Self-care is a vital part of your daily routine, especially when you’re expecting. Whether you want to nourish yourself and your baby with the perfect pregnancy diet, or calm your mind with a little meditation, we know how tricky it can be to find the balance when you're relaxing for two!
And of course, many of you will be mums already, so finding ‘down-time’, where you, your bump and your other children, can relax and bond is especially important.
So, we've put together some top tips and products that will help you feel your best all throughout your pregnancy.
Pregnancy Self-Care Tips
There’s so much to think about when it comes to pregnancy self-care - do you have pregnancy symptoms, like morning sickness, that you want to relieve, do you want to take more walks to get some fresh air, do you want to make sure you sleep better?
Most likely the answer is 'yes to all of the above', but it can be easier said than done when you’re already busy with work, family and social commitments, and you know - being pregnant!
That’s why we've taken the time to find the best products to aid your self -care and make sure you can feel mentally and physically healthy all the way up to your due date.
Physical Wellness
We're kicking things off with your physical wellbeing.
It’s a common myth that whilst pregnant you should avoid exercise. In reality, a modified workout, a brisk walk, or a soothing prenatal yoga class will help keep you and your baby healthy.
Aside from the benefits for your body, exercise is great for your mind. A healthy way to release those feel-good endorphins, is to maintain a healthy weight and to get a moment of alone time each day!
If you are worried about modifying your workouts - or even finding the motivation to workout at all - read our top tips for keeping fit during pregnancy (and why not treat yourself to some fabulous maternal workout gear to give yourself a boost?! We love these dark grey, over bump leggings because they have a pocket!)
You might also want to focus on your eating habits too, as this can really help you look and feel your best.
In short make sure you're getting plenty of goodness through a varied diet and avoid the obvious (e.g. caffeine). If you’re not sure where to start with an energy boosting, pregnancy safe diet – begin here.
Skin Health & Beauty For Pregnant Women
Your skin can change a lot during pregnancy. If you want to know how to treat pregnancy skin concerns check out our blog because there are certain ingredients you should avoid as well as skin conditions to look out for.
For the ultimate pampering session we are big fans of a gift set (yes, you can buy a gift set for yourself - but with Christmas coming up, it’s the perfect time to share your ideal gift list with friends and family!)
This Pleni Naturals Mother and Baby set is packed with organic, natural goodies that will soothe your skin and are safe to use on your baby too! And this Bloom and Blossom gift set is full of energising and revitalising treats.
And, of course, you already know where to turn to if you want to soothe your tummy and prevent stretch marks, so why not treat yourself to a full Secret Saviours Kit whilst our Black Friday Sale is on!
Take Care Of Those Pesky Pregnancy Symptoms
The lead up to birth can be beautiful, but it can also include less-beautiful things like morning sickness and all the aches and pains of carrying a baby around for 9 months! So here are a few of our favourite soothing, relaxing remedies to ease symptoms and give yourself a treat.
If you are in need of a hot water bottle (heat can be great to ease muscles, relax, and drift off to sleep!) you need to try this full body bottle that can be cuddled, wrapped over the shoulders or worn as a belt around the lower back to target wherever you need it to warm the most.
A cup of tea is truly the ultimate relaxer - but pregnant women are meant to avoid caffeine… what's a girl to do?! Well, Milkmakers crafted this caffeine free prenatal tea specifically for you. It helps to soothe the occasional heartburn and nausea which can occur during pregnancy, and it’s mild enough to keep you hydrated and nourished with its supportive natural ingredients - even when your stomach is so upset you can't seem to keep anything down! It’s vital to get your nutrients in, so if cravings are making your diet difficult this tea is a great option. For more information on caffeine in pregnancy, why not check out our past blog
Pregnancy Selfcare - Getting A Good Night's Sleep
We all know how vital restorative sleep is for your mental and physical health. And especially whilst pregnant, it’s so important to get good rest.
Things to help you drift off include sticking to a routine, avoiding eating or drinking too close to bedtime, and putting down your phone (or any other screens) for an hour or so before bed. However if those pregnancy niggles are still disrupting your sleep we have a few things that you can try.
If finding a comfy position is your problem, invest in a V shaped pillow. This cosy, woollen, V-shaped pillow is machine washable and is the perfect thing to snuggle up with to finally get comfortable. (It's also sustainable, biodegradable and can be sourced back to a gorgeous UK based farm!)
You can also put aromatherapy to work with this luxurious Japanese seaweed sleep oil. Essential oils are a powerful aromatherapy tool and this nifty little oil combines 22 of them (including lavender, seaweed and peppermint, mmm) to promote sleep and restfulness when applied to your pulse points.
Another tip for any insomniacs out there - try the DoDow DoDow. You're probably thinking 'the what?!' but this is a great relaxation tool that utilises cognitive behavioural psychology, meditation and yogi techniques to lull you to sleep. From your bedside it shines a soothing blue light onto the ceiling that ebbs and flows to slow your breathing and soothe your heart rate.
Finally, we have 7 useful tips on how to get the sleep you need in our blog ‘7 ways to sleep better when pregnant’.
Other anti-stress tips for a pregnant woman
Stress is a serious drain on your body, and it can have its impact on your baby too!
All the self-care tips and tools we've already mentioned will help you to relax, but there are a few other things that you can try to really treat yourself.
Hop in a bath! Soothing warm water and bountiful bubbles will be sure to make you feel great. This pregnancy pamper gift set is loaded with bath salts, bath oil, massage oil and even an anti-stress roll on to help you truly glow.
Aromatherapy candles not only make your whole room smell gorgeous, but they can be really relaxing too. This organic pregnancy aromatherapy candle is hand poured in Wiltshire, smells divine and will make your room look a little more cosy too.
Try out some yoga and meditation to shake out your aches, get your blood pumping, and your breath flowing - whilst also clearing out your mind. There are plenty of great prenatal yoga classes you can do if you like group workouts, or online options if you prefer a little privacy.
Final ideas from us are just some soothing, restful activities that can calm your mind, relieve some stress and get you excited for pregnancy! Mums to be can spend their evenings scrapbooking all those precious moments – we love this pregnancy story journal. Record your pregnancy for your future baby, plan your labour day, brainstorm baby names and marvel in the wonder of your changing body!
Or why not lose yourself in a mindfulness colouring book like this one, where you can let your brain switch off as you create beautiful designs worthy of a place on the wall!
Pregnancy self-care tips conclusion
We hope these tips have given you lots of ideas about how to look after yourself during your pregnancy.
Just remember to listen to your body; if you need a day off work, an early night or a big treat of a meal - indulge in it. Don't stress yourself out trying to push yourself to the max, and accept help or support when its offered!
Now go enjoy your pregnancy!
