When I found out that I was pregnant for my first baby after struggling with infertility, I searched the web for all of the things I might need for the first trimester of my pregnancy. I must have read 20 blog posts that assured me that I needed preggie pops for morning sickness and a bathtub thermometer to makes sure I did not make my bath water too hot. I do not claim that I was the most informed first-time pregnant mama, but I would at least throw myself in the running.
While I am most certainly not knocking any of these posts and their first trimester necessities, I am here to tell you what I have found really necessary when carrying baby number three, while chasing around my wild toddler.
v8 Juice
Ok – before you gag, hear me out. My biggest struggle this pregnancy has been quickly filling my stomach before I yak all over creation. I have found that the hunger hits me quicker and I cannot eat things fast enough to fix the problem. This has also been an issue when running out of the house for drop off or pick up and everything in between. V8 has been my savior. I really like the tiny cans that give me a quick boost to get me through to my next meal. I get the low sodium stuff to make my OB happy. ALSO, for the first time in pregnancy, I have struggled to take my prenatals and other meds. I have been taking them with V8 and it has fixed the problem. Just sit back, relax, and think BLOODY MARY. Oh, and don’t forget that Shipt with deliver this stuff straight to your door from Target OR Rouses!
Extra Large Water Bottle
I tend to think I am doing a much better job drinking water than I actually am. Instead of walking around with a gallon jug to keep track, I have been walking around with a much more stylish 40oz Hydroflask. My dear pregnant friend suggested this and told me that she at least fills and drinks it twice. I have been doing the same. I am peeing more than I thought humanly possible, but feeling good about the water intake, nonetheless. I got this one on Amazon on sale as I did not care much about the color and just went with the cheapest one. If you really want to be a show off, get this to make it fit in your cup holder in your car!
Maternity and Non-maternity Maternity Clothes / Shoes
Ok, I showed with this third baby UNREASONABLY quickly. My body was like – “oh, 3 pregnancies in 3 years? Ok. I’ve got this.” So, I had to whip out some accommodating clothes super quickly.
I love these Ingrid and Isabel maternity tops. I bought them in almost every color. They are suppper soft. I feel like they will be perfect for Spring, Summer, and can transition into Fall with a duster or sweatshirt.
As far as nonmaternity maternity clothes go, I have loved these tops from Old Navy. They come in vneck and scoop neck. There are also lots of graphic tee options. They are super soft and hug the belly perfectly while also covering my bootay.
These pjs from Target are the best. I have had them before but bought a bigger size for maternity and postpartum. They are super soft. I think they will also be great for breastfeeding, too.
Also worth mentioning, Lularoe Julias are awesome bodycon dresses that are super thing and hug the belly just right. Hit up one of the 10371293701 Lularoe reps on your FB friends list and get that hookup. This is not at all the most flattering picture of me that I have taken in my whole life, but I needed you to see to believe.
If you follow any LAFMBer on social media, you know that we are freakinggg out over these shoes. They are as good as we claim them to be – that is a promise. They are the pregnant foot’s dream. Think comfortable jellies. Use code ‘LAF10’ for 10% off. Someone please convince my husband to buy the Raspberry pair for me for my 30th.
Safer Beauty Products
Whether you change up your beauty routine when you get pregnant is up to you, your OB, and God. I like to treat pregnancy as an opportunity to treat myself with some safer beauty products that I may not splurge on when not pregnant. If you read my Valentine’s letter to myself, you know that I live my best life pregnant. Here are a few of my favorite safer swaps:
I switch to natural deodorant almost immediately with each pregnancy. I have been through them all. Now that I have found these two brands, I know that I will not be going back even when I am done breastfeeding. These work great and smell great, too. I prefer a stick, so I love Native the best. But if you prefer to shop local and do not mind using a pot, Olive and Ani is fabulous. LAFMB has some mad love for Olive and Ani and not one of us is afraid to tell you all about it.
Zoya nail polish is the jam. Their matte glitters were a fav of mine in college and law school. But I love them now even more because they have the widest range of colors and are 5-free. I am really loving this color — Laurel — for Spring!
I have switched almost everything else to Beauty Counter. I do not sell this stuff, I just love it. I will not go into telling you why I support this brand and feel comfortable using it pregnant. I will tell you, though, that this body lotion is the best feeling lotion I have ever used. I cover my whole bod with lotion after every bath and have since I was in high school. I have tried so many. I love Philosophy but prefer to go safer when pregnant. This lotion will be a forever in my routine.
Well, that is a wrap. Stay tuned for second trimester necessities, high-risk pregnancy deets, and probably way more information about my pregnancy than my grandmother would be comfortable with me sharing. Oh, and if you know of the best pregnancy leggings out there, holler at me. Still haven’t found those yet.
