A few weeks ago when I hit 7 months for this pregnancy, my hands swelled to the point where I had to remove my wedding ring.

I’m no stranger to the magical symptom of swollen feet and hands during pregnancy. During my last pregnancy, at the end of a day at my desk job, I looked like the Wikipedia entry for Elephantitis.

I tried everything.

• Avoid standing. (But remember: sitting too much can kill you.)
• Drink more water. (And have fun peeing every 15 minutes.)
• Put your feet up, above your hips. (But don’t lay on your back.)
• Exercise regularly. (Good luck fitting your gargantuan feet into tennis shoes.)

None of it helped. My swollen hands and fingers made it impossible to type or even hold my phone.

Every night, I sank onto the couch and put my swollen feet on an ottoman topped with three pillows.

And I’d stare at my feet. My poor, puffy feet.

I wanted to cry and yell and disown my feet, all at the same time.

So when my puffiness started a few weeks ago for this pregnancy, I talked to my doctor, desperate for new advice to reduce swelling during pregnancy.

A Simple Fix for Swollen Feet and Hands (and Everything) During Pregnancy

One of the doctors in my practice is pregnant and just a couple weeks ahead of me, so she GETS IT.

Lucky for me, I had an appointment with her the same week I removed my wedding ring.

“It seems like the swelling has started earlier for me this time,” I said, my legs dangling off the exam table and collecting even more fluid as I spoke. “I sit with my feet up as much as possible and drink a ton of water, but it doesn’t really help.”

She smiled. “Well, there’s one more thing you can try that helps a lot, but it’s not for everyone.”

I sat up straighter, crinkling the paper on the table. “What?” I asked.

“Massage will definitely help improve circulation and reduce swelling from edema,” she said.

“Like a prenatal massage?”

“Sure, if you can afford it. Or even just asking your partner to massage your feet every night.”

Uh…can I get a doctor’s note for that?

Related: Got Greasy Hair Postpartum? Here’s a Simple + Cheap Fix

Can You Imagine?

My husband was already hooking me up with regular foot massages, but this was the first time any doctor of mine had recommended prenatal massage for a medical reason.

I let my imagination get a little carried away.

What if health insurance covered therapeutic massage to address swollen feet during pregnancy? Or…what if insurance covered one prenatal massage for each month in your final trimester?

What if while you were waiting for your OB/GYN appointment, your doctor’s office had a licensed massage therapist on staff to offer 10-minute foot massages?

What if, instead of walking away from your baby shower with 3 diaper genies, 7 copies of Goodnight Moon^†, and 18 adorable bibs, your friends all pitched in for monthly massages?

^† This site is reader-supported. When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related: 25+ Surprising Baby Must Haves for Baby’s First Year

5 Ways to Get a Prenatal Massage for Cheap

For now, I cashed in on my Mother’s Day present this past weekend: an hour-long prenatal massage and a reprieve from feeling like a living, breathing jet-puffed marshmallow – at least for a few days.

If you’re pregnant and swollen and desperate, try a prenatal massage.

I know massages can be pricey, so here are a few ideas for making it work:

1. Check if there’s a massage school in your area. You can usually get discounted massages from massage therapists in training.
2. Sign up for deal alerts at sites like Groupon and Living Social.
3. Trim your registry to the baby must haves and add a massage to balance it out.
4. Check with your health insurance provider. Who knows – medically necessary massage might be covered under your plan.
5. If you can’t afford a full-body massage, check prices for a foot massage.

And if anyone gives you any grief about treating yourself to a massage, just tell them it’s a doctor-recommended remedy for swollen feet during pregnancy.

Want More?

Check out 6 Secrets to Finding the Best Cute Maternity Clothes and 7 Tips for Postpartum Clothes That Won’t Make You Look Pregnant.

Your Turn

Aside from swollen feet during pregnancy, what was your least favorite pregnancy symptom? Share your story in a comment below!

The post The Single Best Way to Reduce Swollen Feet in Pregnancy appeared first on Happy You, Happy Family.

Last week, my 31-week ob/gyn appointment started off with me stepping on the scale.

I glanced at the number, and then I saw the nurse jot it down.

The recommended healthy weight gain during pregnancy is 25-35 pounds.

Total. For your whole pregnancy.

I’ll get back to the expert advice in a bit.

But first: Guess how much I’ve gained, with two months to go before this girl is done cooking.

Go On. Guess.

Forty pounds. Four. Zero.

I’d been feeling a little bit…softer around the edges during this pregnancy.

But I don’t weigh myself regularly at home, so I don’t keep close track. At my previous doctor’s appointments, I’d seen the number on the scale but hadn’t given it much thought.

This time was different.

This time, it was a ROUND number.

A nice, big round number to match my nice, big round pregnant body.

How Could This Happen?

As I sat in the room waiting for the doctor or midwife to come in, my mind flipped through the explanations:

1. I’m older. Advanced maternal age, even!
2. I didn’t get back to my pre-pregnancy weight before getting pregnant again.
3. Oh, and there’s this thing where I never exercise and eat dessert every night.

