The Brave Little Mama

8 Must-Haves To Make Pregnancy Suck Less For You

Pregnancy Must-Haves Growing a new baby is an amazing experience.  I have actually enjoyed most of my time spent being pregnant.  However, pregnancy is not all butterflies and glowing skin.  Growing a tiny human inside your body can be very uncomfortable. First there is morning sickness, then back pain, leg cramps and throughout it all, sleep is a struggle. Along the 18 months combined that I have spent pregnant, I have found that adding a few items into my routine have made a HUGE impact on my comfort level.  I am an Amazon Prime addict, so I’ve included the links to most of these products for your convenience.

Preggie Pop Drops

If you are one of the lucky ones that did get morning sickness, then this product won’t do much for you.  For everyone else that has enjoyed those horrible weeks where it seems like all you do is vomit, these will be your new BFF. Preggie Pop Drops are by no means a miracle cure for morning sickness, but they did help me survive through work meetings or outings with friends without having to continually get up to go vomit. They are hard candy that comes in 4 assorted flavors.  Their flavors are mild and they are not as sugary as normal hard candies.

Boppy Wedge


This little pillow is a game changer for getting appropriate sleep at night.  It wedges right under your growing belly and immediately takes away the pressure caused by the gap between your heavy belly and the bed.  This pillow is fairly small, which makes traveling with it very easy.  It is also easy to move in the event that your left shoulder needs a break and you want to roll over onto your right side.  I could survive without my large maternity pillow, but I could not survive without my Boppy Wedge.

Lemon Concentrate

How to hydrate during pregnancy

A downside of pregnancy is that many drink options are off the table.  Caffeine and sugar should be limited and artificial sugars should be avoided.  It is also a time that you should be more mindful to stay properly hydrated. Lemon Concentrate added to brisk ice water makes the transition from flavored drinks to water a little easier.  Personally, I love sugary-sweet beverages and hate how plain water is.  Lemon Concentrate added to my water has helped me ensure that I am hydrating every single day. Lemon Concentrate can be found in the juice aisle and is usually $2-$4 per bottle.  Add to your preferred strength!

Epsom Salt


Taking epsom salt baths while pregnant comes with a ton of benefits.  Aside from the relaxation that comes from taking a bath, adding Epsom Salt will remove toxins from your body, decrease your general pregnancy aches and pains, increase your magnesium levels and can also help with hemorrhoids. Mix about 2 cups of Epsom salt into a warm bath and soak for about 12 to 15 minutes. Make note to not have your bath water too hot as that is not safe for your growing baby. My favorite is Dr Teal’s Ultra Moisturizing Mineral Soak Avocado Oil.  It leaves your skin so silky and hydrated which is great if you are struggling with an itchy pregnancy belly!

Purpose Gentle Cleansing Face Wash


Some women get glowing, blemish free skin during their pregnancies. Others, don’t. Better news, during pregnancy you cannot use any of the medicated face washes that can help keep your face blemish free.  Purpose Gentle Cleansing Face Wash has been a saving grace in keeping my skin clear and blemish free without over drying.  It easily removes all types of make up and doesn’t have a strong odor. It claims to be as gentle on your skin as water, and my sensitive skin would agree.

I have actually made this my new face cleanser for when I am not pregnant and it does a better job keeping my face clear than all my old benzole peroxide cleansers ever did!

Caleb Treeze Organic Farm Stops Leg and Foot Cramps

Caleb Treeze Organic Farm Stops Leg and Foot Cramps was the miracle product that is safe to take while pregnant that will bring quick relief for leg cramps. Ingredients are certified organic unfiltered raw apple cider vinegar, juice from the ginger plant and all natural garlic juice- which are all okay to take while pregnant.  You can take a capful as prevention or you can take a capful when you are experiencing a cramp. Relief is guaranteed within 2 minutes! My doctor gave this product the green light, but be sure to check with your own doctor before taking.

If you are feeling nauseous, you can even rub it on your cramping leg instead of taking it orally. Full disclosure, this stuff does not taste great and has a STRONG vinegar smell.  I highly recommend having a flavored chaser ready so that you can wash away the flavor immediately.  Enduring 8 seconds of a bad taste is totally worth it to be able to go back to sleep cramp free!

Raise Them Well Baby Belly Balm


Many belly creams/lotions/oils on the market claim to be able to help prevent stretch marks and the itch associated with a growing belly.  Based on the anatomy of the skin, many experts agree that it is not possible to prevent stretch marks with a cream.  Worse than stretch marks (in my opinion) is the maddening itch associate with a large growing belly. I’m talking about an itch so intense that you literally want to gauge your skin off your body because you are so miserable. Raise Them Well Baby Belly Balm actually brings all day relief to an itchy belly.

I have sensitive skin and have tried dozens of products on the market. I was shocked to find that after applying it the first night, I enjoyed the following day completely itch free! This is the only product that I have ever tried that eliminates the itch all day, rather than just providing relief until 10am. Bonus, it uses all-natural, toxic-free ingredients so it is safe for moms and babies. It also contains authentic Dead Sea Magnesium Oil infused with Aloe Vera, Jojoba & Coconut oils and enhanced with Lavender essential oil.

Constipation Free Iron Supplements


Anemia is very common during pregnancy. Iron anemia during pregnancy can leave you feeling tired and weak.  Most iron supplements on the market cause constipation, which is frustrating and uncomfortable.  If you also have hemorrhoids from pregnancy, being constipated will only make the issue worse. The good news is that there are different types of iron supplements, which are made from a different form of iron that do not cause constipation (can I get a Hallelujah!!!).  With my first pregnancy I felt like I was constantly making a choice between being anemic or being constipated. Taking an iron supplement regularly has made a huge difference with my energy levels, which is even more important now that I have a 2-year-old to keep up with! Make sure to check with your doctor before adding a new supplement to your routine!

 Are there any items that have made your pregnancy easier?  I would love to hear about them in the comments below!

Click here to read about the 10 Things I Wish I did BEFORE my Baby Arrived

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