When setting up your baby registry, you’ll find plenty of helpful lists of things to buy. But do you really need that pee-pee teepee? (no.) That humidifier? (also no.) Read on for 10 more things not to buy.
A wipe warmer: Let your kiddo learn an early life lesson in handling adversity. Cold wipes won’t kill him. And dried out wipes won’t clean him.
An over-the-door stroller hanger: If you live in a small space, you’re probably looking for lots of smart storage solutions. The over-the-door hanger seems like a great idea, but imagine trying to lift even the lightest stroller after a C-section. Even if you had the smoothest possible delivery and recovery, unless you’re really fit you’ll find that infant seat hard to carry, so lifting a stroller over your head every day may not be the wisest idea. You also want to make leaving with the baby as easy as possible. It’s hard to hang a stroller when it’s full of diapers, wipes, and water bottles. Better to have a stroller a bit in your way than be constantly packing and re-packing it.
A baby carrier: A baby carrier is an awesome item to have, but isn’t the best item to register for. Your baby may be too small to fit into the carrier you picked during the first trimester. If your baby requires any medical procedures, she may not be able to be in some types of carriers. Your baby might just plain hate the carrier you chose. If you can sit with a little bit of uncertainty, hold off on the carrier until after the baby’s born. If you know a lot of other mamas and babies, ask to try out their carriers to see what works best for you before you buy.
Telescoping baby gates: These easy-to-disassemble and pack gates seem like the perfect thing to take to Grandma’s, but buy one and you’ll soon learn that no two doorways are the same size.
Any kind of snot-removal device: Whether it’s a sucker or a bulb syringe, or some new thing yet-to-be invented, there’s no medical benefit to removing anything from your baby’s nose.
A baby food maker: Babies are humans. Babies can eat the same foods as other humans. A blender will suffice. If you’re lucky enough to have future grandparents who want to spoil your baby, register for a Vitamix and some ice cube trays. Both will still be useful after the baby switches to solid foods.
Bibs: A baby will drool on the single square inch of shirt left uncovered by her bib. A toddler will find ever more inventive ways to slip food between the bib and his shirt. Just pack a few extra shirts in your diaper bag. Speaking of which…
A diaper bag: Seriously, you’re suggesting we not buy diaper bags? Yes, you need *somewhere* to keep your baby gear. But the volume of barely-used diaper bags on eBay suggests that those beautiful giant bags are more pleasant to carry empty than filled. The bigger your bag is, the more gear you’ll end up carrying around. Consider repurposing a small tote bag and sizing up if and only if you find you need more room.
A diaper pail: Okay, we’re with you on the bibs and the diaper bag, but how are we going to survive without a diaper pail? No, it’s not feasible to run to the garage or the dumpster with every dirty diaper, at least not in those early months. But there are also these useful items called trash cans, which are often just as well-sealed and much less expensive than diaper pails. Simple Human makes an excellent one with an inner can designed to hold plastic grocery bags.
A breast pump: This is an item you probably want, but shouldn’t register for. The Affordable Care Act has made it possible for most women to get high-end dual-pumps (Medela’s retails at around $300) through their insurers.
A note on registries: If you’re just starting out with your registry, you’ve probably looked at Buy Buy Baby, a reasonable place to buy baby gear. That stores= and others like them will also give you helpful lists of registry items you need. Just keep in mind that those stores are in the process of selling baby gear.
Other discount retailers, such as Target and Amazon, have excellent registry services. These companies also want you to buy baby gear, but they have a slightly longer end-game: research on shopping habits suggests that the store where you buy your diapers is the store you’ll try to buy everything else. So companies like Target and Amazon work hard to gain your business through their registry perks.
Stephanie Loomis Pappas is a professor turned stay-at-home parent committed to debunking all of the bad parenting advice on the internet. She started snackdinner to remind Googling parents that whatever they're doing, they're doing just fine. You can find snackdinner on facebook @snackdinner and instagram @trysnackdinner.
The start of the new year is perhaps the most common time for people to begin a new healthy eating regimen or go on a diet. While traditional dieting is off the table, women entering the new year with a new pregnancy may find themselves wondering how best to eat mindfully to support themselves and their unborn children.
These five healthy pregnancy eating tips will help you get some of the essentials down. If you have any specific concerns, always contact your trusted care provider.
Here are some of the most common questions I receive from pregnant women about how to manage diet during pregnancy.
