Pregnancy Essentials

Hey Everyone,

So today I thought I'd do a little blog post discussing the few essentials I've been using during my pregnancy so far. I will update this as time goes on if needs be as I am sure there will be more things added! Ps. all images are linked so you can click on them to buy the product!

Starting off with the body oil I have been using on my bump. The Mama Moi Tummy Rub Oil. I initially bought this for my sister when she was pregnant as there were a lot of good reviews on this preventing and helping with stretch marks during pregnancy. She had loads left which meant I could pinch it back and use for myself which I have done from a few weeks after I found out I was pregnant. I had read that it was important to oil up your belly every evening (and morning as your pregnancy continued) to ensure that the oil could work effectively. So far, so good! I have seen no stretch marks appear and my skin is definitely starting to get tighter now (currently 22 weeks pregnant). It also smells lovely and they've changed the packaging since i bought it but the image below is the same one!

Next up, during the first couple of months, i noticed my skin had become increasingly dry. I was never someone to suffer from dry skin but even my legs and arms had become dry and irritated all of a sudden. I had put a question box on my Instagram story asking for recommendations on body moisturiser and this was by far suggested the most. The Garnier Intensive 7 Days Body Lotion and I got the scent Mango. This lotion is so good. It instantly nourished and hydrated my skin and after a few days of applying it I noticed the dry skin had gone. I find I use this 3/4 days a week and it keeps my skin smooth and hydrated. Would highly recommend for anyone suffering dry skin!

When I first found out I was pregnant I knew there were Vitamins recommended for myself to take to help with the babies growth and wellbeing. I had a quick research and Pregnacare by Vitabiotics was the highest rated with 19 Vitamins & Minerals included in the formula. I quickly bought a pack from Holland & Barrett for around £4 and started taking one every day with my Dinner. It included Folic Acid & Vitamin D which they highly recommend you take supplements of during pregnancy to keep your Iron levels up and with me already having a Vitamin D deficiency, this was perfect so I only had to take one tablet. I had the Original tablets but there are plenty different Pregnacare formulas for different people and I can continue to take these throughout Pregnancy and whilst Breast-feeding. Including Zinc, Vitamin B12 and many more. this formula helps with tissue growth but also your health throughout. I can notice a difference in my energy levels if I've forgotten to take one so I know how important they are. If you're anything like me, I hate taking tablets and soon found out they do the formula in liquid form. It was a little more expensive but 100% worth it for me as it made taking it a lot easier and much more of a nicer experience. I'm a wuss, I know haha.

After the first few months of pregnancy, I started to find sleeping was becoming a little different. I had always slept on my side with my legs scrunched up. But that was soon becoming too uncomfortable and I managed to get myself a pregnancy pillow from Aldi for around £6! If I'm completely honest, this sometimes doesn't help and its just a case of a restless night but sometimes, getting it in a certain position means i can drift off a lot easier. I've only got a small-ish one so maybe a bigger/thicker one works better! Let me know if you've had experience with one before!

Up until I was around 19 Weeks Pregnant, I was still fitting into old clothes and feeling fine. However, I was wearing a lot of leggings and joggers due to lockdown and soon realised none of my jeans, shorts, dresses or PJ bottoms were fitting me anymore. If I can give anyone any advice its to buy some over the bump leggings and to sleep in either a nighty or no bottoms. I was finding anything restricting my bump was making me wake up on a night to go to the toilet and my normal leggings weren't sitting right on my bump. I have just ordered some on ASOS which I will review when they come. (I may also do a Maternity clothing haul if that's something you'd be interested in?).

It goes without saying that you should always try and drink plenty of water but I admit, I've never been one to follow that rule. However, over the last week or so, I've found myself feeling a lot more drained and fatigued (and i have no excuses as I've literally not been doing anything due to lockdown other than an hour or so walk with the dogs). I have been finding myself wanting to drink only water, probably my body trying to tell me how dehydrated I am and i feel so much better for it! I have 1 cup of coffee on a Morning (sometimes I dont even have one ) and I drink a glass of fresh orange most mornings too. Then I've gone off 'fizzy' drinks really. I sometimes have a can of Coke or Lemonade but other than that I try to just drink Juice and Water. I promise it makes a big difference!

One of my biggest habits just in my daily life is making Lists. I have a list for everything and make a new version of them most weeks. I made a list, getting inspiration from Pinterest & YouTube on what I'd need for when the little bubba was here and then recently sectioned it off into months. I didn't buy anything until my first scan, then I only bought a few items of clothing and I decided that after my 20 Week scan I would start buying the bulk of things. Sectioning it off into months means I'm not buying everything at once but that I'm also ensuring the important things are getting bought first. Having a notebook to write all this down in is a life saver and means i can do all my financial budgeting in one space too.

And last but not least, I have had an App downloaded on my phone since I found out which has been like having a Midwife in my pocket. It's called Pregnancy+ and there are so many variations out there but this is the one I've got on with the most. Every day there is a new daily & weekly update about my baby, telling me something new about their growth, explaining something i may be going through in pregnancy and loads of other features too. It allows me to add a Bump image every month so i can see the progress with my growth, it tells me important medical information i need to know for myself and the baby and it also shows you what the baby looks like/the size of the baby in different forms. Mine is currently the size of a Maltese Puppy, a Fruit Pie and an Eggplant! Obviously this is just a bit of fun and not an exact measurement but its fun to look at and keeps you entertained imagining that inside your belly. I highly recommend this app as it also has shopping lists, sections for your Partner to read and a part which allows you to record your contractions when you go into labour too!

So they are my current essentials and items that have been helping me during Pregnancy. I recommend them all and if you have any other recommendations, advice or tips for me please do message me on Instagram!

I'm planning on posting a Skincare post next, Maternity Clothing Haul and A Baby Haul of things I have bought so far!

Until next time,

Chloe xx