6 Pregnancy Must Haves

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As I near the end of my pregnancy {but like how am I already 9 months pregnant?!?} I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite “must have” pregnancy items!

I have a lot of Mama’s and Mama’s-to-be to read my blog, so I hope some of these items will come in handy for you!

My Top Pregnancy Must Buys

  1. This pregnancy pillow has been everythinggg the past 9 months. It helps to take pressure off my low back and my belly now that baby is almost fully grown.

  2. My favorite prenatal vitamin, I talk more about this HERE

  3. This lotion is clean, non-toxic and is verified by the EWG. Not only do I feel safe using this lotion during pregnancy, but it is so hydrating on my skin it’s the go-to lotion for my whole family! We will be using the unscented version of this lotion on Baby Boy.

  4. Living in South Florida, shorts are a must…even in February! These jean shorts have been my favorite this pregnancy, and I swear I wear them weekly.

  5. As a yoga teacher I live in leggings, they are my go-to and that hasn’t changed at all during pregnancy. I personally love the Zelle pregnancy leggings from Nordstrom and the BLANQI pregnancy leggings. They both feel so supportive on my bump without being too constricting. I also found two awesome alternatives for you under $20 if that’s more in your budget.

  6. I like to keep my wardrobe fairly simple and neutral, and then add a jacket, jewelry or handbag to change up the look. These simple maternity tee’s have been essential during my pregnancy, and have allowed me to feel somewhat put together (ie: no belly showing) in the last few weeks.

These are a few of the items that I find myself reaching for on the daily or weekly during my pregnancy! I hope they help you sleep better, feel fabulous, and stay hydrated during your pregnancy.

Photo By Jontel Chere

these are commissionable links, and I will receive a small commission when you click and purchase from them. This post is not sponsored or affiliated with any of these companies, I only share products I actually use and love. Thank you for supporting my small business.

How to choose the right prenatal vitamin

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Choosing the right prenatal vitamin can be overwhelming! With so many options, how do you know which one is best for you and your baby?

My first recommendation would be to meet with your Doctor or Naturopathic Physician and get a full blood panel done, this will show you were you are deficient, or borderline, and this will tell you where you really need to focus.

I would also recommend not only checking your folate, but checking to see if you carry the MTHFR gene. The MTHFR gene, also called methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, is responsible for processing amino acids and is very involved in the creation, absorption and utilization of Vitamin B9 (folate). Folate is essential for your baby’s development, so if you do carry the MTHFR gene don’t panic, your Doctor will most likely put you on a prescription folate, like Metanx which conatins L-methylfolate, methylcobalamin and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. This would be something you would need to take in addition to your prenatal vitamin.

When selecting your prenatal vitamin I would highly recommend researching the company first, unfortunately not all supplement companies are created equal. Since supplements are still not regulated by the FDA the percentage of vitamins and minerals actually in the supplement can vary. I do extensive research on all supplement companies I personally take, give to my family and recommend to my clients. As always I encourage you do to your own research and see what you feel comfortable with.

My favorite brand of prenatal vitamins is Pure Encapsulations. I actually take a few of their products, and really trust this brand. I have been taking this prenatal since before I was actually pregnant to prepare my body.

I would recommend starting your prenatal vitamin about 6 months before you actually plan on conceiving. This is also a good time to get your blood work done, and ensure that you are aware of all underlying conditions.

I have talked about this many times, but I was very sick from week 10-16 and could not take this prenatal vitamin, so I had to make a switch to a gummy vitamin. In truth, gummy vitamins are not my favorite especially as a Certified Nutritionist but I was desperate to get some vitamins in my system. During these 6 weeks I took the Olly Prenatal Vitamin, and actually liked it quite a bit. These type of vitamins are much easier on the stomach and do not tend to cause as much nausea.

A few other brands worth checking out would be Thorne and Garden of Life.

A few things to look at when selecting your prenatal vitamin:

  • serving size - how many pills will you need to take daily?

  • how large are the pills? Are the reasonable for first trimester?

  • avoid herbs in your prenatal (many will cause uterine contractions and miscarriage)

  • read the nutrition label and compare it to your blood work - will this work for you specifically?

Your prenatal should include folic acid and iron, in addition to a few other important vitamins: Vitamin A, B-Vitamins, Vitamin-C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Zinc, Calcium and Iodine. The dose of each of these vitamins and minerals will vary depending on your specific needs.

Remember that the Standard American Diet does not obtain enough of these vitamins from diet alone, which is why a supplement is essential.