HEALTHY PREGNANCY
TIPS FOR PREGNANT WOMEN
After having three sets of twins I realize that every pregnancy is unique! Even for the same woman having three sets of twins, each time was different. All of them were difficult and high risk (all twin pregnancies are) but I also felt deeply excited and appreciative of the beauty of growing two tiny beings inside of me. Each baby is such a miracle, truly. Here are some of the tips, products, books and items that helped me through pregnancy. I hope these are helpful recommendations and that they help you stay healthy and comfortable while the body does amazing work.
ENTIRE PREGNANCY
Some healthy tips for the entire pregnancy:
- Hydration is SO important for you and the growing baby. However you can drink more water, whether it is sparkling water, having a large bottle near you all day, adding lemon, counting your glasses or setting digital reminders, drink water like your life depends on it!
- Rest and sleep cannot be overdone. Give your body and your growing baby all of the R&R you both need.
- Gentle Exercise like short walks and gentle yoga are great for pregnancy, swimming also feels great. You will have to slow down toward the end but doing what you can will help you feel better during and after your baby is born.
- Stay up to date by using applications and pregnancy calendars as well as going to all of your doctor appointments and ultrasounds. The What to Expect website and application has weekly updates and tells you what food your fetus is the size of. It's especially great for first time moms who are new to it all. The Baby Story App can help edit your bump pics to include how many weeks or months you are. This is the link to my favorite pregnancy calculator to know how far along you are.
FIRST TRIMESTER
During the first trimester, your body is adjusting to a major flood of the hormone, HCG. It is so important to try to relax during this transition and not overdo anything. Rest and relaxation and eating what you can should be the main focus of the first few weeks. If you're having twins, these hormones are not two fold but sometimes even quadrupled and your symptoms will be much more intense. You will not only grow to a larger size toward the end of the pregnancy but right from day one a twin pregnancy is very challenging. Listen to your body and remember the expectations of what you can do physically and mentally should be different so take it easy and sleep more, if you can.
MOST COMMON PREGNANCY SYMPTOMS
According to the Mayo Clinic the top first trimester symptoms are:
- Nausea/vomiting
- increased urine
- Tender Breasts
- Fatigue
- Food Cravings and Aversions
- Heartburn
- Constipation
HCG HORMONES
At the beginning of the pregnancy HCG surges which is what causes so much sickness early on in pregnancy. If you're having two it's more than double the levels and you feel extreme versions of some or most of the "normal" pregnancy symptoms. Whether you're having one or more these products are great for the first trimester:
Always consult with your doctor before taking any medications or supplements. Every pregnancy and every body is unique. There is no one size fits all.
ALMONDS & PROTEIN
Nausea and vomiting that comes in the morning during pregnancy is usually heightened by your stomach being so empty after sleeping all night. The more you can eat protein at night or even when you wake up to go to the bathroom, the better you'll feel in the morning. You can keep a bag of almonds on your nightstand and just eat a few at a time when you are up. High protein greek yogurt, cashews and hearty meals and snacks like breakfast sandwiches help during the day.
Unisom is great for pregnancy insomnia and morning nausea and vomiting. This mild, over the counter sleep aid has been used for morning sickness since the 1970's and is proven safe and non habit forming.
A high quality prenatal with plenty of folic acid helps keep you and the baby healthy.
This is another over the counter must have for heartburn. Some women never experience heartburn in their entire lives, except when they were pregnant. It can be severe and is caused by surging pregnancy hormones and toward the end of pregnancy, the esophogus being physically pushed on by the baby or babies.
SECOND TRIMESTER
According to the Mayo Clinic the top second trimester symptoms are:
- Growing belly
- Braxton-hicks contractions
- Skin changes
- Nasal problems
- Dizziness
- Leg cramps
- Vaginal discharge
- Pelvic pain
conut oil is a great natural choice for rubbing on the growing belly. It helps reduce stretch marks and soothes the stretching skin.
This is a wonderful belly cream by Burt's Bees made especially for pregnant women.
This belly butter and oil combo are a must have and top seller.
The boppy wedge pillow is great for sliding under the belly when you're sleeping on your side giving comfort and relief from gravity pulling the belly down.
Now is the time to invest in some super comfy maternity pants or leggings because you will wear them for a while. I love these pants because they're soft.
THIRD TRIMESTER
The third trimester can be exciting and scary at the same time! If you're carrying two, the weight and discomfort can become unbearable before you even get to 30 weeks. This trimester is all about resting and not trying to do much at all. Waddling to the bathroom and doctor appointments will take most of the energy and staying as comfortable as possible is key. Try to get any baby preparation done before the third trimester so you can focus on the growth, rest and the changes you and your family will experience. You'll think of more to do and feeling prepared ahead will help you stay healthy and calm during the last few weeks. Don't forget to take deep breaths.
According to the Mayo Clinic the top third trimester symptoms are:
- Braxton-Hicks Contractions
- Leg cramps
- Heartburn
- Constipation
- Shortness of breath
- Round Ligament Pain
- Hip pain
- Backaches
- Swelling
This maternity belt is helpful when your belly starts to get so big that your back is aching. The belt holds the belly up so that gravity isn't weighing it down too much.
A pregnancy pillow can help so much and there are many different kinds. This is one of the best selling u-shaped pregnancy pillows.
This c-shaped pillow is very comfy and is helpful during the last trimester when sleeping can become so difficult.
Maternity/Nursing Nightie's are great for third trimester and right after delivery. This one has a little lace and is comfy and easily accessible for nursing babies.
I was gifted this maternity robe and love how soft and comfy it is and once again, easy access for nursing babies.
This birthing ball or yoga ball is great for hip stretching and flexibility and soothes aching hips during late pregnancy and can even be helpful during delivery.
AN AMAZON REGISTRY IS A GREAT WAY TO GO...
This post includes affiliate links which just means that YFK receives a small percentage of the sale at no cost to you. These links are only for products that I have used and highly recommend. Thank you for supporting YFK and reading Healthy Pregnancy, by a twins mom. I hope that you have enjoyed this list and learned from it! I hope you are able to use some of these wonderful products to help make your pregnancy more restful, enjoyable and feel more prepared for delivery day! Sharing parenting ideas is a huge passion of mine. Please join the newsletter below for more parenting articles, activities, poses and more.
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AUTHOR
Kathleen is a professional kids yoga teacher, licensed elementary teacher and mom of three sets of spontaneous twins. She is a nature enthusiast and passionate about spreading the joy of kids yoga as well as parenting hacks she's learned along the way.