1. What kind of diet helps control morning sickness?
Eat a balanced diet with equal parts protein, fat, and carbohydrates. This is not a time for low- or high-carb or specialized diets.
Especially during the first trimester, low blood sugar can cause problems, from nausea to not feeling like eating. When you wake up in the morning, eat a couple of crackers and drink some water or juice, then lie back down in bed and let the food get into your system. When you do get up, you should feel more like eating. That’s the time to eat a small amount of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Then take your shower. It’s hard to even imagine that the timing of a shower can cause nausea, but it does. It is the combination of low blood pressure and low blood sugar.
2. How do I eat for two, three, four, or five babies? Eat three meals a day with three little meals in between. (This will help control nausea as well.) All meals should include protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Aim for 1/3 carbohydrates, 1/3 fat, and 1/3 protein in each meal. A mixture of 40 percent carbohydrates, 40 percent protein, and 20 percent fat also works.
If you eat a balanced diet, three big and three small meals will cause you to gain about 2—3 pounds per month. If you are carrying twins or multiples, you may gain about 4 pounds per month—though no one really knows the optimum weight gain for twins, triplets, or quadruplets. Stay in touch with your doctor and monitor your weight as your pregnancy progresses.
3. What do I do about food cravings? For the most part, eat what you crave. The old ice cream and pickles tradition aren’t really so bad for pregnant women. The ice cream includes all the food groups: protein, carbs, and fat (avoid low-fat ice cream). Pickles might supply electrolytes that the ice cream doesn’t.
4. What if I’m hungry all the time? Try to eat food that is good for you. Fruit (pears, apples, oranges, bananas, grapes), cottage cheese, eggs, and nuts are all good choices. Avoid processed cheeses (i.e., Velveeta, spray cheese).
5. What if I’m not hungry at all? Your first job is to avoid vomiting.
Dealing with nausea, anorexia, and optimal weight gain during pregnancy requires not only attention to what to eat, but when to eat it.
Not being able to eat is hard to manage because it goes against what we think we know about pregnancy. Just the notion of not being able to eat during pregnancy is counter-intuitive. Find something that will stay down, even if it is Coke and potato chips. Start out with a very small amount. If it stays down, wait 45 minutes to an hour and try to eat a small amount of a healthier food.
Remember that pregnant women are extremely sensitive to smell. They can easily lose their appetite by smelling the wrong thing, even cooking food. Those who are not pregnant smell cooking food, get hungry, and if they don’t get to eat in 60 to 90 minutes, they may even get nauseated. This bodily reaction goes into warp speed with pregnancy, reaching the nausea stage within 15 minutes. If you’re pregnant, cooking for your family, and feel hungry, eat a piece of cheese or some fruit while you’re cooking and you may still be able to eat with your family.
Another option is to avoid cooking. Pick up take-out food or get someone else to cook. If you can eat three meals a day with three to four small meals throughout the day, pregnancy will go better.
An obstetrician and maternal mortality expert, “Rural Doc” Alan Lindemann, M.D. teaches women and families how to create the outcomes they want for their own health and pregnancy. In nearly 40 years of practice, he has delivered around 6,000 babies and achieved a maternal mortality rate of zero! Visit LindemannMD.com
Our series, Family Tales, is an honest peek into the daily lives of families across the country who are on this crazy ride we call parenthood! From divulging childcare costs to breaking down family finances to managing a virtual school year with multiple kids, we tap into the Red Tricycle army of parents to find out how they’re making it work. This series is a judgment-free zone.
Interested in telling your story? Start by filling out our questionnaire here. All stories are anonymous.
I’m Surprised How Well My Family Has Adapted to Distance Learning. Here’s Why We Prefer It.
Name and occupation: Kate Loweth, Bay Area Editor & Content and Calendar Manager at Red Tricycle My partner’s occupation: attorney City: Campbell, CA Grades my kids are in: daughter in 7th, son in 6th and son in 4th. They all go to the same private school. School set-up in 2020: Our school started everyone with distance learning as our county is still on the COVID watch list. Our family will be doing distance learning at least through the first trimester even if the school is approved for in-person learning. When in-person learning is approved for our school, the middle schoolers would go two days a week, home for three, and the elementary school kids would be there full time. We just felt that having three kids on two different schedules (plus the in-school mask-wearing and COVID precautions) made the distance learning option better for our family.
