This pregnancy hasn't been the easiest to say the least. HG has made it really rough, but there has been quite a few things that have made it better. I've gathered a list of my 10 favorite things that I've been using religiously for the last seven months to share with you. Please know some of these items have affiliate links.
H&M Pants - When the pants no longer started fitting anymore, I started to panic. Finding pants to fit me has been a life long struggle. I ended up ordering over $500 worth of pants from various places like Pea in a Pod, Old Navy, Gap, Macy's, etc. NONE of them fit me the way I wanted them too! H&M's pants were my savior. I highly recommend them if you are on the petite side like I am, but make sure you call around first. Most H&M's stores do not have a "Mama Section", so you may have to travel a distance to find them. It was really awesome to go into the store and try everything on that they had available. My store was even nice enough to let me raid the back store room for the last of the sizes and colors I needed.
Eczema Honey Co. Cream - My skin has been an absolute wreck since becoming pregnant. Everything from hives, rashes, and extreme acne. Almost immediately, I was itchy and more sensitive to my environment around me. This cream has been a huge saver for my skin. It's made with the most simple ingredients and is a hit with all my nanny kids. I've been using it religiously on my belly to combat stretch marks. Even Andy was using it at night with cotton gloves to repair his hands. After two nights, his hands were almost brand new.
Hint Water - I've never been a big water drinking, but when I got pregnant regular water would not stay down. It was horrible, but in walked Hint Water. It's basically water infused with fruit with extra colors or chemicals. It's been a huge lifesaver and the only way I've been staying hydrated. I've even gotten Andy obsessed with them. Peach, Watermelon, and Pineapple are by far our favorite flavors. You can find them at your local grocery store, Target, and Amazon.
Trader Joe Organic Strawberry Lemonade - Besides Hint Water and the occasional ICEE's, Trader Joe's Strawberry Lemonade has been my favor thing to sip on through the day. Baby girl actually craves it to the point she will make me sick over it. It's light, refreshing, and not overly bitter. I've tried multiple other kinds of Strawberry Lemonade but this one is the best and doesn't break the bank.
Murad Acne Body Wash and Clarifying Body Spray - Remember that part where I said my skin was a wreck? Yeah, no place on my body has been safe. In fact, the ones I was getting were horribly painful and made wearing shirts really uncomfortable. After much done research, these were the two most highly recommended products on Sephora and were cleared by my OBGYN. It helped immensely but you really need to spray at least 2x a day in order for it to be really effective.
Peter Thomas Roth Max Complexion Correction Pads - If you are battling acne, holy crap folks. This is the product you need to have. Remember those old school acne wipes that were harsh and dried out your skin to no end? These are the way better version of that high school staple. They smell absolute amazing and they definitely help.
Volition Beauty Celery Green Cream - This is a new addition to my arsenal. I've been struggling with finding a moisturizer for my new skin since I got pregnant. My skin instantly got very oily and everything made the acne worse. I went through lots of Drunk Elephant products, but nothing helped. That was until I hear that fellow gymnast Nastia Lukin was creating her own celery cream. Ever since I've started using it, it's made a huge difference in my skin. I have finally found that pregnancy glow.
Fruity Pebbles - There are plenty of gluten free cereals I could talk about but Fruity Pebbles are my choice. They are fruity, delicious, and can be enjoyed at all hours of the day. I even sometimes make them into fruit pebble treats.
Post it Notes - I had a huge problem with post it's before I got pregnant. Now it's just worse, they are everywhere. I use them to write lists, reminders, or even just a note to tell Andy what's for dinner. I don't know how many times I have found myself laying in bed and will think of something that I NEED to remember. Thus why I have started stashing various size post its and pens throughout the house. That way I can write it down immediately before Mommy brain lets me forget.
Stitch Fix - I'm not a huge shopper. I've always found it hard for me and a huge time investment. I've been an avid Stitch Fix shopper for years now, and it's been a great way to add new pieces to my wardrobe over time. They have a year fix fee, schedule monthly, or as you wish. It's an amazing set up. What's even better is they offer maternity wear! It's been a huge help to finding great dresses and work pieces as I've grown. They even offer men and kids services too.