Pregnancy is a lot of things, and I would sum it up to be not comfortable. The body is changing, and things are happening that have never happened before. It’s a bit weird when you think about it. But, I wouldn’t commit to it being weird because the women body is amazing and we do something that wow people (mainly the men that adore us).
Ultimately, it is not comfortable. You’re uncomfortable in your own body as it shifts and changes. Your stomach begins to stretch, and your boobs are growing in size. You have a range of pregnancy symptoms going on that you can’t control — don’t even think about taking the medicine that you were taking at one point because there are a lot of no’s in pregnancy.
Your body is no longer your body.
That sounds harsh, but it’s the truth. For nine months, you’re growing another human and sharing everything with them. From what you eat to the things you hear. It’s crazy, to be honest.
For me, I was uncomfortable the last few months as it became a struggle to find things to wear and my feet were always swollen. The swollen feet were the worst. Just imagine going throughout the day with your feet getting bigger and not fitting into your shoes by the end of the day. It was at the point where my feet swelled up by noon each day, and I suffered until work was over. When it came to clothes, I invested in maternity clothes but just because there is a stretch doesn’t mean that you’ll always be comfortable.
You need to find ways to be comfortable.
There are many ways to find comfort and here are a few of the things that I did.
Invest in a Pregnancy Pillow
I’m not afraid to admit that my pregnancy pillow is my best friend. Honestly, I don’t think any women are afraid to admit this because our pregnancy pillows are just that great. You can’t deny the comfort and joy this pillow brings as your body starts to change and shift. Fortunately, you can combat being uncomfortable with this pillow. I love my pregnancy pillow as does Chase and my dog. If I’m not wrapped in it, Chase is wrapped in it, or Rocko is resting his body against it. No, I don’t like sharing, but I understand the adoration for the pillow.
You can find these from many different brands and on Amazon. Chase is the person that went out the way to get mine because I kept rolling over and he read his dad book that said to avoid that. This pillow fulfills many needs like a prop for your growing belly, a body pillow that curves and tucks into the right places, and a placeholder for your body, so you aren’t rolling onto your back. Furthermore, it’s a blessing.
Wear comfortable shoes and clothes
If there is anything I would recommend, it would be that you wear things that fit loosely and make you feel comfortable. You can still be cute in maternity clothes and athleisure. With your growing bump, you have to keep up with a constant sizing change. Embrace the change because you’re doing something incredible — you’re growing a human and you deserve all the credit in the world. There are many brands out there that make maternity wear, and you can find something that matches your style.
When it comes to your feet, expect that they will swell up. I think it’s one thing that you notice right away because your shoes start to feel tighter and it gets hard to put them on. It took a lot for me to shove my feet into my shoes because my feet were swollen by 8 am and not letting me be great. Fortunately, there are shoes out there that you can invest in and still wear after your pregnancy. For me, I went with loafers because they’re back in and I found a pair lined with fur on the inside.
Moisturize, moisturize, and moisturize
Your skin is stretching which means you are going to be itchy.
My advice to you for this would be to utilize all the tummy butter and lotion that you can. You don’t want to go through having to scratch here and there. It’s not the best feeling to be itchy, trust me. Your stomach will itch from time to time — you might find yourself itchier when you’re wearing a stomach panel. Water and lotion will be your best friend for conquering the ability to not scratch.
Being itchy is not comfortable, and I hope you agree. It sucks especially when you can’t reach the itch. Stock up on all the calming lotion that you can. Make the plan now to avoid scratching, and you’ll be golden.
Take a warm bath
Just know that your body is going to ache. You’re going to feel the pains and want to lay in bed all the time. There’s no shame in that. Pregnancy is doing a lot to your body like stretching it out and changing the formation of certain body parts. While you still have the chance, take all the bubble baths that you can. You don’t need to spend all day in the bath but take 10 minutes just to chill out and kick your feet up. You deserve it; you truly deserve it.
Of course, you should go all out with your bath. Light the candles and throw in a bath bomb, it’s your time to chill and shine. It’s a great form of self-care especially as you are dealing with all the emotions and changes that you are going through.
Nap whenever you get the chance
I’m not going to tell you that you need to sleep now because you won’t get it when your baby is here. This has everything to do with your aching body and pregnancy. A nap is a great way to reenergize yourself; it’s a great way to give your body a rest. You deserve to take a nap when you get the chance because you’re going to be tired. Your body is in overdrive by providing all these nutrients to your baby, and you should be able to re-up some energy while you still have some time.
Also, your baby is not going to take all of your sleep. I say that is a first-time mom with a week old baby boy. I get to sleep, and I get naps as long as I stay on my son’s schedule and sync it up with mine. Fortunately, you have nine months to take a nap whenever you want, and you should take advantage of it.
Know your body and know your limits.
With all the hustle and bustle of getting ready for baby, you need to remember to take care of yourself. You need to find ways to get through the uncomfortable moments. I was surprised at how tired I was and how uncomfortable I felt towards the end of my pregnancy. The worst was in month eight and nine, but everything else was smooth sailing.
Of course, you know your body so you will know your limits and what you can and can’t take on. Start a list of things you need to do before baby and try to get that situated before thirty-seven weeks so you can focus on you in those last few weeks.
Pregnancy is everything from happiness to sadness to worrying and much more but the result is worth it.
What are some of your tips for staying comfortable when pregnant?
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