When we were pregnant with Light, I must have read tons of information about pregnancy, what to expect and how to deal with all the changes that will happen to my body. I’ve asked my mommy friend from Yellow Yum and other pregnant women for their personal experiences. While it’s true that each pregnancy is different, there are still some common things that you will share with other expectant moms. 🙂
I was lucky because my first trimester was really an easy one compared to other mommies. The second and third trimesters though, well, those months leading to my labor and delivery were a little difficult. And so, for this post I want to share with you some of the things that helped in the whole pregnancy experience.
I have to note that I was a little hesitant to buy things that were specifically use for pregnancy (hence, only four items on this list). I thought that I’d rather spend money on baby things so I didn’t really buy that much. It’s important that you know what matters to you the most so you don’t end up buying everything that has a “for pregnant women” description/label on them. Plus, I didn’t want to waste money on something that I might never use again, or only use a few times. 🙂
First on my list is one of the best purchases I made… to use while pregnant. I really loved it, more than my husband at that time (hmmm…). I guess that’s why he kind of hated it. Haha!
My Snug-A-Hug pillow helped a lot with my sleeping position when I had a huge belly. I didn’t need any other pillows. Just my Snug-A-Hug. 🙂
Even after pregnancy I still wanted to use it. I wanted to hug it and to wrap my legs around it. But I made a choice to hug and cuddle my husband instead. So, the Snug-A-Hug pillow was put to the side. I mainly use it for blockage these days.
When Light was still smaller, I used to use it to help her on her tummy time and to practice her sitting.
I recommend Snug-A-Hug to expectant mommies who are having difficulty getting a good sleep because of they’re growing tummy. You will definitely get a good snooze with this pillow. 🙂
What I like about it?
- It’s the only pillow I needed when I was pregnant.
- You can use it in many ways.
What I don’t like about it?
- It’s too heavy.
- It’s not okay for breastfeeding based on my experience.
The second important item I bought to help in my pregnancy was the Mustela Stretch Mark Double Action. This was actually one of the items I bought first when I got pregnant. Although I read that stretch mark lotions don’t really work. But it’s something that I really wanted to avoid so I got myself one anyway.
I put a small amount on my tummy area twice a day.
What I like about it?
- It’s not too sticky so you won’t feel eeky.
- I only put some on my tummy area so one tube of 250 ml lasted the whole pregnancy.
- The smell. It smelled nice. 🙂
- I think it worked on my tummy. It didn’t really remove the stretch marks but at least there were no major marks after birth. 🙂
What I don’t like about it?
- It was a bit pricey for a lotion (that may or may not work) so it helps if you buy a discounted one. I went to one of those Expo Mom Events. You can usually buy Mustela products there at a discount.
The third item is a nursing bra. Although this item should be bought later down the line when your breasts have reached their maximum fullness. 😛 I bought my nursing bras a month before my due date. Actually I bought a few before and after pregnancy. I’m also going to throw in here the bra extenders. If you don’t want to spend money on nice bras for your new bust size, just get yourself a bra extender.
Now I bought a few nursing bras from the department store, the ones without underwires. I don’t think you can even find underwired nursing bras in a local department store. Anyway, I also bought a couple that has underwire for, you know, going out. If you really need to buy a new bra to support your growing breasts, I suggest getting a nursing bra instead of a bigger size ordinary bra. That way when you plan to breastfeed (you should really breastfeed) you don’t need to buy another bra for it. Also, some nursing bras have thicker wings to support, well, the growing fat on the sides of your chest.
I think getting a good bra during pregnancy is important because your body is changing so much and there will be times when you’ll feel sad about those changes. A good bra to make you look good, aside from supporting your huge breasts, will help boost that good feeling. ;D
Bra 1: Lydia Nursing Bra (by Fabulous Mom) – bought online for P1,000 at Au Lait Nursing
- The fabric is soft.
- It supported my breast really nicely.
- Since it’s a t-shirt type of bra, wearing this under a shirt made me look nice.
- You can also wear strapless.
- The feel and overall look is very elegant.
- The wings are not too wide so it didn’t cover all my side fats haha.
- The strap keeps falling off my shoulders. I’m not sure if it’s because of the size.
Bra 2: Elegance Full Padded With Wire – bought online for P480 at Nursing Mommies PH
- The wings are wide enough to cover my side fats. Yes!
- It made my breasts look really big. Although I’m still thinking if it’s something I liked…hmmm…
- It’s really affordable.
- Nothing really. It’s a good nursing bra to have that you can still use even after breastfeeding.
Bra 3: Lady Grace Nursing Bra
What I like about it?
- It’s very soft and the straps are strong enough to hold my breasts even if it has no underwires.
- The buttons/snaps for nursing are in the middle of the breasts area (mostly they’re detachable at the strap). I found this easier to snap off and on when breastfeeding.
What I don’t like about it?
- The snaps/buttons snap off on its own sometimes, especially when I adjust the straps.
Bra 4: SO-EN Nursing Bra
What I like about it?
- The paddings are huge that it covers your entire breasts. I really liked it when I had huge breasts.
- The wings are wide enough to cover the side fats. ;D
What I don’t like about it?
- It is not flattering at all. Whatever clothes I wear, when I’m wearing this bra, I look really fat. 🙁
- When my boobs deflated 🙁 I couldn’t wear this anymore ‘coz it looks really big (with like nothing inside!!!). So, you might want to purchase one size smaller if you’re planning to get this bra.
The last item I bought when I was pregnant was a few good pairs of underwear. I think there are also maternity panties but I didn’t get those anymore. I just bought some boy short types from La Senza. Although I was still able to wear some of my old panties during pregnancy.
Tip: La Senza usually has those buy 5 pairs for a discounted price. If you plan to buy a gift for a girl friend on her birthday and you’re on a budget (like I was at that time), you can get those promos. Give a couple to your friend and find 3 pairs in your “current” size. 🙂
La Senza Underwear As Maternity Panties
What I like about it?
- It didn’t stretch so even after giving birth I was able to wear it. The fit is still okay. It’s actually my current favorite pairs of underwear. 🙂
- The fabric is soft (blue and purple ones).
- These underwear made me feel like at least my bum was in tact and perky, not big and flat.
What I don’t like about it?
- It rolls up around the inner thigh which could be annoying.
- The nylon type (green and skin tone ones) can get a bit warm and sweaty to the bum.
So here’s my list. How about you? Would you like to share some of your good buys during your pregnancy? Share them in the comment section below. 🙂
Mommy
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