I’m not sure why I’d be gaining weight like crazy?

Let Me Back Up

My diet is actually decent. Lots of veggies and lean proteins.

On the dessert front: Sometimes my dessert after dinner is just a bowl of strawberries. Other times, it’s a scoop of ice cream.

Which probably isn’t the best choice, but hey – it’s exactly how I ate before pregnancy.

The real difference is exercise.

I’ve never had a super regular exercise routine. But I know for a fact that in the early days of this pregnancy, all forms of exercise immediately ceased.

And for a very good reason.

When I had a miscarriage last year, the first sign of trouble was spotting.

Do you know what happened when I went for a walk around the neighborhood when newly pregnant this go-round?

Spotting.

I gave it a rest for a couple days and tried again.

Spotting.

Gave it one more go a few days later.

More spotting.

Just from a leisurely walk in the neighborhood.

Logically, I knew going on a walk wouldn’t cause a miscarriage.

But I was trying to keep a little bean of a human growing inside me. At the sight of blood after every one of those walks, my heart raced and my eyes clouded with tears.

“No,” I’d whisper. “Please no.”

So That’s Why

When the midwife came into the exam room, we exchanged small talk and she sat on that little rolling stool.

“So,” she said. “Do you have any questions or concerns?”

I looked down at my belly. “Well, I’m a little surprised by the weight gain.”

She smiled. “I noticed that, too.”

We talked about age being a factor, and she asked about my diet.

Then: “What do you do for exercise?”

I swallowed. “Honestly? Nothing. Every time I exercise, I spot.”

“Even short walks?”

I nodded.

“Let’s take a look at your growth,” she said.

I laid back, and she measured my belly.

“I know the scale says you’ve gained 40 pounds, but I don’t see where you’re hiding it.”

“Trust me, it’s there,” I said.

She laughed.

“Here’s the thing,” she said. “You’re measuring right on track. And your glucose test came back negative, so I’m not worried about baby being too big.”

I struggled to sit up on the table, and she held a hand out.

“Spotting is never fun to see when you’re pregnant, but at this stage it’s less of a concern,” she said.

I nodded.

And I came up with a plan.

I’ll start walking, twice a day. If I see spotting, I’ll take a deep breath and tell myself not to worry.

We’re almost to the finish line, and I want to have the energy to enjoy every bit of it.

My midwife’s approach to the conversation was perfectly wonderful. Not pushy. Not judgmental.

She helped me make an informed decision based on my own situation instead of giving me a cookie-cutter answer focused on the number alone.

I was an equal partner in the discussion.

But after researching the issue more later, some of the expert advice on pregnancy weight gain just isn’t sitting well with me.

What You Need to Know About Pregnancy Weight Gain

What are the real dangers of gaining more than the recommended amount during pregnancy?

According to experts, these are the main concerns:

1. You’ll be more uncomfortable with all that extra weight to haul around.
2. You could develop gestational diabetes.
3. You might have high blood pressure, which can lead to scary complications.
4. Your baby could be big, making labor more difficult and possibly leading to a C-section.
5. You’ll have your work cut out for you to lose more weight after the baby’s born.

But check out how the experts introduce this list of concerns:

“Here’s a look at the risks of gaining too much weight during pregnancy. Keep these in mind when you’re mid-craving, and it might be a little easier to put down those Oreos.”

RUDE.

Or this:

“When you’re pregnant, you get to eat as many donuts and French fries as you want, right? Wrong! You only need about 300 extra calories a day during pregnancy to support your baby’s growth and development. So you don’t need to be chowing down everything in sight!”

For me personally, I have no signs of gestational diabetes, my blood pressure is consistently low, and my baby’s growth is right on track.

Leaving only concerns number 1 and 5, which are really just about my own convenience.

After talking to my midwife and reading up on the risks, I’m not concerned about my “high” pregnancy weight gain.

But you know what does bother me?

This jokey-haha stereotype of the lazy pregnant woman sitting on the couch eating Oreos all day.

For the experts to reinforce that is just unnecessary.

And it’s not just flippant comments in web articles. Some of my friends have gotten “the look” from their doctors when their weight gain has been even a little higher than the recommended amount.

You know the look. The one that assumes you’re eating a bag of Oreos with every meal.

Related: 7 Tips for Postpartum Clothes That Won’t Make You Look Pregnant

But Here’s the Thing

I chase a toddler around all day. A fiercely independent toddler who wants to investigate EVERYTHING.

And I am not alone.

We pregnant mamas work hard all day.

Some of us work from home with little ones in tow. Some of us haul our extra 20, 30, or 40 pounds into the office every day. And others are pregnant for the first time, trying their best to do everything right to grow a healthy baby.

We care about our babies, and we want the very best for them.

So don’t tell us to “put down those Oreos.”

Give us the information we need to make educated decisions about what’s right for our bodies and our babies, and treat us like the capable, caring, badass mamas that we are.

Want More?

Check out 6 Cheap Ways to Style Your Bump for tips on cute maternity clothes that won’t cost a fortune. Then bookmark this for later because you’ll need it: 7 Tips for Postpartum Clothes That Won’t Make You Look Pregnant.

