While there’s no denying the miracle of childbirth, it’s safe to say that pregnancy isn’t exactly a walk in the park.
From significant weight gain and an imbalance of hormones to everything in between, pregnancy isn’t always as glamorous and it’s made out to be. In fact, for many women, the thought of experiencing the symptoms of pregnancy for as long as nine months can feel downright unbearable.
Fortunately, there are simple tips and tricks that every pregnant woman can employ to help ease their pregnancy. Not only will these tips make being pregnant more enjoyable, but they’re also destined to save any expecting mother some serious time and money.
If you’re looking for ways to make pregnant life easier, you’re going to want to read this. We’re outlining the 15 best pregnancy hacks that are certain to make maternity life easier.
After all, who knew life with a pregnant belly could make even the simplest things so much harder?
1. Hot Tamales for Nausea
While hot tamales candies may fall into a women’s pregnancy cravings, it also turns out that they have the ability to help alleviate nausea.
Studies reveal that a touch of cinnamon helps to reduce symptoms of hormone-related nausea in women. While adding cinnamon to your foods throughout pregnancy is always beneficial, the candy form of cinnamon is great for on-to-go scenarios.
Simply sucking on these candies is proven to help soothe an unpleasant stomach without any nasty side effects.
2. Shop for Elastic Laces
As your pregnancy progresses, it’s hard to ignore how much your feet continue to grow and expand. As a result, many women choose to wear slip-on or even velcro shoes to avoid instances of bending.
However, with the right laces, almost any shoe can work throughout your pregnancy. Do yourself a favor and swap out your usual shoelaces with elastic laces.
These are no-tie laces that have the ability to provide enough support to your feet without having to reach down and tie them yourself. These laces typically work with any shoes that contain eyelets.
3. Eat a Banana for Leg Cramping
If you’re experiencing leg cramping throughout your pregnancy, it turns out there’s a relatively simple solution to help minimize your pain.
Try having a glass of water followed by a banana. The potassium in the banana can help to ease the pain of cramping. Bananas are also a great source of magnesium and calcium which are both known to alleviate cramping.
It’s also helpful to massage your leg where the cramping is most severe.
4. Always Have Pads on Hand
If you find yourself spotting throughout your pregnancy, rest assured that over 20 percent of women experience pregnancy spotting.
In most circumstances, spotting is entirely normal and a simple result of being pregnant. It’s also normal to find yourself having small accidents when you cough, sneeze or even laugh. The joys of pregnancy!
To help keep from spending a small fortune on new underwear, be sure to always wear liners or carry pads. Some days you might find spotting is more prevalent than others and these days it’s best not to leave home without a pad.
5. Contact Siri Instantly
Throughout the nine months of pregnancy, you’re bound to come across a number of questions about the process.
For example, you may wonder about caffeine intake or whether a certain medication is safe to take during pregnancy. In a more complicated situation such as with surrogacy, the surrogate mother may have questions about the process and the legalities associated with it. If you’re interested in surrogacy, learn more here.
Many of these pregnancy questions can be answered by Siri on an instant basis. Think of this as having a wealth of information at your fingertips!
6. Freeze Your Bra to Combat Sweating
Throughout your pregnancy, you can expect significant instances of sweating from time-to-time.
At the beginning of a pregnancy, extreme instances of sweating are caused by a rapid change of hormones and estrogen. As estrogen levels decline, the brain is signaled to heat up the body and excessive sweat is typically the result.
To relieve yourself, place your bra in the freezer before going to bed. You can also do the same for tank tops, socks and even underwear. In the middle of the night, these cool garments are sure to relieve your scorching body temperatures!
7. Sleep on Silk
As a pregnant woman, you’re more than aware of how much you toss and turn throughout your sleep.
To help accommodate these motions, try laying a silk or satin blanket atop your sheets. The soft material works wonders in allowing your body to move more freely and with less disturbance.
With a simple silk slip, you can look forward to a better night’s rest!
