These tips will make your
life easier during pregnancy. We hope they'll reduce
stress, save you time and money, and help you stay in
touch with the joy of being pregnant.
Shower at night.
"Taking showers in the evening and sleeping an extra 45
minutes in the morning has helped a lot. You wouldn't
think this would make much of a difference, but I really
feel like I get enough sleep this way."
Do errands at lunch. "I work full time and do a lot
of errands at lunch before I get too tired. When I get
home I have less to do and can relax or spend time with my
toddler."
Exercise for energy. "A little bit of exercise
increases my energy more than any nap I've ever taken."
Keep good communication with your boss. "I check in
often with my manager. I work on my feet, and as the
months pass, I've slowed down a lot. Taking small breaks
helps a lot. She understands this, and doesn't seem to
mind."
Nap during lunchtime. "I used lunch breaks at work
to cat nap. Fortunately my office had a quiet lounge with
a couch where I would curl up and snooze - even 20 minutes
worked wonders. Co-workers didn't mind leaving me alone.
In fact, it became the pregnancy couch for a string of
pregnant women."
Learn your workplace rights. "It helps to know your
rights. I had horrible, debilitating morning sickness with
both my pregnancies and was so relieved to learn I could
take disability leave for the worst stretches and return
to work for the last trimester."
Be good to yourself. "Pamper yourself with fresh
nail polish, lovely bath oils, or even a professional
facial. These can go a long way in nurturing your spirit."
Pamper your belly. "Rub natural massage oil on your
tummy every day after your shower. It might be an old
wives' tale that this prevents stretch marks, but it sure
feels nice and luxurious."
Invest in a good body pillow. "I slept much better
in the last trimester after I bought a body pillow. I
could curl up on my side, letting the pillow support my
back. It also helped to have a stack of pillows for
propping myself up when I got night heartburn."
Get help with the nursery. "We invited friends over
to help us set up the nursery. We got pizza and beer (and
soda for me) and made a party out of it. They helped paint
and assemble furniture - and even had a good time doing
it!"
Borrow maternity clothes. "Take all the used
pregnancy clothes friends offer. It's silly to spend a ton
of money on clothes you won't wear for long. Sharing
clothes is a nice introduction to the camaraderie of
motherhood." - Greta
Have home picnics. "At the beginning of my third
trimester, I started stocking up on paper plates, cups,
and disposable cutlery. On days when I'm wiped out, we
have 'picnics' at the dining room table. This saves time
and energy that would normally be spent at the sink or
emptying the dishwasher. This will be useful when the baby
comes, too."
Shop for pre-prepared foods. "Frozen entrees and
food from the deli department at your local supermarket
are wonderful. You can have a quick, relatively healthy
meal with minimal clean up. Pre-made salads and roasted
chickens are especially convenient."
Take notes. "During
my first pregnancy, I felt like the biggest idiot on earth
due to what I called 'pregnancy dementia.' I got a
Pregnancy Kit
and learned to carry a note pad with me at all times to
write down even the smallest things. It really did help."
Share the ups and downs. "Get together with other
expectant moms or people with young kids - it's incredible
how sharing the ups and downs of pregnancy and new
parenthood can keep your sanity intact."
Let it out. "Don't
be afraid to show the wacky side of pregnancy emotions. A
good cry or belly laugh does the soul good." |