Your Turn

What are your thoughts on pregnancy weight gain? Share in a comment below!

The post The Dirty Little Secret About Pregnancy Weight Gain appeared first on Happy You, Happy Family.

At the ripe old age of 37 and approaching my third trimester of pregnancy, I am what the medical community refers to as “advanced maternal age.”

This is the badge of honor you earn for being pregnant when you’re 35 or older, and it comes with the following perks:

• An acronym! (AMA – and don’t you worry one bit about the fact that doctors also use AMA to refer to “against medical advice”)
• Extra ultrasounds as you reach your due date to make sure your placenta doesn’t start to “degrade” too early
• A strong encouragement to subject yourself to ALL THE TESTS EVER INVENTED

Because of that last perk, at 12 weeks pregnant, I took a blood test that screens for chromosomal abnormalities.

All results came back normal. Phew.

But the test has another feature. Instead of having to wait for the typical 20-week ultrasound, this blood test can tell you the gender of your baby.

A full two months early!

You can opt not to find out, of course, but we checked the gender box to find out.

Here’s Where It Gets Sticky

First, you should know that we have two girls – a 7-year-old and a toddler who will turn 2 in a couple months.

In the last few weeks, friends and family and strangers have been asking the question that you get constantly when you’re visibly pregnant:

“Do you know what you’re having?”

I’ve answered a few times, but most of the time I say “no,” even though we do, in fact, know the gender.

Why Would I Lie?

It’s not because we’re disappointed. Not at all.

We’re super very much a lot extremely excited to meet the newest member of our family.

But when we’re out and about with our two girls and someone – a stranger or a friend we haven’t seen in a bit – asks what gender we’re having, and we tell them…

Something happens.

They get a look in their eyes.

And I can’t bear to see that look again.

The Response

If it’s a boy, you might hear something like “I bet you’re happy to finally get a boy!” Which is a bit of a slight to our two wonderful girls, who are standing right there.

If it’s a girl, you might hear “Maybe you’ll get a boy next time!” Same slight.

I know these are just things you say when you’re making small talk with a pregnant lady – and shoot, I’ve probably said them myself before.

So I can understand the comments. It’s not that I’m offended.

It’s just that look I can’t take.

Disappointment? Sympathy? I’m not exactly sure what it is.

But Here’s the Thing

The miscarriage we experienced last year completely changed our perspective on pregnancy.

Our little one seems to be as healthy as can be, and we feel so incredibly grateful.

But we also know that the world can throw you a curveball at any time. Just because your fancy blood test came back normal doesn’t mean a damn thing.

And because of that, all we can do is choose happiness.

Even the smallest shred of disappointment over the particular method our little one will learn to use a toilet one day?

Totally not worth it.

5 Questions to Ask a Pregnant Woman – Instead of the Gender Question

You never know what that pregnant woman has gone through to get to that point. Maybe she’s had five miscarriages before this pregnancy. She might have lived through the torture of a stillbirth at 37 weeks. It could be this was her last egg from years and years of IVF treatments, and it just so happened to stick this one last time.

Even if she’s had an easy journey to this pregnancy, pretty much everyone asks the gender question, so she probably hears it 20 times a day.

Now, you can find lots of advice on what NOT to ask a pregnant woman.

It’s harder to find tips on which questions to ask a pregnant woman that would put a smile on her edema-stricken face.

So if you want to ask something a little different the next time you run into a pregnant lady, try one of these questions instead:

1. How do you manage to look so awesome when you’re pregnant?
2. What do you need help with? (Also great options: Can I carry that for you? Would you like my seat? Can I buy you a cookie?)
3. Do you have any family or friends who will be here to help after the baby’s born? (If they say no and seem a little worried about that, it’s the perfect opportunity to offer your help!)
4. Are you redecorating a room for the baby’s nursery?
5. Can I bring you a meal after the baby’s born? Or how about some freshly baked cookies? (Can you tell what this pregnant lady has on the brain?)

This Little Baby of Ours

The funny thing is, I actually do want to scream our news from the rooftops!

We are incredibly excited to meet our newest little one, and knowing the gender has helped us connect with the bean even further.

We have a name picked out, and the girls refer to their newest sibling by name already.

And after we learned the gender, I found myself listening to the song Far Away^† by Ingrid Michaelson several times a day.

^† This site is reader-supported. When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

I will live my life as a lobsterman’s wife on an island in the blue bay.
He will take care of me, he will smell like the sea,
And close to my heart he’ll always stay.

I will bear three girls all with strawberry curls, little Ella and Nelly and Faye.
While I’m combing their hair, I will catch his warm stare
On our island in the blue bay.

Your Turn

What are your best go-to questions to ask a pregnant woman? Share in a comment below!

The post 5 Perfectly Lovely Questions to Ask a Pregnant Woman – And One to Skip appeared first on Happy You, Happy Family.

After I got pregnant with my first daughter, I felt self-conscious. My whole life up until that point, I’d worried about my pant size and my weight and whether my belly pooch was too…poochy.