8. Invest in a “Grabber”
As your belly continues to grow and expand, the thought of dropping essential items becomes more and more daunting.
While it may feel silly at first, having a grabber tool at arm’s reach is never a bad idea during your pregnancy. The amount of energy and strain that picking something up off the floor whilst pregnant is simply not worth it!
You can even go so far as bringing this grabber to the bathroom with you when you shower. After all, accidentally dropping your shampoo and a pregnant belly are not exactly a match made in heaven!
9. Give Your Feet a Salt Soak
As you inch closer and closer to giving birth, you’ve likely come to notice that your feet have bloated to oblivion.
Not only does this make it difficult to walk and wear everyday shoes, but it can also become incredibly painful. At the end of a long day, try soaking your feet in hot water and Epsom salts. This simple combination works to reduce swelling and relax your feet.
10. Buy Bra Extensions
Let’s face it, maternity bras are expensive, uncomfortable and not exactly attractive.
Before you take a trip to the mall and spend a small fortune on new bras, try using a bra extension. These bra extensions hook easily onto your bra to expand your bra and allow you more room. This is especially helpful during the first trimester before the size of your breasts increases.
While these are available at maternity stores, you can also find them at craft stores and department stores for a fraction of the price!
11. Keep Snacks in Your Night Table
It’s no secret that nightly snacking is a common occurrence for many pregnant women. After all, nighttime cravings are certainly not an old wive’s tail when it comes to pregnancy!
Do yourself a favor and pack pantry snacks in your bedside table. This may be granola bars, nuts and even dried cereal.
This can help to alleviate your midnight snack craving without the struggle of having to get out of bed. A midnight snack is also known to help fight morning sickness!
12. Drop Peppermint Oil into the Toilet
While many pregnant women feel a near constant need to pee, the process of emptying the bladder isn’t always that simple.
Because of the pressure on the bladder and the swelling of the vaginal area, it can be difficult to empty the bladder entirely. As a result, women find they have to pee again not long after their last visit to the bathroom.
To help counteract this, simply add a few drops of peppermint oil to your toilet before use. The vapors of the oil help to dilate the urethra and allow for a full and pain-free urine cycle.
13. Apply for Disability Parking
Some states allow pregnant women to apply for a temporary disability parking pass.
While there are often certain qualifications that must be met, this can be incredibly helpful for many women. For example, women that are on strict bed rest or experiencing complications throughout their birth are likely to be granted this temporary pass.
The process is relatively simple and includes going to your doctor and applying for the permit.
14. Keep Ginger Candy on Hand
For many pregnant women, morning sickness and diarrhea are no joke.
In fact, studies reveal that between 80 and 90 percent of women experience morning sickness at some point in their pregnancy.
To help reduce your symptoms of morning sickness, keep ginger candies in your bedside table. While it’s not a guaranteed solution, it does help to combat nausea and an irritable stomach in a safe and natural way.
15. Use Olive Oil on Your Belly
Throughout the nine months, many women use oil on their belly to help reduce the appearance of stretch marks and allow the skin stretch.
While most pregnant women have a go-to baby oil on hand, it’s also beneficial to have a backup oil for if this runs out. Fortunately, olive oil can do the trick just fine and most women already have it sitting in their pantry.
Not only does olive oil help to reduce stretch marks, but it also helps to ease itchiness and soothe the belly in general.
The Best of The Best Pregnancy Hacks
If you’re an expectant mother, you’re well acquainted with the trials and tribulations associated with a pregnancy.
While you’re overjoyed at the thought of your new baby’s arrival, there’s no denying that the hardships of pregnancy can get you down. From morning sickness and changing hormones to night sweats and aching feet, the pregnancy life isn’t all glitz and glam.
Fortunately, there are steps any mother can take to make their pregnancy more enjoyable and minimize the pain. These pregnancy hacks are certain to make maternity life easier and more stress-free.
Go on, try them for yourself!
Are you on the hunt for more useful tips and tricks? For more healthy living hacks, be sure to visit our healthy living webpage!