieve An Emergency Itch
If you're ever in a situation where you run out of baby belly oil but your itchy belly is too much to handle, try cooking oils. It seems weird but it makes sense. Olive oil, coconut oil, even vegetable oil can help to lessen the itch until you can get to a store to buy more body butter or whatever you use.
Switch Out Your Laces
You can turn your running shoes into slip on shoes easily if you buy a pair of elastic laces. It makes putting on your shoes a lot easier in that second and third trimester when it's getting hard to reach your toes. Also, invest in a shoe horn!
Stock Up The Pantry
To avoid making your spouse run out at 2 am to the nearest convenience store or gas store, stock up on those typical pregnancy craving foods. Pickles, ice cream, french fries, ginger ale, all the usual. There's still going to be some random cravings you weren't ready for, but you can get all the pregnancy staples ready!
Kitchen Tongs In The Shower
Those BBQ tongs don't need to stay in the kitchen drawer. They're great for picking up things elsewhere, such as in the shower. You drop that shampoo bottle or loofa and suddenly it seems impossible to ever get it back because of your baby belly — that's where the kitchen tongs come in handy. It helps you get that extra few inches of reach.
Slip In And Out Of Bed With Silk Sheets
Silk sheets will make sleeping a little easier for you, especially once you're into the third trimester. You can easily slip in and out for all those midnight, 2 am, 4 am, 5 am bathroom breaks, plus they'll keep you cool and comfortable.
Pack A 'What If' Kit
This is exactly what it sounds like. Keep a kit stocked with a change of underwear in case you sneeze or laugh too hard, a toothbrush and toothpaste for if you get morning sickness well into the afternoon, a couple snacks etc. Whatever you think you might need throughout the day.
Count On Your Phone, Not Your Brain
Pregnancy brain is a very real thing, so if you're finding yourself to be particularly forgetful, your phone will come in handy. Set reminders for doctors appointments, make a note of where you parked your car, and make sure you jot down your grocery list. It'll make a big difference.