I’d graduated from teen magazines to women’s magazines. From high school friends who were a size zero lamenting how they felt “fat” to adult female friends complaining that they needed to lose 5 pounds, or 10, or 20. From believing with every fiber of my teenage heart that if I could just look like Alyssa Milano, a boy would finally ask me out on a date—to believing if I could just look like Jennifer Aniston, I’d find the love of my life.

I’m average height and average-ish weight, but when I got pregnant, the sight of my growing belly made me uncomfortable.

So I hid it.

Under baggy shirts. Under even baggier sweaters. Under maternity jeans that didn’t fit right and kept falling down, giving me a super fashionable saggy bottom look. The complete opposite of cute maternity clothes.

It wasn’t just that I felt frumpy. I looked it, too.

A Decision

When I got pregnant with my second daughter, I decided I didn’t want to feel frumpy again.

So in my first trimester, I watched other pregnant women. At the grocery store. At the bank. At drop-off and pick-up at my eldest daughter’s school.

When I saw a pregnant lady who looked sharp and put together, I took mental notes on what she wore and how she wore it. (Actually, if I’m being completely truthful with you, you should know that most of the time, I took actual written notes in the Evernote app on my phone.)

Nowadays, you can just search Instagram for #StyleTheBump, but back then I became a devoted—albeit creepy—student of maternity fashion.

And then I had an epiphany.

Here’s the Thing, My Pregnant Friend

You are working hard, mama.

All day, your body is splitting cells. Growing an actual HUMAN.

I don’t care if you started your pregnancy 5 pounds over your target weight or 30.

Pregnancy is a whole other ball game. The shame you felt about your belly pooch, the loathing of your thighs. Let it all go.

Because now your body is serving a greater purpose. And that is just plain beautiful.

Own it. Be proud of your belly and everything it means.

6 Tips for Cute Maternity Clothes That Won’t Cost a Fortune

Part of being proud of your belly is being happy with how you dress. Borrowing your husband’s XL t-shirt to cover your belly won’t make you feel better about yourself, I promise.

And I can tell you that nine months of feeling frumpy is no fun. Especially when you tack on the months of wearing postpartum clothes while your body is working its way back to a new normal.

You are a badass, and you deserve to walk with your head held high and flaunt your pregnant badassness to the world.

Here are the best tips and tricks I learned for cute maternity clothes. Don’t worry—I’m not going to suggest that you borrow against your baby’s college fund to fund an entirely new wardrobe.

Following these tips will help you spend money wisely to build a stylish but inexpensive wardrobe for your pregnancy.

1. Don’t Go Big

It’s natural to feel uncomfortable about your growing midsection. Your first instinct may be to buy some cheap tops at Target that are one or two sizes bigger than your regular size. Big enough to cover your belly.

But big, baggy clothes on the biggest part of your body will only make you look…well, big. I’m not sure why so many style gurus recommend that pregnant ladies just wear a bunch of oversized shirts because it’s generally not a good look unless you’re a six-foot model with 2% body fat.

So if you haven’t yet embraced your inner “I am pregnant, hear me roar,” know that by wearing baggy clothes, you’re not fooling anyone. In fact, you’re actually making yourself look larger than you really are, which I’m assuming is not the effect you’re going for.

This tip is straightforward but also the hardest habit to break: Just say no to big, baggy clothes.

^† This site is reader-supported. When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

2. Raid Your Closet

Take a quick swing through your closet and look for the following pieces. If you find them, set them aside in a new section of your closet where you’ll keep all your maternity wear. This is so that you don’t have to keep looking through your pre-pregnancy clothes for nine months and feel bad that they won’t fit quite right—or at all.

• Any tops that have always felt like they were a little too long for you. They’ll be perfect to cover up your belly.
• Any tops containing Spandex or Lycra. They’ll stretch to accommodate your belly.
• Bottoms with a stretchy waistband that you can pair with cute tops. Skirts, yoga pants, and leggings will all work here. Especially if they have a low-rise waist.
• Cardigans, jackets, blazers, and vests. Grab them all for now.

Now, try them all on and make sure they’re good candidates. Some pieces might work for the first and second trimesters and not the third, but at least you have a good starting point.

3. Splurge on Jeans

When you grow out of the hair-tie-through-your-buttonhole trick with a belly band, you’re going to need some maternity jeans.

But maternity jeans are so difficult to get right. Some fit great at first but after an hour or two, the crotch feels like it’s sagging down to your knees.

You can get under-belly jeans or full belly panel jeans, or an awkward in between version that’s never fit right on me. It’s a matter of personal preference, but I happen to prefer the full belly panel jeans. They stay up better for me. Some women prefer under-belly.

But remember how I said I’m not going to suggest you spend a fortune? And how I said to raid your closet? Well, the truth is you raided your closet to finance this one single purchase.

Because awesome maternity jeans will make you look and feel divine. But mediocre maternity jeans will have you feeling like a hippopotamus that’s evolved to walk upright.

