11 Pregnancy Essentials

Now that you knew you are pretty much pregnant and aware your body is changing (& growing), what's next?

I totally understand on how you feel. Overwhelming. Do not know where to start. Where is the beginning? Where does this ends? Should I start buying now? Should I wait? Or should I just lead my life as usual? What things should I get for me?

Well, I am here to help you new preggos out there. Bear in mind, I am no different than you and this is only my first pregnancy and I get it that you do not want to ask people around about this whole pregnancy thing because you are afraid you might seem annoying and people might not get where you are coming from.

I get that.

But, "malu bertanya, sesat jalan", am I right?

I did ask people around especially moms, new moms, women who are in their first or second and even fifth pregnancy. I did (& still do) some research as well, and by some, I mean A LOT. I read articles from reliable sources, downloaded baby apps on iPhone, and let me tell you one important thing: NEVER READ FORUMS. Why? Because different people experiencing different things. So when you want to know something, its best if you just Google it and click on tabs from reliable sources (will list down some of trusted sites and apps I've visited), not the discussions between people in forums.

I know I did the same by asking people around but that is just to get an insight and some ideas on what is it really about rather than trusting it and taking it point by point on what you want to know. You need to make your own judgment based on what you have read from doctors, reliable sources on the internet or your gynae, conversations between you and your friends/family members and maybe some of the discussion in the chatroom. 

If you are having troubles to make your own judgment, that's where I am here to guide you on what I feel right and even my gynae and nurses approve!

Here are some of the essentials that I think most preggos can get to make your pregnancy journey fun, easy and graceful!

1) Vitamins/supplements

• Iberet Folic 500
• Contains: Iron, vitamin C, B Complex, Folic Acid
• Consume: Once a day. I take it every night after my dinner
• Where to get it: Common pharmacy e.g. Guardian, Watson's
• Why this: The reason I bought from the shelf instead of taking Obimin from Klinik Kesihatan because of the side effect I got from Obimin - Nausea (everytime!) & diarrhoea. Told my nurse and she asked me to get other supplement but I refused. LOL! Went to my private gynae, she approves my intake of Iberet Folic 500 *thumbs up*

• Blackmores Calcium + D3
• Contains: 600mg Calcium, vitamin D3500 IU
• Consume: Once a day. I take it every night after my dinner
• Where to get it: Common pharmacy e.g. Guardian, Watson's
• Why this: Because calcium is needed for pregnant women to ensure you and the baby get enough calcium for teeth and bones' growth

• Scott's Fish Oil 1000mg capsule
• Contains: Omega 3 (DHA + EPA)
• Consume: Once a day. I take it every night after my dinner
• Where to get it: Common pharmacy e.g. Guardian, Watson's
• Why this: Though this is not "compulsory" for pregnant women, you can choose not to take this but I believe in healthy brain growth for both mom and baby. There are a lot of benefits of fish oil if you take it daily even if you are not pregnant! My gynae says its good to take this for best growth and development of the baby. IMPORTANT NOTE: Please make sure you consume fish oil, NOT cod liver oil! It is not safe for pregnant women to take cod liver oil, so please read the box carefully!

2) Pregnancy belt / maternity belt / pregnancy belly band

• Oppo Maternity Belt
• When to wear it: Every time when you go out and do a lot of walking, during exercising (walking on treadmill), or doing chores around the house that requires a lot of standing. You don't have to wear it while sitting or lying down
• Where to get it: Common pharmacy e.g. Guardian, Watson's or hospital
• Why this: Though this is not "compulsory" for pregnant women, but I have lower back problem and the weight of my belly somehow affects my back and it is good to have a support so that you can improve on your posture. Also, you can tackle your daily activities comfortably!

3) >1.5l Big bottle / tumbler with lemon water

• >1.5l water bottle / tumbler
• Fill in your huge-ass bottle with water and slices of lemon and bring it everywhere!
• Why this: Lemon water promotes good hydration for our body especially when you are pregnant, you need more water to keep yourself hydrated, not to mention a good source of vitamin C, improves skin quality (that is where you get the glow!), it aids digestion, it freshens your breath (you do not need your mint anymore) and also helps prevent kidney stones. As well as, it tastes better than the normal water. LOL

4) Hot/cold pack

• Hot/cold Pack
• If you want it to be hot, put the pack in a microwave, if you want the cold one, you can use the same pack to put in the freezer
• Where to get it: I got it from my physiotherapist at the hospital but this can be found in any pharmacies or you can buy from your hospital. You can go online shopping too!
• Why this: This is recommended by my physiotherapist during my physio session due to my back problem but this can be used for pregnant women as well because you might get back problem too later in your third trimester. So this thing actually can make your life more comfortable! I use the cold pack during the day and hot one at night before I go to sleep.

