Whilst the hormones from the 1st trimester have calmed down
(slightly), entering the 2nd trimester is a happy feeling. The worries and
increased risks from the 1st have settled, your bump is growing, and you're now
starting to feel properly pregnant. Although it is much nicer to not feel sick
all the time, and like a total crazy person, I still struggle
with how I feel within myself. My body is changing rapidly and it's hard to
adjust and cope with these changes so I wanted to share with you how I try to
feel good whilst pregnant.
1. Exercise
In all the books, at all the midwife appointments, we are told how
good exercise is for you while pregnant and although during the 1st trimester I
couldn’t think of anything worse, I have really felt the benefits of exercise
now. While building up your stamina and making you fit for labour (this is the
real motivation to exercise!) it also releases those lovely endorphin's. A few
occasions when I have felt particularly hormonal, or down, a bit of exercise
really does me the world of good. I feel SO much better for it. Throughout my
pregnancy I have attended a barre class which is a mixture of
ballet/Pilates/yoga and I love it! The particular class I go to is amazing with
a fabulous instructor who is pre & post natal trained so has been able to
guide me through the class as my pregnancy has progressed - www.nutripaige.com/class/barre-concept The class makes me feel strong and
energised and I love going each week. In the gym, I usually do a high incline
walk for 20-30mins and will do a little arm work out with weights and save my
legs for barre. When exercising it's really important to keep hydrated and not
push yourself too hard, listen to your body.
2. Beauty Products
There's nothing like giving yourself a little pamper and there are
so many fab beauty products out now for pregnant women. Some of my favourites
are:
- Palmer's Cocoa Butter formula massage cream for stretch marks
This cream comes in a squeezy tube which is great for
sticking in your handbag! That way after a lunchtime gym sesh I can apply, or
take it on a holiday easily. It smells amazing, like all cocoa butter does and
feels lovely and soft. I use this on my bump, boobs and bum! I also got it for
a bargain at Home Bargains stores for just £3.99 compared to £7.35 at boots.
- Bio Oil is a trusty favourite, and you can't go
wrong. Again I use this on my bump boobs and bum, but also will use in the
bath. If my skin is feeling particularly dry, I will add a few drops in the
bath and have a nice relaxing soak. Whilst this makes my skin feel nice, I
wouldn't advise washing your hair with it in the bath!
- Iconic London Baby on Board Oil is SO nice. It
smells amazing, and with it coming in a glass bottle I feel ever so special and
like I am treating myself when using it. I use this all over and a few drops
goes a long way so this really lasts well. Iconic London are bringing out a
whole ‘Baby on Board’ range and I cannot wait to try out the other products!
- Jolen Cream Bleach is something a friend
recommended to me early on in my pregnancy when I was complaining about
unwanted belly hair. As a mummy herself, it is a product she had used, and it
is an un-harmful hair bleaching product. I used this on my tummy when I was
going on holiday and it was perfect! I didn't want to wax the hairs as I knew
they would fall out after pregnancy, so this bleach is perfect. One of my fave
pregnancy beauty finds!
- St Tropez Self Tan Express is my favourite fake tan ever, and
everything looks better with a tan. This is safe to use in pregnancy, and
whilst you might be feeling bigger and paler, a little bit of fake tan will
make you feel 10 times better. This tan can be left on for 1 hour for light
tan, 2 for medium and 3 for dark so it can even be used last minute. I swear by
it pregnant or not!
3. Shopping
I have found it really hard to dress for my changing shape, and
being at that stage where your bump hasn't fully appeared has made it awkward
to dress. There are loads of maternity ranges out there now and lots of
fashionable looks available, but at the same time I didn't want to spend loads
of money on a new wardrobe just yet, when my body is going to continually
change. I decided to go for a Primark haul and found so much in there. Whilst
they don't have a maternity range, they do sell jeggings in pretty much every
colour! I was able to buy a few pairs at only £6 each in a size bigger to what
I normally wear and the stretchy waist band has been amazing! I also bought
lots of lovely t-shirts, a loose summer dress, some stretchy work skirts and
more. Primark has a great range at the moment, and the prices meant I could buy
loads and feel like I was having a real splurge without breaking the bank.
4. Relaxation
Being pregnant and having Crohns disease has left me feeling SO
tired. I haven't been sleeping well either but I recently got a pregnancy
pillow which has been life changing! With a growing body shape, it's hard to
feel comfortable and not being able to sleep on your back comes with challenges
so sleeping with this pillow has been amazing - although it doesn't help me to
get up in the mornings! As well as not sleeping so well, I have had a really
bad back so I have found massages helpful as well as relaxing. If you are
pregnant and booking a massage, be sure to ask for a pregnancy massage, as this
will be structured in a special way to support you and not harm the baby. While
massages have helped my aches and pains, it's also been great for my
mindfulness. There are so many worries and concerns when you're pregnant, it's
important to take time out to relax and recoup, so whatever makes you feel
relaxed - do it! I've also enjoyed reading, as it's a perfect escape and
something to distract and take your mind off of your worries. (I am currently
reading Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn which is soon to be made into a HBO
series!)
These are just a few little tips to feel good that I have
personally found helpful. Please share with me your tips or ask questions about
anything I have written about.
XOXO Crohnie Girl