Splurge on one amazing pair of maternity jeans, and it will be so worth it. Fair warning: You’ll end up spending between $100-300, but you can wear your fancy jeans just about every day. Example:

• For my last pregnancy, I bought one awesome pair for $175 and wore them constantly. I just matched them with different tops every day, and no one was the wiser. In fact, I wore them so often they got a whole in the butt in my last week of pregnancy!
• For my current pregnancy, I bought another just like my previous pair. And even though I don’t have a day job and we’re cutting our spending left and right to make up for it, I have absolutely zero regrets.

My favorite places to find high-quality maternity jeans are Nordstrom and A Pea in the Pod. If those first two stores aren’t in your area, I recommend buying a few pairs online, trying them on, and returning what doesn’t work.

As far as brands, I’ve had the best luck with Citizens of Humanity and Hudson. But other great brands include: Joe’s Jeans, Paige, and 7 for All Mankind.

If you’re patient, you can even look for a cheap pair of used jeans on Craigslist or eBay.

4. Find Your Staples

I’m not going to recommend you buy a lot of maternity tops. For each of my last two pregnancies, I’ve gone to A Pea in the Pod and Motherhood Maternity and tried on every halfway decent-looking top—and walked out empty-handed.

Maternity blouses tend to have a hint of a muumuu about them. I think they’re designed by people who think women should be shameful of their growing bellies, like we’ve been groomed to believe our whole lives. But now that you and I know they’re flat-out wrong, we don’t have to waste our time on those silly-looking tops.

Instead, you’re going to look for a few flattering staples you can mix and match with statement pieces from your existing wardrobe. Don’t be afraid to go for form-fitting stretchy tops, either! Honor your belly, don’t hide it. Remember: In general, loose tops will just make you look even bigger.

Here’s what I suggest:

• A few t-shirts and tanks in different colors, maybe with ruching on the sides. I have two black t-shirts (one scoop neck, one v-neck), one black tank, one red t-shirt, and one white t-shirt. (If you’re pregnant in the winter, you can also look for some stretchy turtlenecks.)
• A simple black knee-length maternity skirt. If you’re big into skirts, go ahead and get a couple more skirts or a dress or two. I also own a gray maxi maternity skirt.

The best place I’ve found for stocking up on these staples is Gap. I haven’t had good luck with Target’s maternity staples. They don’t last long, and they stretch out and look frumpy after the first hour of wear. But Gap has sales all the time, so sign up for their email alerts and wait until they have a 30% (or more) sale to order your staples. You can also try H&M and Loft, which both have maternity clothing lines.

5. Make a Statement

Now you have your mix and match staples, plus one super amazingly gorgeous pair of maternity jeans.

It’s time to add some pizzazz to your pregnancy wardrobe. Put on a simple black t-shirt and your new jeans, and start trying on all those cardigans, jackets, blazers, and vests you set aside from your existing wardrobe. These pieces will add color and pattern to your look.

This is the secret of saving money on your pregnancy clothes, right here. Instead of getting 10-12 different maternity tops, you’re using a few basic staples and adding color and style with layers from your existing pre-pregnancy wardrobe.

Let’s compare:

• 10-12 maternity tops at $30-60 a pop = $300-720
• 4-5 maternity staples at $20-30 each = $80-150

One day, you might pair a black t-shirt with your jeans and a cute red blazer. The next day, maybe you go for a pre-pregnancy stretchy top in a fun pattern with your simple black skirt and a jean jacket. After that, it’s back to your staple white t-shirt, jeans, and a flowy cardigan.

A quick note on jackets and cardigans: I’ve found that cropped versions tend to make me look short and squat when I’m pregnant, even though I’m average height. I haven’t had good luck pulling those off, so you may want to stick with regular length or longer for these layers.

6. Add a Little Bling

It’s a fact: When you accessorize, you look approximately 500% more put together.

Even if you don’t normally wear jewelry, now’s a great time to start. I find that when I add even the simplest necklace to my maternity look, my confidence shoots up, and I feel much more at ease flaunting my badass pregnant self.

Bust out those leopard-print flats from the back of your closet, or that hot pink handbag. Have fun going a little crazy on accessories!

Want More?

Don’t forget to have some clothes on hand for after baby’s born! Check out 7 Tips for Postpartum Clothes That Won’t Make You Look Pregnant.

Your Turn

What’s your favorite pregnancy look? Share in a comment below!

The post 6 Secrets to Finding the Best Cute Maternity Clothes appeared first on Happy You, Happy Family.

After you find out you’re pregnant and the initial giddiness wears off, it starts to set in that you’ll be responsible for keeping another human being ALIVE.

That’s serious business, and one school of thought is to take out a second mortgage and buy every baby-related gadget ever invented to insure against you making a stupid mistake.

On the other end of the spectrum, some will tell you that the ONLY baby must haves are your boobs, some diapers, and a comfortable bed to sleep in – with the diapers and bed being optional.

Here Are the Real Baby Must Haves

I fall somewhere in between the two camps. Plus, after having four babies I’ve had a lot of opportunities to learn what makes life easier and what you can live without.