5)  Coccyx pillow

• Coccyx pillow
• When to use it: I bought two, one for driving or seating in the car (passenger seat) and one for office use.
• Where to get it: Common pharmacy or hospital
• Why this: Though this is not "compulsory" for pregnant women, but if you are working 9-5 in an office, a desk job, or while you are traveling (roadtrip or by plane), you need this because you are sitting for too long and by using this it might help ease on the pressure on your tailbone and also to fix your posture. Remember, sitting is the new cancer!

6) Gym ball / yoga ball / exercise ball

• When to use it: When you are watching TV at home, lounging around
• Where to get it: Common pharmacy or any sports store
• Why this: Though this is not "compulsory" for pregnant women, but this is again, to correct your posture. If you are tired by sitting on it, you can use it as a pouffe or stool to put your legs up while you are sitting on a sofa or working at work. This is to ensure a good blood flow and making sure blood does not pool in your feet that can cause swollen feet.

7) Tights / leggings / maternity pants

• Good high-waisted, elastic, stretchy, breathable cotton pants are good for your growing belly
• When to wear it: Anytime, anywhere, 24/7. LOL!
• Where to get it: Any maternity store or sports attire store, Uniqlo, Cotton On Body
• Why this: Because it gives you comfort and extra support to hold your belly up without any restrictions to move around!

8) Pregnancy pillow

• There are three types of pregnancy pillow: U-shaped, C-shaped & three different pillows with you (for your head, your back & between your legs). As your belly grows bigger, you might need to sleep on your side. This is to ensure that your blood circulation flows nicely.
• When to use it: When you are lying down and sleeping, of course
• Where to get it: I bought the C-shaped pregnancy pillow from Parkson
• Why this: Experts recommend pregnant women should avoid sleeping on their backs during second and third trimesters because the entire weight of the growing fetus on your back, intestines and vena cava (the main vein that carries blood back to the heart from your lower body. The pressure can lead to backaches and hemorrhoids which can make you dizzy.

9) Bio-Oil / stretch mark lotion / lotion

• Bio-Oil Essence
• When to use it: Every morning after shower, every night after shower
• Where to get it: Common pharmacies e.g. Watson's, Guardian
• Why this: Apply this twice a day, every day to have less to no stretch marks around your waist, lower belly, breasts, thighs, knees, back of your armpits 

• St. Ives Oatmeal & Shea Butter Body Lotion
• When to use it: Every morning after shower, every night after shower or whenever you feel like your skin is extra dry that day
• Where to get it: On the shelf in any common supermarkets
• Why this: Apply this twice a day, every day to have moisturized , glowing skin. This is not to avoid stretch marks though I think it helps in some way because all your stretched-out skin is not cracked and gets enough moisture. I apply this especially on my knees, elbows, across my arms and calves, thighs, my back and pretty much everywhere on my body to get a full coverage of moisture

10) MASSAGE, OMG YES PLEASE!

• You can ask for prenatal massage (but never asked for the masseuse to massage your belly! It's dangerous!)
• When to have it: When you feel sore especially your feet and back.
• Where to get it: There are a lot of massage places to go for, but I do not trust people to massage me while I am pregnant, so I consulted with my physiotherapist on the correct way to massage due to my back problem (again *roll eyes*) and to make sure it is safe for pregnant. So she taught my husband on how to massage me... so my masseuse is my husband. LOL
• Why this: Because trust me, YOU NEED IT. Your body will feel a lot better! YES!

11) Download pregnancy/baby apps on your phone

• What app: BabyCentre & Pregnancy+
• When to install it: Right after you know you are pregnant
• Where to get it: Free to be downloaded on iOS and Android
• Why this: To keep track of your pregnancy journey and your baby's development week by week. It is a trusted site from reliable sources with day-to-day information, diet, pregnancy tips, baby names, keep track of your fetus' size in your womb according to which weeks you are right now, and everything. You name it, all questions you have about pregnancy and parenting and baby care and your roles (literally from a-z) are available in the app.

Happy pregnant, new Mommies! x