There are lots of little tips and tricks with surprisingly big effects that can make your life easier when you are expecting a child. Pregnant women often share their life hacks with each other. And they also talk to friends, their sister or mum about how they dealt with the struggles of everyday life during pregnancy. Every woman has her own "recipe" for what is particularly beneficial or practical for her. Even "my" expectant mothers, whom I look after, have favoured recommendations. I have compiled a small list of these for you here.
Almonds against heartburn
Many pregnant women are familiar with the unpleasant feeling of heartburn. Although this symptom is usually harmless, it is unpleasant because acidic gastric fluid rises back into the oesophagus (known as reflux). This irritates the mucous membrane, causing you to burp or feel a burning pain.
Why does this happen more often to pregnant women? Normally, the connection between the stomach and oesophagus is separated by a ring of muscle. However, the pregnancy hormone progesterone loosens this barrier. In addition, your uterus grows, taking up more space and putting pressure on the stomach, among other things. This also favours the rise of gastric fluid.
Lifehacks from pregnant women: For example, chewing and eating 4 to 6 almonds thoroughly has proven to be a simple "first aid measure", as they bind stomach acid. This recipe for heartburn is also recommended by the Federal Centre for Health Education.
The best way to do this is to use natural almond kernels, which should be skinned if possible. To shell them, simply pour hot water over them, then they can be easily squeezed out of their brown shell between your thumb and forefinger. Alternatively, you can also use natural hazelnut kernels. You don't need to shell them.
Midwife's tip for you: Your baby eats with you. That's why you should make sure that the food you buy is of certified organic quality. Here is my product tip for almonds against heartburn for you: https://amzn.to/3HZXnbc
Hair tie for your favourite jeans
The point at which a pregnant woman's belly begins to visibly round varies greatly from person to person. Several factors come together to influence this: for example, the woman's initial weight before the start of the pregnancy, the firmness of her connective tissue or whether this is her first pregnancy or she already has children.
Sooner or later, however, you will reach the point where your (favourite) jeans start to stretch after buttoning because your belly is bulging. If you still want to wear them a little longer before switching to other trouser styles, a simple trick will help you.
Lifehacks from pregnant women: Simply pull half of a hair elastic through the buttonhole of your trousers from front to back. Then thread one half of the loop through the other and pull it tight. Now you can comfortably place the remaining loop around the trouser button and have created some space for your baby bump for the time being.
Midwife's tip for you: Hair elastics that don't have a metal bar and stretch well are particularly suitable for this. Here is my product tip for hair ties for you: https://amzn.to/3gTqiln
Bra from the fridge
Your breasts are already preparing for breastfeeding at the beginning of pregnancy. The hormones are working at full speed. During this time, many women report that their nipples become more sensitive. The breasts themselves can also tighten or even hurt more often. For many pregnant women, the breasts also feel (very) warm. Many women find this unpleasant. Gentle cooling can help.
Life hacks from pregnant women: Some women swear by simply putting their bra in the fridge (not the freezer!) for a while at such times. When they wear it afterwards, it provides a pleasant cooling effect.
Midwife tip for you: Your growing breasts need support and space during pregnancy. That's why it's practical to wear underwired bras that have been developed for pregnancy and breastfeeding. Bras that are too tight or that pinch underwires can lead to inflamed breasts even during pregnancy. Here is my product tip for pregnancy and nursing bras for you: https://amzn.to/3uXTCiX
Frozen fruit for nausea
In the first trimester, most pregnant women have to deal with Nausea especially in the morning. The exact reasons for this have not yet been conclusively clarified. However, it is assumed that the changing hormone balance is at least involved. Other factors such as stress or low blood pressure may also play a role. You can find out more about nausea during pregnancy here (Link to text on nausea during pregnancy) read.
Life hacks from pregnant women: Many pregnant women have had good experiences with sucking on frozen fruit when they feel nauseous. You can use frozen berries (mixtures) from the supermarket for this. You may also have frozen pieces of fruit yourself (e.g. bananas, grapes, oranges, mango, strawberries). Just take what you like. This ensures freshness in the mouth and often makes the queasy feeling in the stomach go away quickly. This way you also get a few valuable vitamins on the side.
Midwife's tip for you: Your teeth are very sensitive during pregnancy. You should therefore make sure that you don't chew the frozen fruit.
The right posture for a completely empty bladder
The larger the "ball belly" becomes in the last trimester of pregnancy, the more often pregnant women have to urinate day and night. This is easy to explain: Your uterus now takes up more and more space and increasingly presses on the so-called urinary tract. This includes the renal pelvis, the ureter, the bladder and the urethra.