Well, the 2020-2021 school year is underway without the usual fanfare. I didn’t get my annual excited-mom-dropping-kids-off-on-the-first-day photo this year because there was no drop off. Thanks, COVID. We’re back to distance learning again and I’ve definitely learned a lot from last year. Honestly, distance learning wasn’t that bad for us last school year so I didn’t dread it like many parents do. Yes, I consider myself very lucky in that regard. Our school did a great job pulling everything together quickly and with older kids I don’t have to spend my days teaching and entertaining them while also trying to hold down my full-time job. Yes, again I know I’m lucky that my kids are older and more self-sufficient.
My three kids are in fourth grade (elementary school), sixth and seventh grades (middle school) and this is how our days typically play out (unless we lose power because, California).
Morning: My husband does the morning routine & I’m more than fine with it
Alarm goes off at 6:15 a.m. and I shut it off while my husband gets up to make coffee (yay!) and shower. Most likely our two boys are already up as they’ve always been early risers. My seventh grader is almost 13 and she can sleep until noon if we don’t wake her. Middle son makes himself breakfast (almost always involving Nutella) while the youngest watches a show on his Kindle Fire.
My husband usually makes breakfast for the youngest as we try and get as much protein as possible into him in the morning (to help with focus) or he will make one of these Just Crack an Egg cups for himself. We wake up the oldest around 7:15 a.m. and I usually get up then as well, after checking my email from my bed. Coffee for me, breakfast for my daughter and during this time my husband usually heads off to work after loading the breakfast dishes in the dish washer.
Morning School & Work: Everyone’s in their own room & we stick to our rigid schedules
Kids need to be online at 8 a.m. This school year they have to wear their uniform shirts any time they have a class meeting (they go to a private school). This means we usually have a lovely combo of fleece PJ pants with that red polo shirt but it’s better than constantly asking them to change out of their jammies like last year.
We live in a tiny-ish rental house in the Bay Area and just before COVID hit we swapped the kids’ rooms so that the boys were no longer sharing. I gave up my home office (which was becoming just a dumping ground anyway) and now each kids has his/her own room. This has worked out well for us with everyone doing distance learning as they can be on group class meetings without bothering each other.
We got desks for the kids (this one for the youngest and two hand-me-downs for the other two) and shelves/bins to organize their school gear. The school sent home iPads for each student in grades 2-8 which is great. My daughter uses hers with a Bluetooth keyboard and the boys have old laptops of mine that they prefer (bigger screen). My daughter will be getting a new laptop for her upcoming birthday. The older two use headphones with mics for their meetings. The youngest doesn’t like to wear headphones all the time so he skips them. Over the summer I had my kids learn to type using Type to Learn. While they are anything but proficient, it definitely put them in a better place to start this school year.
The older two are totally on their own for the school day. I only have to provide technical assistance on occasion or help them to find the colored pencils or notebook that they need.
The school day is set up by period. Using Google Classroom they are able to log into their classes throughout the day. The distance learning school day goes until 1:30 p.m. for the middle schoolers with recess and lunch breaks. They all have independent work time until 2:45 p.m. when they meet back up with their classes for check out. They’ve continued all the same classes they would have had in-person including PE and Art. I can always tell when one kid has PE as the jumping jacks shake the house!
Mid-morning: I love seeing my youngest son thrive with distance learning. I feel a huge sense of relief
For my youngest, he needs a little more help and direction throughout the school day. He’s in fourth grade and has some learning differences that make focus a struggle for him. We’ve actually felt that distance learning has worked well for him because he doesn’t have the distractions from other kids like he did in the classroom. He finds that the Google Classroom learning is great as he can set his screen to only show the speaker (usually the teacher) and that way he isn’t bothered by what other kids are doing. When he was doing in-person learning, he had a hard time with other kids intruding on his space. He also felt a lot of pressure to get his work completed quickly when others were done. Because his brain works differently, it often takes him longer to get to the answer and he felt a lot of pressure when in the classroom. At home he can work at his own pace.
The distance learning schedule has him in classes until lunchtime but usually it’s just a short class meeting (15 minutes or so) where the teacher teaches the lesson and then the class (about 20 kids) has time to work on an assignment on their own before the class meets up again. I have his weekly class schedule posted in my office (a.k.a. my bedroom) as well as his bedroom so that I can keep him on track throughout the day. For the elementary school kids, the distance learning schedule is set up with 30-minute blocks for each class, and two 15-minute recess breaks. They are done for the day at 12:15 p.m. and then meet back up again at 2:45 p.m. to correct the work they’ve done during the interim independent work time. He’s mostly able to do the work on his own, but he does like to come into my “office” to work alongside me sometime (as pictured above).
