This post started life as one, but after realising just how many things are making my life easier at the moment I’m splitting it into two. Here’s the first instalment – if you’re approaching the third trimester I hope you might find it useful.
I’m now 33 weeks pregnant – hello third trimester! In many ways this pregnancy has flown by. I’ve been so busy I’ve not had time to Google “XX weeks pregnant” each week or sit and ponder in lavender soaked baths every night, like last time.
But in other ways, it’s gone slowly. I feel good at the moment – apart from the puffy feet – and I’m kind of (dare I say it) enjoying being pregnant. My bump hasn’t reached the ARGH I CAN’T MOVE stage yet and I still seem to have quite a bit of energy. Long may this last.
Anyway, as with the first and second trimesters, there are a few things making my life far easier and helping me forget that I can’t eat my favourite cheese or drink wine. (WARNING: there follows a photo of me in my bra. Sorry about that.)
Maternity underwear
When I was pregnant with Frog I didn’t bother with maternity underwear. I had two bras in a bigger size and just struggled along for nine months, viewing anything else as a waste of money. I don’t know how I did it. The thought of pushing my ever increasing bust into an underwired, uncomfortable bra makes me wince.
This time I invested in a couple of maternity / nursing bras early on (both Emma Jane ones from Asos) and ditched the underwired bras from 14 weeks. I’m now living in my two original purchases, plus this lovely purple confetti Bravado bra in the picture above (that I was sent for review) and a couple of second skin Amoralia bras. All of these bras are nursing bras too, meaning that I’ll hopefully get some wear out of them beyond pregnancy. When you think that I may end up wearing them for around 2 years that makes it easier to justify the cost.
I’ve also recently bought a few pairs of maternity knickers that go under the bump and, again, I don’t know how I survived in comfort before! Each pair is soft, fits nicely and means I don’t have to do that annoying roll-down thing that I’ve had to start doing with regular pants. There are enough things to make you uncomfortable when you’re pregnant – pants shouldn’t be one of them.
Loungewear
When it’s not so hot I just want to be naked, I’ve lived in my new H&M maternity joggers for the past couple of weeks. Plus, the H&M leggings (above) have made another appearance in my regular choice of outfits. I’m also loving the maternity / nursing pyjamas from Next that I won on eBay (new – still with the tags on!) and my old faithful yoga pants from pre-pregnancy. Clothes like these were made for the third trimester, I swear.
Veggie smoothies
I was sent a pack of Vegesentials to review recently and loved them so much I’ve bought more. You can get them from Waitrose and, for me, they’re worth the cash. They come in a few different flavours but my favourites are the celery, apple and kale and the carrot, mango and parsnip. I’m far too lazy and time poor (and I don’t have the equipment anyway) to whip up a fresh veg smoothie every morning, so these make a good alternative. Pregnancy seems to make me more conscious than ever of the need to get my five a day, and these certainly help.
Pregnancy Yoga
The best thing I’ve done during this pregnancy has been to spend some money on a couple of brilliant antenatal exercise classes. I do an aquanatal class every week and a pregnancy yoga class and, as I get closer to my due date, the pregnancy yoga is coming into its own. We learn breathing techniques, useful postures and movements for labour and pregnancy in general, and it’s an hour of total down time. I leave feeling like I’m floating on a cloud. If you can get to a class near you I can’t recommend it enough.
If you can’t get to a class then check out the Tara Lee series of DVD’s. I have a couple that I do at home in between my proper classes and find her style really soothing. It’s the next best thing to going to a class.
That’s it for now – I’ll post tomorrow with more of third trimester saviours. In the meantime, is there anything you’d add to my list so far?
Got to agree with you on pregnancy yoga, is definitely my saviour. If I can’t make class, will do a youtube vid.
With hindsight wish I’d bought more maternity clothes. Definitely a first-time, avoid the cost, mum to be. Next time I’m stocking up on more leggings etc yours look super comfy + stylish!
They all look so comfy, I almost wish I WAS pregnant to be able to partake of them myself!!
The under bump knickers reminded me of my struggle to find comfortable Pregnant Pants – I eventually settled on some supersoft high legged lace numbers from M&S in a bigger size……I found/find that after c-section (and I’ve had 3) the last thing I wanted was anything that sat on or near my scar (even now that it is nearly 5 years healed) so these were a godsend to me!
Great tip – I can imagine having anything near the scar would be hugely uncomfortable. I’m all for going commando but I guess that might be a step too far?!
Not later on, but it in the rather….erm….”messy” aftermath of Birth, when sanitary towels the size of a small country are required, going commando is probably not advisable!!