Here are the real baby must haves for taking care of your little one. Start your registry on Amazon^†, add these baby registry must haves to it, and you’ll be sitting pretty by the time your sweet little bundle arrives.

^† This site is reader-supported. When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Feeding Essentials

Whether you plan to breastfeed or bottle-feed, these are the baby must haves you’ll want to have on hand.

Sleep Must Haves

Getting your baby to sleep (and stay asleep) is one of the most stressful parts of the newborn phase. But these baby must haves will make your job so much easier.

Diapering Needs

I’ve done cloth diapers, disposable diapers, and a mixture of both. Regardless of which direction you go, you’ll need these baby must haves to keep up with your baby’s diaper needs.

Want More?

Check out these more specific lists of baby must haves:

• 12 Must-Haves to Survive Your Newborn’s First Month
• 7 Surprising Must Haves for Baby – From a Second-Time Mom Who’s Starting Over
• 8 Must Haves That Make the Perfect Gifts for New Dads
• 6 Surprising Songs to Soothe a Fussy Baby
• 25 Surprising Toys Your Baby Will Totally Love
• The Best Baby Board Books That Will Delight Your Baby (And You)

Your Turn

What baby must haves would you recommend? Share in a comment below!

Social media feature photo by Travis Swan.

The post Baby Must Haves: 25 Essentials That Will Give You the Best First Year appeared first on Happy You, Happy Family.

One of the good parts of being pregnant is that you’re supposed to get this amazingly thick, shiny, beautiful hair.

Not me.

My hair gets flat and greasy.

When I’m pregnant, I can shampoo my hair TWICE but after I’m done blow-drying it, the crown of my head looks like the place where someone spit out the remnants of their oil pulling experiment.

While I was pregnant with my second child, I told myself I just had to make it to six weeks postpartum, and everything would be back to normal.

Six weeks rolled by, then three months. Four, five, six…

Still a greasy postpartum mess.

I tried using more shampoo, which seemed to make it worse. Less shampoo didn’t have an effect. Then I tried five different shampoos—some mainstream and some natural and one perfectly organic, fair-trade, shade-grown brand whose cost rivaled a month of daycare.

All the same reaction.

Gross feeling hair.

So I turned to my good buddy Google.

A Radical Solution I Wasn’t Ready For

Lots of folks will recommend that you go the no-poo approach to remedy greasy hair during pregnancy or postpartum.

This basically means that instead of using shampoo every day or two, you wash your hair MUCH less often with cleaners that won’t strip your hair of its natural oils. The idea is that when you strip your hair of its oils, it produces even more oil, making your hair greasier and requiring more shampooing, which starts this vicious cycle that leaves you shampooing three times a day just to avoid looking like Forrest Gump on his walk across the country.

To switch to a no-shampoo life, you need to be patient while your hair adjusts. I know this because I lived no-poo for a couple years.

But I was ready to be done with this greasy postpartum hair situation YESTERDAY.

Also, I absolutely hated my hair when I went no-poo. It was flat, limp, and just plain ugly.

And yet, search result after search result sang the praises of no-poo in resolving my greasy postpartum hair dilemma.

There had to be another way.

Related: The Single Best Way to Reduce Swollen Feet in Pregnancy

A Match Made in Hair Heaven?

What do most no-pooers use instead of shampoo? Baking soda.

So I had an idea.

I hated my hair washed in just baking soda.

I hated my hair washed in just shampoo.

But what if I combined them?

The next morning before my shower, I went to the kitchen and found this:

Then off to the shower I went.

I squirted a normal amount of shampoo in my hand.

Then I sprinkled some baking soda on top of the shampoo and washed my greasy postpartum hair.

It felt gritty and sudsy, weird and wonderful.

The result?

Okay, I only wish that were my hair.

However, shampoo + baking soda SOLVED MY GREASY HAIR PROBLEM.

I’m back to needing to wash my hair only once every 3-4 days, and no more greasy mess.

Best of all, I didn’t have to buy some special “postpartum greasy hair shampoo” at $37 a bottle.

Updated to add: After first writing this article, I went on to have two more babies, and this greasy postpartum hair solution worked like a charm again and again.

Here’s a Quick Fix for Greasy Hair During Pregnancy or Postpartum

If you’re pregnant and struggling with greasy hair, your postpartum greasy hair isn’t resolving on its own, or if you’re just dealing with greasy hair in general, give this trick a try.

Warning: Before you start, check your shampoo’s ingredients list for anything that mentions “ammonium.” Ammonium-based ingredients can cause a reaction with the baking soda, so if your shampoo has ammonium as an ingredient, find an ammonium-free brand to use for this beauty hack. Also, if you get your hair colored, check with your hair colorist on whether you can use baking soda on your hair without impacting the dye.

1. Put a normal amount of shampoo in the palm of your hand.
2. Sprinkle a couple teaspoons’ worth of baking soda on top of the shampoo, and use your other hand to mix it into the shampoo.
3. Wash your hair using the shampoo and baking soda mixture, concentrating on any greasy trouble spots.
4. (Optional) Use conditioner. But afterwards if it seems like your hair didn’t get squeaky clean, next time try using conditioner on just the ends of your hair—or try skipping it altogether.

