Advice from the ladies who've been through this before...

kiwi625 · November 2011

I was hoping the ladies who have been through a pregnancy before would be willing to share some with those of us going through this for the first time.

What were some of the things that were lifesavers for you during your pregnancy? A favorite stretch/exercise that helped? Go-to foods for the days nothing sounded good, or you couldn't keep anything down? Clothing that you wanted to live in because it was that comfortable/fit well?

What do you wish you had known, or known about sooner, in your previous pregnancies?

A little GTKY I suppose. Smile

TIA!

JJorstad · November 2011

Pillow for later on for support and absolute must! A bra with good support! Breast Pads as early as 4 months along I had some leakage issues that early with my pregnancies. They do make reusable/washable ones (I know some of you ladies are crafty and can make them yourself) Toast I always like toast and its versatile haha you can just eat it with butter, peanut butter, jelly, & cinnamon and sugar. Pajama Pants/Yoga pants Hands down love them haha I don't feel so constricted in them. Umm...if I think of anything else I will add it to the list. But these are the ones off the top

Hi725 · November 2011

I wish I had know I could take flintstone vitamins instead of prenatals. They didn't make me barf.

I wish I had know how hard it would be to sleep in a bed toward the end, I would have purchased a recliner (I'll be doing that as soon as I order the nursery furniture, lol).

I wish I hadn't obsessed so much about weight gain because in the end it was completely out of my control (complications, steroids, etc.).

I wish I had made an effort to continue exercising because recovery was hell and I think it would have been easier if I had been in shape. I vow to go to the gym at least 3x a week through this pregnancy.

I didn't get a chance to enjoy my first pregnancy. I worked full time (with a one hour each-way commute) and was in a full time grad program. I barely had time to breathe. I'm looking forward to being more relaxed this time and having time to appreciate what's going on in my body.

Ashl07 · November 2011

Everyone will have their own go to food. Don't eat for two, eat when your hungry, try to stay as healthy as you can, and drink your water!!! Water is so important! Walking was great, but for the summer swimming helped a lot and it was a great way to stay cool. As for clothes, try to find comfy clothes. Try everything on, and don't go crazy buying too much clothing. Your size may change quite a few times. Try consignment shops for even better deals on maternity clothes. As for the pregnancy don't wish it to go too fast, enjoy every moment, it seems like an eternity until your LO is here, but you will miss the kicks and hiccups. Spend as much time with your spous as possible, go on dates, go the movies, do things now because when the baby comes, it really is that much harder to get out! Don't buy too many baby things, borrow and consignment shops. You will be shocked how little you may use. One baby might love a swing, but hate a bouncer. You never know. When it comes to labor if you want a birth plan make sure you are aware things can and do change. So be flexible, the end goal is a healthy mommy and baby. Once LO is here if your instinct says something is off ask ask and ask again. It could save your babies life. If you get PPD it is ok. Get help and get it soon. Don't try to tough it through it. If things don't happen as planned (like breastfeeding) don't beat yourself up. Your baby will love you anyways. Last but not least love love l

Ashl07 · November 2011

Everyone will have their own go to food. Don't eat for two, eat when your hungry, try to stay as healthy as you can, and drink your water!!! Water is so important! Walking was great, but for the summer swimming helped a lot and it was a great way to stay cool. As for clothes, try to find comfy clothes. Try everything on, and don't go crazy buying too much clothing. Your size may change quite a few times. Try consignment shops for even better deals on maternity clothes. As for the pregnancy don't wish it to go too fast, enjoy every moment, it seems like an eternity until your LO is here, but you will miss the kicks and hiccups. Spend as much time with you spouse as possible, go on dates, go the movies, do things now because when the baby comes, it really is that much harder to get out! Don't buy too many baby things, borrow and consignment shops. You will be shocked how little you may use. One baby might love a swing, but hate a bouncer. You never know. When it comes to labor if you want a birth plan make sure you are aware things can and do change. So be flexible, the end goal is a healthy mommy and baby. Once LO is here if your instinct says something is off ask ask and ask again. It could save your babies life. If you get PPD it is ok. Get help and get it soon. Don't try to tough through it. If things don't happen as planned (like breastfeeding) don't beat yourself up. Your baby will love you anyways. Last but not least love love love this experience. It's a journey and it is great! (sorry no paragraphs, on phone)

ballerina06 · November 2011

I lived in yoga pants when I wasn't working. Buy some. Lots of them.

Pelvic tilts saved my lower back and hips.

Get a body pillow to put in between your legs.

I lived on Jimmy Johns and Taco Bell for the entire 1st tri.

Water with lemons and real lemon drops (not lemon heads) to help with nausea.

Peppermint tea for migraines/headaches.

Ginger tea for nausea.

mvanderc · November 2011

i loved toast and lemon drops.

with my second i pretty much lived in nursing tanks leftover from my daughter. my bewbs did not want to be constricted. it was comfy. i didn't care.

i always had an extra pillow to wedge under one side of me so i could sleep on my back but lean to the side.

baths saved me some days.

take it easy and try to enjoy each day!

maykious · November 2011

Love this thread. Thanks for thinking of it!

Ashl07, your daughter is beautiful!

Danaz1 · November 2011

Same advice from me. Love yoga pants. My boppi pillow was the best. First tri toast helped with sickness. We will have a couple months of summer weather get some sun dresses so comfy.

Irishsapphire · November 2011

Loved maternity black yoga pants. I was really glad that I had flip flops to put on when my water broke. It is not easy to get on shoes when you are in the 3rd trimester. And I was lucky that I packed a hospital bag at 30 weeks and took a couple of photos of me being pregnant the weekend before.

