As I get down to the final wire of this whole pregnancy gig I’ve been thinking a lot about the things that really helped me through the tough days. I think 90% of the whole surviving pregnancy game is attitude and surrounding yourself with people that support you and have a positive outlook and similar perspective on health, lifestyle etc… but there are also some actual “things” that helped me get along and I want to share them with you.
1. TUMS- I hate to start the list off with a “medication” because y’all know that I try everything humanely and naturally possible before resorting to the meds but I must admit that I would have literally checked myself into a hospital thinking I was having a heart attack had I not discovered the healing powers of TUMS. Not to scare any of your newbie pregnant women out there but heartburn can be a serious discomfort for a lot of pregnant women and I was most definitely among those who suffered SUFFERED!
If you are having discomfort from heartburn try eating smaller meals, drinking water in between your meals (not at the same time) and not lying down after eating. Take walks, breath fresh air. Try making a cup of tea with boiling water, ginger, cinnamon and honey. Try drinking a glass of milk or heating up some soy milk and honey before bed time. Try lots of things but if nothing works ask your doc if TUMS are ok for you to take and TAKE THEM!
I’ve been lucky and with the help of my crack (whoops I mean TUMS) I’ve been able to manage my heartburn and function on a pretty comfortable level throughout the day.
*Also, try to figure out what types of foods trigger the worst heartburn for you and avoid them. For some reason chocolate, blueberry yogurt, pita chips and cashews are a death sentence for me. Pretty much everything flares it up but these foods really set me off.
2. Body Pillow- During the first few months of my pregnancy I had a really difficult time with low back pain. The pain was different from any aches I had ever felt before and I think it was just the initial changing shape of my body settling in. With a body pillow I was able to find comfortable positions for sleeping, reading, and resting that took pressure off of my low back. Once I got over the first few months of my changing body, the back pain almost completely vanished. I still use my body pillow off and on and have heard that it is great to keep around for late night breast feeding and propping the baby up during play times.
3. Marie Mongan’s Hypnobirthing Book- I’ll write a separate post on this birthing philosophy later but want to mention that this book is where I really felt like I found a birthing philosophy that lined up with how I felt about pregnancy and birth. There are a lot of great relaxation techniques, positive affirmations and general information regarding pregnancy and birth that I think all expectant mothers can benefit from. I’ve adapted the belief that reading as much information about different birthing philosophies and techniques can only be a positive thing, expanding your arsenal of resources for days that your usual coping mechanisms don’t work and for having options during birth. This book keeps you focused on the joys of becoming a mother and helped me to think of how my baby was growing, changing and feeling throughout his 9 months and through the birthing process.
4. Prenatal Massage- It can be pricey and I am so fortunate to have a best friend who is a massage therapist so I fully took advantage of her services. Do yourself a favor and schedule a prenatal massage for once during east trimester and you will not regret it. The massage helps with relaxation, swelling, low back pain and so much more. It is an instant pick me up, makes you feel good about your body and how amazing pregnancy can be and is the perfect way to pamper yourself and your little one. Invest in yourself throughout your pregnancy and after delivery and I guarantee you will see the positive ripple effect. After a massage I was more patient with myself, my hubby and the challenges that came with a changing body.
5. Music- If you live in the stone age and haven’t heard of www.pandora.com you need to come into the light and check it out. Create personal radio stations and set aside some time in your day to just sit down with your feet up and relax. Music has a way of taking us into a place outside of ourselves and this calming effect is exactly what every pregnant girl needs at the end of the day. Also, invest in your itunes library. Add the new artist you’ve discovered through pandora to your ipod and take walks listening to the playlists your create. Listening to the same sets of music for me helps me relax quickly and deeply and I think will come in handy during labor because I’ll be familiar with the songs and the effect they can have on me.
I’m sure there is more that I can add to this list but to be honest there are some brownies and mint chocolate chip ice cream staring me down and I can no longer resist the temptation!
