June 14, 2020
The 6 Products I Found Most Useful During My Pregnancy
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I never thought of compression socks for pregnancy, but turns out they are completely necessary. During pregnancy, the body produces approximately 50% more blood and body fluids to meet the needs of the developing baby. The extra fluid in the body and the pressure from the growing uterus can cause swelling (or "edema") in the ankles and feet (hello, cankles). Add that to the fact that I was sitting at work all day and it was not a pretty (or comfortable) situation. I came across these compression socks after seeing them on Karlie Kloss’ instagram, and was impressed by their beautiful design that hardly screams “grandma’s compression socks”! Beyond reducing the swelling in my legs, they actually energized my entire body. The compression felt like a tiny army of massagers spoiling myself at the spa even though I was just sitting at my desk! Update: Use code TQE10 for 10% off at Comrad Socks.
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This prenatal had a 20K person waitlist and I’m not surprised. I have always hated taking pills or vitamins of any kind - they’re hard to swallow and make me nauseous. I was dreading taking a prenatal vitamin daily until I discovered Ritual. Ritual’s prenatal is easy to swallow, has a delayed release, no nausea capsule design and 12 science-backed, traceable ingredients in their most absorbable forms. They're also citrus scented, vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, and free of artificial colorants and synthetic fillers. I’m so happy to report that these are worth the hype and the wait.
View at Ritual
These luxe French terry joggers were a gift that kept giving and one of my best pregnancy investments. No drawstring and just elastic meant a loungewear pant that didn’t scream maternity, and that could be used before, during, and after pregnancy. They can be dressed up or down, and provide the perfect combination of “holding you in” and overall comfort to take on the day or just netflix and chill.
View at Hatch
This Lively Mesh Maternity Bra combines function, style, and comfort, and can grow with you for pregnancy and beyond. I bought one when I noticed by boobs were growing out of my normal bras around 4 months of being pregnant. The fabric is soft and durable like a sleep bralette, but it's not bulky like most maternity bras. I also think the price point is great considering that many other nursing bras are priced around $50-$60. I can't wait to continue to wear these even when I am not pregnant or breastfeeding!
View at Lively
I tried so many different body oils, but kept coming back to Hatch Belly Oil which features calendula, sweet almond oil, and grapefruit peel. Although it’s on the pricier end, I found it to be so luxurious and effective I was willing to invest the extra $$ if that meant less stretch marks and scars post-pregnancy. I loved how quickly it intensely hydrated and quick drying it was without ever feeling sticky or that it would stain my clothes. Hatch appeals to the conscious consumer: it’s free of parabens, dyes, and fragrance, and it’s vegan and dermatologist approved. If you don’t finish it at full term, you definitely won’t mind using it post-baby.
View at Hatch
The last thing I needed to be worry about in pregnancy was...tying my shoes. Literally. Especially in my third trimester, I had trouble bending over to complete that daily task. Enter Allbirds, the New Zealand company that took the shoe industry by storm when they launched their uber comfy Merino Wool Joggers a few years back. They’re back at it with the Loungers, a loafer style slip-on I swear by even now, postpartum. Their ZQ Merino wool material is great at regulating temperature, so I wear these year round. They have a 30 day no questions asked return policy and they donate lightly worn shoes to Soles4Souls.
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