One thing that has helped us tremendously is that he has a FitBit that we charge every night. He uses this to keep on schedule. When he’s excused from a class he will set the FitBit to alert him just before he has to be back online. It has totally helped us and I am not constantly screaming at him to get back online.
Mid-morning: I lock myself in my bedroom (aka the office) to try and work
While the kids are in school, I’m working from home. We had to bump up our internet service when COVID kicked into gear (at an extra $40/month) because it just couldn’t handle three kids plus me home all day on google meets and Zoom meetings. I have always worked from home full time which definitely meant something different six months ago (hello, new office mates)!
Before distance learning began, I was pretty much working from different spots in the house like the kitchen, TV room and my bed (ugh, it’s true). But when the kids came home I really needed to be in a room with a door. With a small house the only option was our bedroom. Even though it’s only about 12 x 12, I swapped out my husband’s nightstand for this desk (that I love) and that’s where I work. I think this helps my kids to see that I am actually working (and not just watching reality TV on my phone) since it’s more of an official work space.
I keep my door closed (“close the door!” is shouted at least a dozen times a day when people come in to ask a question. Can someone please invent a button I can push to close the door from across the room? I would love you forever). We have a HEPA air filter running outside the door that provides a nice white noise and also helps with the poor air quality we’ve been having due to nearby wildfires. If I’m in a meeting and don’t want to be disturbed, I’ll put an “IN A MEETING” post-it on my door and lock the door. Locking the door is KEY because apparently my kids cannot read.
For the most part this arrangement works for me. I do have quite a few video meetings throughout the day (why, why do they have to be on video??) but since my job is in the parenting sphere and almost everyone I work with is a mom with kids at home, they get it if kids come in during a meeting. If there’s something that I really need to focus on, I usually tackle it when the school day is over as I’m more likely to have fewer interruptions then.
Afternoon: It’s independent work time for all of us
Lunch is usually DIY unless I have a frozen pizza or mini tacos that I can throw in the oven. My middle son can eat the microwavable mac n’ cheese cups every day of the week but I do require a fruit (it’s almost always a banana). The other two kids prefer more of a charcuterie-style lunch with salami, almonds, Wheat Thins and strawberries taking center stage. They all have lunch around the same time but the middle schoolers have to go back to class after lunch as they have a longer school day.
The afternoon is independent work time for all the kids (starting at 1:00 p.m. for elementary schooler and 1:30 p.m. for the middle schoolers) and then the classes reconvene at 2:45 p.m. to check the day’s work and sign off for the day. Usually my youngest still has some work to do after the official school day ends so I either carve out some time during my work day to sit with him and help, or I save it for when my husband comes home from work and he does it.
If my work schedule allows, we try and get out for a late afternoon hike. Luckily where we live is super close to lots of options for getting close to nature.
The Evening Hours: We’re now a family that eats at 5:30 p.m. and I’m okay with that
TBH, everyone’s kind of on their own in the evening. I’m not great about restricting devices after the school day so often you’ll see one of the kids out in the backyard hanging out on my favorite pandemic purchase, the backyard hammock. I eat dinner with my kids at the early bird hour of 5:30 p.m. (the natives get hungry so I’ve given in to this early dinner time). My husband is home by 6:30 p.m. and eats on his own. If the kids are up to it, sometimes there’s a bike ride around the neighborhood.
I’m able to look at all my kids’ work online to make sure they’ve turned everything in for the week. I am pretty hands-off with the middle schoolers but I do like to check in to make sure they aren’t having any issues. They turn in assigned work to the teachers by uploading photos of the work to Google Classroom or by using shared docs and sometimes there are tech issues when submitting docs.
Not every day is sunshine and roses: Here’s what’s made it all easier
I’ve definitely turned to outsourcing grocery shopping a lot more during this time at home. While I used to go to the grocery store almost every day to pick up this or that on my way to school pickup, I’ve gotten a lot more organized about groceries. I’ve been ordering fruits and veggies from Daylight Foods, a local restaurant and school food delivery service that pivoted to offer home deliveries when their other business dried up. I hope this service never goes away because their produce is the best. I’ve also been using Amazon Fresh a lot more lately since same-day delivery is always available.
