Being pregnant is certainly not a walk in the park, but there are several things that will make those pregnancy symptoms easier to bear. I’m happy to share with you the products that helped me survive (and even enjoy) the whole 9 months of my “preginess”.

Pre-natal Vitamins

Pre-natal vitamins are very important during pregnancy.  These supplements will give your body the nutrients you fail to get from your daily meals.  My OB recommended that I take Unilab’s Obimin Plus and Abbott Laboratories’ Iberet Folic 500.  Obimin Plus is a prenatal and postnatal vitamin that contains Folic Acid, B Complex Vitamins, Iron, Iodine, Calcium, Magnesium, Manganese, Copper, Vitamins A, E, C, Zinc, and Omega 3 Fatty acids.  Meanwhile, Iberet Folic 500 contains ferrous sulfate, Vitamin C and the B-complex vitamins.

To keep my immune system strong, I still take my vitamin C supplement.

Milk

During pregnancy, a woman needs to make sure that she is getting the right amount of calcium for her and her baby. Calcium is essential not only for the baby’s development but also for the mom-to-be’s health.  Calcium supplementation is said to help prevent pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and pre-term birth.  And what better way to ensure that you get enough calcium than to drink milk. 🙂  I tried maternity milk brands such as Promama and Anmum. I loved Anmum’s choco flavor.  But what I enjoyed the most was a cold glass of Nestle’s Low Fat milk.

Lactose intolerant moms-to-be need not worry.  In place of the good old glass of milk, they can also take calcium supplements that their OBs will recommend.

Insect Repellant

I was in the first trimester of my pregnancy when we found out that there were already Zika virus victims in the Philippines. The fact that the Zika virus can severely harm an unborn child scared me and my hubby big time. To protect me and the baby inside me from this danger, I made sure that I put on mosquito repellant whenever I go out and even at home.  I used Human Nature’s Bug Shield Deet-free Oil since it’s 100% natural.  It contains sunflower seed oil, soy bean oil, citronella essential oil, orange essential oil, eucalyptus essential oil, and coconut, palm and glycerin derived oil.

I also put on Moskishield Mosquito sticker patch on my clothes for extra protection.

Pillows

During pregnancy, a good sleep is easier to achieve when you have lots of quality pillows on your bed. What helped me sleep soundly (with a side-lying position) were 3 huge pillows – one on my head, one beneath my legs, and another supporting my back.

Other moms who need extra help in sleeping (and who has extra budget) may want to consider buying a special kind of pillow that is ideal for pregnancy and breastfeeding.  One of these special pillows I saw on the market was the Snug a Hug pillow.  It’s a body pillow designed to aid women in pregnancy, nursing or post op stage.

Leg Cream

One of the pregnancy symptoms I experienced was swelling of legs or edema.  To relieve the discomfort on my legs, I used Mustela Instant Comfort Legs.  After a long day, this product helped relax my tired legs and ease whatever discomfort I feel due to the swelling.

Sunflower Oil

I was advised to apply sunflower oil on my baby bump, thighs and back to prevent development of stretch marks. I still developed stretch marks.  Let’s just blame my genes or my destiny, but what’s great about it is that I discovered this wonder oil from Human Nature. The Human Nature Sunflower Beauty Oil promises more than a dozen of beauty benefits. Check this link for the 23 ways this oil can help you.

Tummy Butter

Another anti-stretch mark product recommended to me by friends was Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Tummy Butter.  This product contains Cocoa Butter, Collagen,Vitamin E, and Lavender Oil.  It moisturizes and tones the skin and is said to smooth stretch marks.

Belly Band

Belly band/belly support/maternity belt is used to support a pregnant woman’s abdomen and lower back.  It helps lessen discomfort, provides necessary compression, and helps maintain proper posture.  It can also be used after pregnancy.

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