It’s cheap, it’s simple, and it’ll give you the cleanest hair you’ve had in ages. Enjoy!

Your Turn

What’s your favorite solution for greasy hair during pregnancy or postpartum? Share in a comment below!

Social media photo by Takashi Ota.

The post Got Greasy Hair Postpartum? Here’s a Simple + Cheap Fix appeared first on Happy You, Happy Family.

Have you ever been to a get-together at someone’s house where they don’t have music playing in the background?

And then the lull comes.

It’s super quiet and no one’s saying anything, so you stare at the floor. You glance up real quick, but the lull continues, so you look down at your lap. Still no one’s saying anything, and you can sense everyone else’s eyeballs trying to settle on the least awkward thing, and you find yourself focusing on that weird stain on the kitchen counter that looks kind of like a uterus.

This is why you need music.

Add to that the unique brand of uncomfortableness that a baby shower brings with those blasted games, oohing-and-aahing at every boring gift, and the lack of alcohol – and did I mention the games? – and you REALLY need a baby shower playlist.

But Here’s the Problem With Most Baby Shower Playlists

I helped plan a baby shower recently, and my job was to provide the official baby shower playlist. But when I searched online, the baby shower songs I found consisted of:

1. Songs with “baby” in the title, or
2. Saccharine sweet kids’ music

The first approach gives you Baby Got Back^†, and the second makes the attendees gag. Not to mention the guest of honor. That new mama has years of cheesy kids’ music ahead of her – why subject her to it earlier than necessary?

^† This site is reader-supported. When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The Best 35 Baby Shower Songs You’ll Actually Enjoy

So I put together a new and improved baby shower playlist: These baby shower songs have sweet lyrics without being gag-worthy.

Since I first created this playlist, dozens of friends and neighbors have used this same playlist for baby showers they planned, and they’ve all reported back that the music was a crowd-pleaser for expectant moms, grandmas-to-be, and childless friends alike.

This playlist will give you hours of tunes to combat the baby shower awkwardness – so you can spend your free time figuring out which newborn must haves or funny baby shower gifts you’ll be getting your friend.

You may even find yourself listening to this playlist well after the baby shower – I did!

Note: Unlike other baby shower playlists you might find out there, this one features upbeat tunes appropriate for a party or get-together. For example, while the lyrics of Sade’s “The Sweetest Gift” are lovely, the slow pace would lull your guests to sleep, so you won’t find it in this list.

1. We’re Going to Be Friends by The White Stripes

Fall is here, hear the yell
Back to school, ring the bell
Brand new shoes, walking blues
Climb the fence, books and pens
I can tell that we’re going to be friends

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

2. Race You by Elizabeth & The Catapult

‘Cause there’s dirt on my skirt and pebbles stuck in my toes
Oh, which way should we go down
Nobody knows, nobody knows
I’m gonna race you back home

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

3. Beautiful Day by U2

It’s a beautiful day
Sky falls, you feel like
It’s a beautiful day
Don’t let it get away

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

4. Count on Me by Bruno Mars

If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea
I’ll sail the world to find you
If you ever find yourself lost in the dark and you can’t see
I’ll be the light to guide you…

If you’re tossin’ and you’re turnin’
And you just can’t fall asleep
I’ll sing a song beside you
And if you ever forget how much you really mean to me
Every day I will remind you

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

5. Sweet Pea by Amos Lee

Sweet pea
Apple of my eye
Don’t know when and I don’t know why
You’re the only reason I keep on coming home

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

6. The Littlest Birds by The Be Good Tanyas

Well, I love you so dearly, I love you so clearly
I wake you up in the morning, so early just to tell you…
The littlest birds sing the prettiest songs

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

7. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da by The Beatles

In a couple of years they have built a home, sweet home
With a couple of kids running in the yard
Of Desmond and Molly Jones
Happy ever after in the market place

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

8. Haven’t Met You Yet by Michael Buble

I might have to wait, I’ll never give up
I guess it’s half timing, and the other half’s luck
Wherever you are, whenever it’s right
You’ll come out of nowhere and into my life

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

9. All Smiles by Jess Penner

Hands full of lemon drops all dissapear
All lips like children, the voices we hear
They’re all smiles, they’re all smiles, they’re all smiles

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

10. Upside Down by Jack Johnson

I want to turn the whole thing upside down
I’ll find the things they say just can’t be found
I’ll share this love I find with everyone
We’ll sing and dance to Mother Nature’s songs
I don’t want this feeling to go away

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

11. New Soul by Yael Naim

I’m a young soul in this very strange world
Hoping I could learn a bit bout what is true and fake

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

12. The One Who Loves You the Most by Brett Dennen

When the sky is falling from above you
And the wind is raging from the coast
And you want someone who truly loves you
I will be the one who loves you the most

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

13. Baby by Devendra Banhart

Like some hog-tied kangaroos
You be one and I’ll be one too
We play it goofy, or we play it cool