While distance learning does have some additional challenges, we’ve been able to make it work for our family for the most part. We are all just doing our best to cope with the situation as it is!
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From your 20-week ultrasound to chasing a tottling toddler, your body has gone through incredible changes in such a short time. Celebrate those changes—and everything you’ve accomplished as a new mama—with clothes that make you look and feel your best. Anook Athletics, the covet-worthy athletic wear brand for pre- and postpartum moms features a line of high-quality, versatile styles that will take you from first trimester and beyond. They just released their new line of styles and we got the scoop below.
How Anook Athletics Is Different We’ll just come out and say it: This brand lives up to the hype. While many maternity collections promise quality goods that you’ll be able to wear beyond pregnancy, Anook Athletics actually delivers. We specifically tested the Poppy Leggings and Nila bra and here’s what we loved:
• Most maternity activewear leggings we’ve worn just don’t have that glove-like fit we’re used to with our fave non-pregnancy leggings. We’re either pulling up the belly band or adjusting it every few minutes so it gives us the coverage we need. Anook Athletics has it all figured out. Once you put on the leggings, they fit perfectly over every bump and curve—the material feels giving enough for a growing bump and supportive enough to last once baby arrives. The fabric is forgiving, but so well made it won’t stretch out.
• The Nila Bra is comfortable and stylish enough to wear even when not nursing. But if you are, the clips—which you can easily maneuver one-handed—allow for easy access.
• We love supporting mom-founded brands whose mission we can get behind. Founded by Allie Lindenmuth, an Austin-based prenatal yoga teacher and mom, Anook Athletics is all about empowering women through life’s biggest changes and challenges. Their styles are not trendy or cutesy but designed to be realistic to what pregnant and new moms experience, both emotionally and physically.
And, while it’s fair to consider the prices spendy, you’re investing in styles you’ll wear way beyond the pregnancy and infant months.
Styles You’ll Find in the New Collection Released September 2020:
Ellie 23" Crop Leggings ($98)
Busy moms know you can never have too many pockets. Their new Ellie Crop Legging just gets you. It features a pocket to store your valuables and flat seams and a sleek silhouette to make you feel extra confident pre- or post-baby. This style is available in Stone Heather and Char Heather. Buy it here.
Birdie Skort ($78)
If you're on the move turn to this cute but comfortable Skort that boasts breathable fabric, an antimicrobial lining, power mesh side panels and of course, those much-needed pockets. Choose from Pacific, Char, Moss, Redwood and Stone. Buy it here.
Devyn Muscle Tee ($68)
Chances are you're looking for just that perfect tee you can wear from morning to night. Good news: we've found it. The new Devyn Muscle Tee is the staple you've been looking for. It'll wick away moisture using Dri-Release® fabric and is soft enough for nursing and durable enough for a workout. Buy it here.
Georgia Jacket ($179)
Cooler months require clothes that you can layer, stay warm in and feel comfortable toting around baby and chasing after a toddler (yep, we're speaking from experience). This jacket will do all of that and more. It's made with a four-way stretch and quilted front panels that hugs your body in just the right places. Product launching in late October.
Additional Styles to Shop:
When Anook Athletics launched last year we were lucky enough to check out their inaugural collection. We broke it down for you below:
• Poppy Tall and Short Leggings($98) – Available in tall (28.5”) and short (26”), these leggings come in Heathered Char or Heathered Stone. Both colors and lengths feature a waistline power mesh that won’t have you pulling or adjusting the belly band every five minutes. It’s supportive and giving enough for a growing bump and offers compression after baby is born. The extra-wide gusset with antimicrobial liner offers ventilation, and the moisture management knit material wicks away sweat. Buy here.
• Hayes Tall and Short Joggers ($98) – For a more lounge-like fit, turn to these joggers that also come in tall (27”) and short lengths (24.5”). Both include extra ventilation and are soft and stretchy enough to accommodate a growing bump and postpartum body types. Choose from Heathered Char or Heathered Stone. Buy here.
• Austin Shorts($58) – The prenatal activewear scene was sorely missing shorts…until now. These shorts boast a four-way stretch, antimicrobial lining and are forgiving enough that the waistband will expand and contract to whatever size and shape you currently hold. Available in four colors. Buy here.
• Nila Bra ($58) – Ever wish your fave sports bra doubled as a nursing bra? Your wish came true with this nursing-friendly sports bra that offers padded coverage and hidden nursing clips. The bra is comfortable enough to wear all day (we tested this out ourselves) and is stylish enough to wear even when you’re not nursing. Available in all four colorways. Buy here.