I had demi panel maternity pants and jean--unfortunately, I could only wear the full panel maternity pants and jeans in late 2nd trimester and early 3rd trimester. So it is good to try on the maternity pants and jeans and make sure there is some stretch.

I ate a lot of egg salad sandwiches from Starbucks. But occasionally, I had a turkey sandwich--sometimes you are just hungry and that is really what you want to eat. I made the mistake of eating a hot dog on the day that I went into labor early--I could not tell the difference between indigestion, cramps and labor--I was seriously asking the obgyn while I was delivering if the hot dog made me go into labor early-she said it did not--but I have decided that hot dogs and 3rd trimester just are not the best thing.

And Christmas is coming up--when I was pregnant with my son, I asked for a couple of maternity items--maternity coat, nursing gown and robe to wear at the hospital (a lot better than the hospital gowns that they give you at the hosptial).

JennJenn613 · November 2011

Ditto PP about not buying tons of clothes right when you start showing, because you'll probably have to buy an even larger size in third tri.

When I had morning all-day sickness, what helped me was to keep snacking. I got nauseous whenever my stomach was empty. And all I wanted was carbs.

I wish I'd exercised more, because you feel SO much better and stronger if you can keep up with it. I wish I could get into a routine of doing Kegels, especially after the birth they would have helped so much... and even now.

One thing I regret is spending so much time and money stressing about the nursery and having every little baby accoutrement purchased, washed, and ready. We co-slept with a bassinet so we didn't even use the nursery for months and they just don't need much in the beginning... a bouncer is good, maybe a swing and activity mat. Done. I never used half the blankets, towels, and burp cloths I got. My DS pretty much hated the swing and the Bumbo and all the other fancy little baby gadgets we got, so it's best if you can try it at a friend's house before you buy.

SHAYD12 · November 2011

Lotion and lots of it early.... My boons grew so fast that I didn't and regret it!

Maternity pants are the most comfy things ever! I loved them!

I loved fruit and lots of it.

I had a horrible time drinking water but I'm glad I tried a lot because I needed lots of it for my milk supply so I'm glad I got used to it.

I had to take my pills at night or I would get very sick.

Enjoy every second of having your sweet baby in your belly because they will be out soon enough and they don't go back! Lol

Thats all I can think of now

ral1985 · November 2011

I was borderline gestation-ally diabetic, so I would wake up in the morning feeling very dizzy, and if I didn't immediately eat some peanut butter or drink some OJ I felt like I would faint... Which I did faint, several times, while pregnant with DD. So I solved the problem by ALWAYS carrying some jolly ranchers around with me. If I started feeling dizzy or low on sugar, they would immediately fix the problem.

Tums were also my BEST friend. I couldn't even drink water without getting heartburn (this is already starting this time around, too).

Get 12 extra pillows for your bed. Seriously. I have to be SURROUNDED & supported by pillows on every inch of my skin while I sleep. DH already had my stack waiting for me the other night, because I will just steal his hahaha.

Don't live by ALL the rules. You are going to balloon up and feel very self conscious about the way you look, so go get your hair done. Drink a coke (GASP!). Eat a turkey sandwich. Or a whole carton of ice cream Although you are harboring the most precious possession, you also have to stay sane. Sometimes this means breaking a few rules (on occasion)!

I breast fed my DD, and she refused a bottle from ANYONE, regardless if it had BM, formula, different nipples, different flow. Luckily, I was a nanny at the time and got to bring DD to work with me (may have been part of the problem!), so it wasn't a HUGE issue. I will be introducing a bottle much earlier for this LO because I work FT now and will be a pumping mommy.

GL to you all! I am sure my experience will be very different this time around!

KMBC2552 · November 2011

I slept with two super comfy body pillows. They were a must for later on in pregnancy.

Keep a lot of healthy snacks with you at all times. I always had a protein bar or granola bar in my purse that way if I was suddently famished I wouldn't feel the need to stop at McDonalds.

I lived in my gap below the belly jeans in the second tri and the over the belly jeans in the third tri. Gap and Target T's were also a huge staple in my maternity wardrobe.

Take pictures of your belly. You don't need to post them on FB, but I didn't take any pictures the first time and regret it. I will be doing that this time.

Have a couple date nights with your SO before the baby comes. It will be a while before you get to do this again. But DON'T try to go to a movie theater in the third tri, the seats are so uncomfortable it will seem like torture

By the third tri you are going to get sick of people telling you this, but do try to relax and enjoy this pregnancy. It will be one of the last times it is about you. Go get a manicure, let people be nice to you - just b/c you are pregnant, and don't feel bad asking DH to run out to get you a chocolate milkshake.

kiwi625 · November 2011

I have LOVED reading through all of your responses! Thank you so much for sharing. Big Smile

temporalrobe · November 2011

same. this was a great thread!

asmart · November 2011

Keep some type of journal when you are pregnant...especially if you hope to have more than one. I wrote a few things down during my first pregnancy and I REALLY enjoyed reading through them the other night. I just wish I would have written more!!

My favorite places to shop for maternity clothes are online at Gap, Old Navy, and Target. I am SUPER excited that Ann Taylor Loft has a maternity line...they didn't have one my first time around...4 years ago.

For the first few weeks if you feel like you are outgrowing your clothes, just go up one size...rather than starting into maternity clothes. I wore 1 size up after having DD so the clothes got extra wear out of them and it was nice to go back to "regular" clothes, even if it was a bigger size for a while.

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