Pregnancy is QUITE the whirlwind of body changes and emotional high and lows. For the first twenty weeks of my pregnancy, I was GOLDEN! I felt amazing, was sleeping well, had no nausea, it was basically a breeze and I told myself I could do this twenty times again. Around the new year, that all came to a screeching halt.
I started feeling so much larger, I was getting uncomfortable, I had two diagnoses from my 20 week anatomy scan that had me worried, Placenta Previa and Marginal Cord Insertion. These worries have only unfortunately continued to be at the top of mind and I honestly can’t wait to meet my boy at this point. I’m on “rest” so no exercise or even going for walks, no lifting anything over 10 pounds (this is because the risk of bleeding with placenta previa is high), I’m no longer sleeping so I feel exhausted all the time, nothing fits anymore, my boobs are enormous and so uncomfortable, I feel like even my hair is pregnant at this point.
At the heart, it’s such a beautiful thing and I am so blessed to be growing life inside of my body. I am so thankful for this pregnancy, and thrilled to grow our family. I know I will look back on this and realize it was just a blip of time, but wowww, right now, today, this mama is exhausted!
I’ve been making an effort to pamper myself a little more during these last few months. Under normal circumstances, a lot of these things don’t happen, but right now, I need all the help I can get.
I am sharing a few small self-care pampering ideas to make you feel more like yourself. Happy mamas make happy babies!
Baths
I rarely take a bath but have been trying to more and more because it so relaxing for me! I usually get in once per week and like to use epsom salts and my favorite essential oils like lavender and frankincense. It’s SO relaxing and helps me slow down. I stay in for about an hour and read magazines and just zone out 🙌🏻
Little Luxuries
This is a fun one. I like having my nails done, I like when my roots don’t show, I like getting facials, I like when my legs are shaved, you know, the little things! While in normal circumstances these things go right out the window because #time, these last few months of pregnancy I am ALL ABOUT IT. To be honest, I feel gross AF most days, so having these little luxuries in my life actually make me feel human. I mean isn’t it crazy something as simple as shaving your legs can feel like a freaking luxury??
Speaking of shaving, I recently began trying out a new to me brand called Flamingo and have been loving it! They have award winning products that feel luxe on the skin and help to easily remove hair in unwanted places. What I love most is that they understand that personal care is personal. So they talk to women to understand what we need from our products and man do they deliver. They also give back a portion of their sales to support nonprofit organizations that work to help women gain healthy and positive relationships with their body.
I recommend starting with their Shave Starter Kit. It comes equipped with their luxe shave gel, ergonomic Flamingo razor (available in several colors to choose from), 2 blade cartridges, a body lotion, shower hook and reusable pouch. Another great product is their Fax Wax Kit. You can bring it to your next girls night in or include it in a self-care package for a new mama!
Acupuncture
This has been surprisingly life-changing for me in this last trimester. I never thought I would find a reason for acupuncture but I am so glad because it pushed me to look for some natural relaxation and help with sleep and daily life stressors. For me, the biggest impact it has made is taking the edge off. May sound weird but I find it very easy to be in an irritable mood these days, but since I’ve started going, that is so much less!
There are so many benefits to acupuncture, especially during pregnancy. It has the possibility to help relive morning sickness, reduce pelvic pain, balance blood pressure and reduce stress and anxiety. Having this in my self-care routine has improved my mood and physical body so much. I go once per week to Indigo Wellness and it’s my favorite part of the week!
Getting to Bed Early
This one has been easy, I’m literally shutting my eyes by 9 PM most nights and while normally I would fight that to stay up a little later watching a show, these days I’m letting the sleep win and hitting the sheets earlier than normal. I’m literally up 60 times per night, tossing and turning, peeing, worrying if I slept wrong for the baby so the more hours I can get in bed the better off I am the next day. Pregnancy sure does prepare ya for the whole no sleep when baby comes thing!!
Eating Healthy
During these last few months, my body is craving good nutrition. My body needs all the support it can get right now in preparing for labor and keeping me well so the healthier my diet can be, the better. I still indulge of course, Jeni’s Ice Cream anyone?? but try and pack in the nutrients at mealtimes.
Nesting
I am in major nesting mode which is actually such an amazing form of self care for me. We’re moving in under a month, so there’s plenty of organization to go along with that and I’m dreaming of setting up our new space. I find peace in controlling what I can and organizing through the packing process and the planning/design experience with all that is to come. For some that might bring stress, but I am trying to stay super focused on the positive impact this will have on our family and how grateful I am that we can take this next chapter on.
What do you do for self-care during pregnancy? I would love to hear more suggestions, just comment below!
Thank you Flamingo for sponsoring this post. As always, all thoughts & opinions are my own.
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