• Tank ($62) – Comfortable enough to wear around the house or to yoga class, this tank is sweat-wicking and includes hidden nursing clips and a padded bra. Choose from four colors. Buy here.
It’s been a big year for Bindi Irwin. The newly married conservationist is now pregnant!
Irwin announced the special news on her Instagram today, sharing “Baby Wildlife Warrior due 2021.” This is the first child for the TV personality and her husband since March, Chandler Powell.
Irwin and Powell both shared the news on their Instagram accounts, sharing that “it’s an honour to share this special moment in our lives with you.” The star is in her first trimester, but did not share her exact due date.
If you have been pregnant you know that morning sickness doesn’t just rear its head in the early hours of the day. Researchers argue that the term “morning sickness” is misleading and should instead be described as nausea and sickness in pregnancy. A study published in the British Journal of General Practice shows that, while the most likely time for pregnancy sickness symptoms to occur is in the morning, a significant number of women can experience them at any time of the day.
‘Morning sickness’ has long been used to describe nausea and vomiting that women often experience in the early stages of pregnancy. Although pregnant women often report experiencing nausea and sickness throughout the waking day, until now no research has described the likelihood of these symptoms occurring at different times of the day.
The researchers used data from daily symptom diaries kept by 256 pregnant women. In these diaries, the women recorded their experience of nausea and vomiting for each hour in the day, from the day they discovered they were pregnant until the 60th day of their pregnancy. The researchers then used this data to map the likelihood of experiencing nausea and experiencing vomiting in each hour of the day, broken down into weeks following last ovulation.
They found that while vomiting was most common between the hours of 7.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m., nausea is highly likely throughout the whole daytime, not just the morning. Furthermore, many women still reported vomiting as a symptom even into the evening. The most common hour for participants to experience nausea and vomiting was between 9.00 a.m. and 10.00 a.m. with 82% experiencing nausea in this hour, and 29% experiencing vomiting.
94.2% of participants experienced at least one of these symptoms during the study, with 58% experiencing both.
In addition, by comparing occurrence of symptoms across the first seven weeks of pregnancy, measured from last ovulation, the researchers found that the later the week, the higher the probability of experiencing symptoms. The probability of experiencing nausea is at its highest in weeks 5, 6 and 7 while for vomiting it is in week seven. As the study only examined the first seven weeks of pregnancy, the probabilities after week seven are not known.
Professor Roger Gadsby, of Warwick Medical School, said: “Morning sickness is widely used by the general public, media and even healthcare professionals but it doesn’t give an accurate description of the condition.If a pregnant woman experiences sickness in the afternoon she may feel that this is unusual and wrong, or if she experiences no vomiting but feels nauseated all day she might think she is not covered by the term ‘morning sickness’. And those women who experience severe symptoms feel it trivialises the condition”
He continued, “Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) can have a significant negative impact on the lives of sufferers. It can cause feelings of depression, of being unable to look after the family, and of loss of time from paid work. Very severe NVP called hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is the commonest cause of admission to hospital in the first trimester of pregnancy.”
The study authors said: “The continued use of the term ‘morning sickness’ could imply that symptoms only rarely occur in the afternoon and evening so that sufferers will have significant parts of the day symptom-free. This study shows that this is an incorrect assumption and that symptoms, particularly nausea, can occur at any time of the day.”
Staying active while pregnant is great for both you and your baby’s health. Whether it be yoga classes, light lifting, or taking walks, any exercise that gets your heart pumping is a fantastic addition to your daily pregnancy routine and a great way to stay healthy. Jaime McFaden, a mom and trainer with audio fitness app Aaptiv, is sharing the various ways you can stay active during and after your pregnancy.
Consistent exercise during pregnancy has countless benefits, including improving your overall health, reducing your risk of weight gain, and can even facilitate a smoother delivery process. However, it’s always most important to listen to your body and base your workouts on how you—and your baby—are feeling. Each pregnancy is different, and there are no hard and fast rules on what you should be doing during each step of your pregnancy.
With that being said, here is a great general guide of the best exercises for pregnant and postpartum women. I suggest trying these out and seeing how your body reacts—every pregnancy is unique, after all.
Workouts by Trimester
Before beginning any exercise, especially while pregnant, be sure to get clearance from your doctor. Additionally, you should be adapting your workout routine based on the trimester you are in. Each trimester comes with its own challenges, so adjusting your workout based on how your body is growing and changing is a necessity.
