
Oh, the miraculous glow of pregnancy. Your hair is shampoo-commercial thick and shiny, your cheeks have a natural rosy hue, and you… um… you have oddly persistent acid reflux, feet that are swollen two times their normal size, and all-day morning sickness. But in a few short months, you’ll have the most beautiful baby. And if your preggo life isn’t 100 percent perfect right now, we have the hacks that will make all three trimesters that much easier. You totally have this pregnancy thing covered.
1. Take a morning sickness morning sip. Even though morning sickness doesn’t only hit hard in the a.m. hours, mamas-to-be who feel especially rocky first thing may need to take a moment and wait to eat a major meal. If whatever hits your stomach first comes straight back up, start with a sip or two of water. While it doesn’t necessarily stop the sickness, water is much more comfortable on your throat than oatmeal, granola, or toast.
2. Lounge in pregnancy-pillow luxury. Sleep is an elusive goal for many mamas-to-be as their pregnancies progress. Don’t let your belly bump get in the way of your nighttime rest-and-recharge needs. Prop a pregnancy pillow (like this PharMeDoc one, $110) between your growing body and the bed to add comfort and support.
3. Work it — with a pillow. Sure, you now have the nighttime pillow thing down. But what about your daylight needs? Bring one of those small travel-size pillows with you to work. When your office chair just doesn’t feel right, slip the pillow behind your back.
4. Cool your… bra? Yes, your bra. Summertime isn’t the only season that will make you sweat now that you’re pregnant. As your baby and body grow, what used to seem like the most minor activities now turn your internal temperature up. Stash a clean bra in the fridge, then take it out when needed to cool yourself down almost immediately.
5. Easily expand pants with a hair tie. It’s too bad that your pre-pregnancy pants’ waistbands don’t grow with your baby bump. But as your belly pushes out and makes your old pants tighter, let loose with this so, so, so simple hack. Thread a hair tie into the buttonhole of the fly, pass one end through the other, pull to cinch it tight, then hook the loop of the free end over the button. Now you’ve gained a few extra inches of give!
6. Make kinesiology tape your BFF. Chances are you’ve seen this brightly colored tape on the bodies of Olympic athletes, but that doesn’t mean only gold medalists can wear it. The aches and pains of carrying around a growing baby aren’t always easy to deal with. Visit a body pro (in other words, a physical therapist or certified athletic trainer) to get the low-down on how to use this genius tape. They can place the tape for you, showing you how to apply it on your own next time.
7. Pack a what-if kit. Once upon a time you could laugh, sneeze, or cough without accidentally peeing a little bit. But now that baby is pressing on your bladder 24/7, all bets are off. Pack an extra bag with a fresh pair of underwear and anything else that you might need to keep your pregnant self comfy. This includes toothpaste and a travel brush for those post-morning sickness moments and snacks to calm your rocking stomach.
8. Book everything ahead of time. Will you really member to schedule your third trimester OB appointments, various screening tests, dental visits, and everything else you need to do while pregnant? Maybe. But just in case, book all of your appointments at one time, well in advance. An early booking also makes it easier to get an appointment that actually fits into your schedule.
9. Trust your phone instead of your mind.Pregnancy brain happens: Don’t count on your own memory to hold all of the info it used to. A note-taking app like Evernote is the perfect pick for jotting down everything from doctor’s appointments to where you parked. Another option is to email yourself or snap pics of anything that you might forget (such as the garage level where you just left the car).
Tweet us your favorite pregnancy hack @BritandCo.
(Photos via Getty)
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Getting the word out about your brand takes time, drive, and ingenuity. And it doesn't come easy for many entrepreneurs. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're chatting with Selfmade alum Taylor Morgan McPherson, founder of Sustainable Sparkle Bar, about ways in which she scored press as a solo startup brand and what she learned from Selfmade to take her brand marketing up a notch.
B + C: How did you know Sustainable Sparkle Bar was your business to start?
Glitter has always been my thing, so when I started my event company I decided to make it my niche. I started telling people I threw glitter-themed parties where people would get sparkled with glitter body art and makeup. Six months after that I applied to my first festival and to work with SUR restaurant in West Hollywood.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
I honestly can't say that I've had a specific strategy that I've followed when it comes to getting my business off the ground. I have a PR background so I was just constantly pitching new business and posting on social media.
B + C: What's the biggest challenge you face as a small business owner?
I would say creating a stable income and revenue stream. With a seasonal, event-based business it can be very up and down.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
The relationships I made and the push to start an email database.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I love what I do and I believe in myself 100%. Staying motivated isn't the hard part. Pushing myself to do the work and staying accountable is the hard part.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip? Do you use any apps that help you manage your business?
I keep multiple to-do lists, hand-written and digital. I also tell clients and partners that I will have something to them by a certain time or day so I have to stick to it.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Just do it, take the leap. And don't worry about what anyone else says to thinks.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Issa Rae, I'm so inspired by everything that she's created being a creative and a black woman. It's my dream to have my own show one day based on my life and where I give advice and talk about the world. She's doing it and making people laugh and giving people joy. And it's based in LA. Watching Insecure only further cemented my dreams of wanting to live in LA.
B + C: How did you hear about the Office Depot scholarship?
One of my friends that I met through Camp No Counselors saw an IG ad for it and nominated me.
B + C: What has receiving the scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start/grow your business?
It's completely helped me level up and take my business to another level. Selfmade helped me host my first virtual event and taught me how to set up my website to sell tickets to events and get RSVPs.
B + C: How have Office Depot services or products helped you accomplish more in your business?
I got new cards to send in all of my orders with my discount code on them. I also bought a really cool 4K camera that I now use for my social media.
Thanks Taylor! You really know how to sparkle. We love her colorful, creative vibe. You can follow Sustainable Sparkle Bar on Instagram @sustainablesparklebar.
Let Office Depot OfficeMax help you stand out in the crowd. From signs, posters & banners to promote your business, to marketing materials to keep your customers informed, Office Depot OfficeMax offers a full suite of business services & solutions to help you & your business get noticed.
Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.