To make matters worse, the pressure from the uterus often means that the bladder can no longer be emptied completely in advanced pregnancy. This means that residual urine usually remains. This is why it fills up more quickly and you "have to" again. There is also a risk of germs multiplying in the residual urine and causing a urinary tract infection. It is therefore important to empty the bladder as completely as possible.
Life hacks from pregnant women: You make it easier for your bladder (and yourself) and harder for germs if you adopt a certain "posture" when urinating. Here's how: sit as straight as possible on the toilet seat and lift your stomach slightly with your hands. This pressure relief will help your pee flow better - and more importantly, completely. Now you have more time until your next visit to the toilet - even at night - and germs don't have a chance to get up to mischief.
Midwife's tip for you: You can relieve irritated urinary tracts with cranberry capsules. Supplemented with vitamin C, they also strengthen your immune system and counteract tiredness and fatigue. Here is my product tip for cranberry + vitamin C capsules for you: https://amzn.to/3sMat5E
Nursing pillow for restful sleep
Most women know the problem: as pregnancy progresses and your belly grows, it becomes increasingly uncomfortable to rest in bed. Many Sleep not only sleep less well, but are also severely disturbed in their night's sleep.
There comes a time during pregnancy when even pronounced back sleepers prefer to turn onto their side. This is a good thing, because in this position your blood can circulate unhindered. In contrast, lying on your back could even lead to a drop in blood pressure (vena cava syndrome) because the weight of the uterus and baby presses on the main vein. This sleeping position also constricts the internal organs more.
Life hacks from pregnant women: "I sleep even more comfortably on my side with a nursing pillow", say many pregnant women. That's my tip too. A nursing pillow is available in various ergonomic shapes, for example as a "sausage", i.e. in a banana or snake shape. This makes it ideal for simply positioning it between your knees and under your baby's bump and resting your head on it. This way, you not only lie comfortably, but also relieve your back.
It is therefore worth buying a nursing pillow even before your baby is born. Alternatively, you can also place a sofa cushion between your knees and support your tummy with a second one.
Midwife's tip for you: The nursing pillow will accompany you for months and years. It will also become a suitable cosy pillow for the evening reading ritual. That's why it's worth getting a versatile pillow. You can also get removable covers. Then you won't have to miss it when you have to wash the cover. Here is my product tip for the sleeping and nursing pillow for you: https://amzn.to/3sJW1et
If you would like a natural filling, the pillow is also available with a spelt filling. It is a little heavier. But it promotes a cosy sleeping environment. Here is my product tip for the sleeping and nursing pillow made from natural materials for you: https://amzn.to/3LIVemI
Floating ring for stomach sleepers
As long as it is comfortable for you and you feel comfortable with it, you are "allowed" to sleep on your stomach. Your baby won't mind because it is surrounded by amniotic fluid. This acts like a cushion and protects the unborn baby. However, as the abdominal girth increases, even passionate stomach sleepers will find it too uncomfortable. They then have to come to terms with a different sleeping position. But not everyone succeeds.
Life hacks from pregnant women: If you can't or don't want to do without lying on your stomach in bed, pregnant women like to use an inflatable plastic swimming ring. It's great for storing the baby bump in bed. Try it out to see if you can sleep comfortably in your favourite position a little longer this way. A soft nursing pillow that can be buttoned to the ring is also suitable.
Midwife's tip for you: The nursing pillow that is suitable for a good night's sleep for pregnant women in the prone position. Here is my product tip for the tummy sleeping and nursing pillow for you: https://amzn.to/3sKwBx7
Slip-on shoes
With a baby bump, shoes should above all be comfortable and safe. High heels are therefore not the best choice during pregnancy. Models with a flat sole or, depending on your preference, a small heel are better, also to prevent back pain. A sole that is not too thin ensures good cushioning when walking.
However, water retention in your feet could mean that your "favourite trainers" now become tight and pinch. This is not the only reason why many women turn to trainers during pregnancy: they are comfortable, fashionable, safe and have a soft tread. However, such models can also pose a problem - namely when it can become difficult to put on at all as your belly grows.
Life hacks from pregnant women: For these situations, many pregnant women opt for shoes that are easy to close and open. Or you can switch to models that you can simply slip into without having to bend down: e.g. toe sandals, sabots, moccasins, sturdier ballerinas or, in winter, the trendy wide, warm and cosy boots. Depending on your preference and the season, you'll always be well on foot.