First Trimester
During the first trimester, women are usually feeling totally normal or like complete crap. The first trimester can be awful for some women, so be sure to listen to how your body is feeling and not to push it too hard. Jaime recommends low-intensity cardio and light strength training. If you didn’t work out regularly before pregnancy, it is essential to ease yourself into an exercise regimen to prevent overworking yourself.
Second Trimester
During the second trimester, Jaime suggests keeping your workouts at an intensity level of 60-70% and warns against pushing your body too hard. Full-body workouts like yoga are a great option during this trimester, as opposed to targeting specific muscle groups with strength training. As your body begins to change more, it’s essential to create a workout routine that is adaptable and sustainable for you.
Third Trimester
The third trimester sometimes feels like it’s never going to end, but don’t worry—you’re in the home stretch! This trimester is when your body is being constantly stretched and pushed, and many expectant moms are feeling especially tired. If you aren’t feeling up for exercise, that’s totally OK! However, if you still want to get your heart pumping, walking, swimming, and other low-intensity exercises like water aerobics are all great options.
Postpartum Exercises
Congratulations on welcoming your new baby into your life! After giving birth, doctors advise against exercising for at least 6-8 weeks. During this time, you can focus on letting your body rest and bonding with your new baby. When you’re feeling comfortable enough, be sure to gradually ease back into exercise by making an effort to move a little every day until you’re feeling up for more.
When you’re starting out exercising again, it’s important to do kegel exercises. Your pelvic floor muscles are weakened during birth, and doing kegel exercises afterward is helpful to strengthen them and prevent incontinence. Kegel exercises may feel more difficult at first, but don’t worry—this is completely normal. In time, everything will start feeling normal again.
Low-impact activities like walking, swimming, yoga, and water aerobics are all great options for postpartum moms to ease back into exercising. Just remember, there is no secret formula for postpartum moms—the best workout is the one that works for you!
Additionally, working on your core strength postpartum is helpful for a quicker recovery. Regaining your core strength and stability is a long process that takes time and patience. It’s suggested to avoid core exercises where you are twisting or laying on your back, like crunches. Some wonderful options include raised leg extensions, the yoga boat, and leg and arm extensions.
Sierra Skelly is a creative writer and marketer from San Diego. She loves making personal finance and career content fun. When she isn't writing for companies like Haven Life, you can find her reading at the beach or hiking.
Now there’s a new maternity-wear option for expectant mamas! The FIT LIBERTY (MOM) line is collab collection made in partnership with Universal Standard and Orange Is the New Black actress/pregnant mommy, Danielle Brooks.
According to the line’s website, “This is not maternity clothing.” If it’s not “maternity clothing” what exactly is it?
This curated collection is for people who are preggo—but it’s not your typical tent-shaped bump-wear. This cute collection, which comes in sizes 00 through 40, is made to grow with your pregnancy. Instead of tossing your first trimester clothes when your belly pops, exchange your previously purchased FIT LIBERTY (MOM) pick for one that fits your new shape—for free!
There’s no more buying for what your body might look like months from now. All you need to do is return the now-too-small item and choose a new one (in your new size). You can even choose from bundled kits. Each kit comes with mix-and-match picks for one low price. Get the Better Basics Kit and save $40 or bundle your wardrobe with the Elevated Essentials Kit and save $85.
Don’t worry about your returned clothing ending up in a landfill somewhere. FIT LIBERTY donates the clothes to charities that serve women in need.
Two new Jenners are on the way! And no, Kylie and Kendall are not preggo. The reality stars/models/moguls’ half-brother Brandon Jenner and his girlfriend Cayley Stoker recently announced their baby bliss—times two.
Jenner, who has a three-year-old daughter with his ex-wife Leah, is reportedly thrilled to have twins on the way. The musician told People, “We are at 12 weeks now, so near the end of the first trimester.” He continued, “We’re madly in love and we are very excited about this!”
The soon-to-be new parents aren’t the only ones who are excited about their baby news. Jenner opened up to People about how he told his daughter, Eva James, about the babies. “Leah, Cayley and I sat down with her and told her what was happening, and she was very excited and happy. She’s super excited to be a big sister.”
So when are the newest Jenners due? The proud papa reveled that Stoker is at nearing the end of the first trimester so two more to go!
One thing that helps with the stress of a new pregnancy is knowing you have the products you need to help you through the next nine months and beyond. Find out what to expect and what to buy with this pregnancy buying guide that includes the very important fourth trimester! Here’s our list of essential items you can rely on through each stage of your pregnancy so you can rest easier as you prepare for your little one’s arrival.
From alleviating morning sickness to a tip on how to keep your favorite jeans on rotation, here are a few things to help get you through your first few months of pregnancy.
Preggie Pop Drops Morning sickness affects more than half of pregnant women. The nausea-causing illness, which is usually the worst between weeks 6 and 12, can be caused by a variety of factors, such as hormonal changes, low blood sugar, vitamin deficiencies, stress, fatigue and general anxiety. Preggie Pop Drops are a natural supplement that ease the symptoms of morning sickness. They come in tasty flavors like green apple, sour raspberry, and sour tangerine. If the pops don't do the trick, some pregnant women swear by Sea-Band accupressure wrist bands to get them through the roughest days.
The Bellaband Even though most people probably won't know you're pregnant, there will come a time in the first weeks or months of pregnancy that you feel like you're popping out of your pants. It's this exact moment that inspired an invention many pregnant mommas list as one of their die-hard maternity essentials. The Bellaband by Ingrid and Isabel lets you stay in your favorite pre-pregnancy jeans for longer without sacrificing comfort. The greatest part is it works for every trimester, including the post-pregnancy fourth one: You can use it to hold up maternity pants that are now big on you or keep up pre-pregnancy jeans that are still too tight.
Mayo Clinic Pregnancy Guide One of the coolest things about the first trimester is that so much is happening under that burgeoning bump. The easiest way to learn about your baby's week-to-week growth is with the Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy. This illustrated book offers advice, meal-planning tips, healthy exercise options and much more. It's a great reference tool for each stage of your pregnancy.
Congratulations! You made it through the first three months and are on to what some call the "honeymoon trimester." If you experienced morning sickness, it has more than likely subsided, and you should be feeling more energetic during the second semester, so this is a good time to focus more on other areas of self-care.
Soma Glass Water Bottle Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. That's the name of the game in the second trimester. Sometimes drinking from a pretty bottle makes it easier to do and remember. Our favorite is the Soma Glass Water Bottle, which comes in a variety of colors. Made from high-quality, shatter-resistant glass with an easy-grip protective sleeve, it’s perfectly designed to fit into your bag, your cup holder, and your life—making it easy to drink up!
Mio Skin Care Trimester two lasts from the week 14 to the end of week 28, and your baby grows a LOT during this time. By the end of the 2nd trimester, baby will be the size of a butternut squash (check out how big your baby is each week). That means your body is changing and your skin can take the brunt of all this growth. Your stomach needs to expand and you may also be dealing with pesky breakouts from hormonal shifts. Mio Skin Care's second trimester bundle includes everything you need to keep your belly, breasts and face moisturized and glowing.
Erin Baker's Breakfast Cookies In addition to the extra energy you'll be enjoying in the second trimester, you'll probably notice something else: You're starving, like all the time! Carrying Erin Baker's breakfast cookies with you to ensure you don't get hangry is a life-saver. They come in a variety of flavors (double chocolate, peanut butter, carrot cake, oatmeal raisin, and more) and are perfect for the morning or mid-day when you need a satisfying snack to keep you going.
You're in the homestretch! That's good to remember because the third trimester can get a little uncomfortable. You may experience pelvic pressure, back aches and have more trouble sleeping with your growing baby wriggling and working its way to full-term. Here are some essentials to get you to the finish line.
You've done it! In the last nine months, you've created a new life. Considering that growing your baby didn't happen overnight, recovering from childbirth doesn't either. Often considered the fourth trimester, the 12-14 weeks post-delivery is a very special (and intense!) time. Here are some products to help make this final trimester more bearable.
Blackout Curtains You probably already know this, but the one thing you'll crave more than anything else during those first few months after your baby is born is sleep. That's why hanging blackout curtains in your room, where you and baby will probably be spending a lot of time, is key for better rest.
Booby Tubes The name sounds funny, but trust us: These are a lifesaver for breastfeeding discomfort in the first few months after childbirth. Booby Tubes are clever little, gel-free breast packs made with an organic cotton shell and filled with fresh, pliable flaxseed. They can be heated or cooled depending on what you find most soothing. Try heat to avoid clogged ducts and encourage milk flow, and use cold to reduce tenderness.