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

14. Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

I hear babies cry and I watch them grow,
They’ll learn much more
Than we’ll know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

15. The Lucky Ones by Tim Myers

Lately I’ve been smiling outside
I feel good, I feel light as a feather
Open up the window look out at the sky
Everything’s better
Ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah
We’re the lucky ones

Listen: Apple Music

16. Yellow by Coldplay

Look at the stars,
Look how they shine for you,
And everything you do,
Yeah, they were all yellow

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

17. Home by Phillip Phillips

Hold on to me as we go
As we roll down this unfamiliar road
And although this wave is stringing us along
Just know you’re not alone
Cause I’m gonna make this place your home

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

18. Thank You by Mozella

You fight off my enemies
You’d take a bullet for me
And you know I’d do the same for you
‘Cause that’s how we roll
Connected at the soul

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

19. Overwhelmed by Tim McMorris

From the first time I saw you
I knew that you’d be mine
And from the first glance you gave
My world it slowed, you stopped the time

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

20. Never Grow Up by Taylor Swift

Your little hand’s wrapped around my finger
And it’s so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter cause you’re dreaming
So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light
To you everything’s funny, you got nothing to regret
I’d give all I have, honey
If you could stay like that

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

21. Brave by Sara Bareilles

“Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave
With what you want to say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave”

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

22. Ho Hey by The Lumineers

“I belong with you
You belong with me
You’re my sweetheart”

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

23. 1234 by Feist

“One, two, three, four
Tell me that you love me more
Sleepless long nights
That is what my youth was for”

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

24. You Are the Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne

“Oh because, you are the best thing
You are the best thing
You are the best thing
Ever happened to me”

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

25. Lucky by Kat Edmonson

“Happiness
Feels like this
Your heart upon your sleeve
There’s a place,
In time and space,
We can all be free”

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

26. Fireflies by Owl City

“I’d like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It’s hard to say that I’d rather stay awake when I’m asleep
Because my dreams are bursting at the seams”

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

27. Heaven by Brandi Carlile

“When you’re lyin’ here in my arms
I’m findin’ it hard to believe
We’re in heaven”

Listen: Apple Music

28. I’m Yours by Jason Mraz

“Look into your heart and you’ll find love, love, love, love.
Listen to the music of the moment, people dance and sing, we’re just one big family
And it’s our God-forsaken right to be loved, loved, loved, loved, loved”

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

29. Beauty in the World by Macy Gray

“Stop and smell the flowers
And lose it the sweet music and dance with me
There is beauty in the world
So much beauty in the world”

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

30. The Best Day by Taylor Swift

“Past the pumpkin patch
And the tractor rides
Look now – the sky is gold
I hug your legs and fall asleep
On the way home”

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

31. First Day of My Life by Bright Eyes

“Yours is the first face that I saw
I think I was blind before I met you
Now I don’t know where I am
I don’t know where I’ve been
But I know where I want to go”

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

32. What I Wouldn’t Do by A Fine Frenzy

“If we were children I would bake you a mud pie
Warm and brown beneath the sun
Never learned to climb a tree but I would try
Just to show you what I’d done”

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

33. Far Away by Ingrid Michaelson

“I will bear three girls all with strawberry curls, little Ella and Nelly and Faye
While I’m combing their hair, I will catch his warm stare
On our island in the blue bay”

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

34. Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars

“And when you smile
The whole world stops and stares for a while
‘Cause, girl, you’re amazing
Just the way you are”

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

35. Who’s My Pretty Baby? by Elizabeth Mitchell

“Who’ll be my little man
Who’ll be my nice lady
Who’ll be my funny little buddy
Hey hey pretty babe”

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

Related: The Newborn Must Haves That Will Make Your Baby Happy (And You, Too)

Get the Spotify Playlist: The Best Ever Baby Shower Playlist

If you use Spotify, head over to this playlist and click the heart button to add it to your own Spotify library. Bonus: You’ll get extra baby shower songs not yet featured in this post!

Want More?

Don’t forget to surprise the mom-to-be with one of these newborn must haves to make her life easier or one of these funny baby shower gifts.

Your Turn

Which songs would you add to the perfect baby shower playlist? Share your picks in a comment below!

The post The Best 35 Baby Shower Songs You’ll Actually Enjoy appeared first on Happy You, Happy Family.

When you’re pregnant, nobody mentions the three dirty little secrets of pregnancy and childbirth:

1. The timer doesn’t magically go “ding!” on your due date, and you could very likely go past your due date.
2. The definition of “sleeping through the night” – that holy grail every parent dreams of – is when your baby sleeps 6 hours in a row, not 8.
3. After the baby comes, your uterus is empty but you still look REAL DANG PREGNANT. For weeks.

You can’t do much about #1 and 2 besides just get through the hard times. But for #3, you don’t have to suffer. All you need are the right postpartum clothes.

The Other Belly

When you’re newly pregnant, the first signs of a baby pooch can make you feel a little giddy. And for good reason – it’s an outward confirmation that a sweet baby is, in fact, growing inside you. Every week you tick off, your belly grows and your baby grows and it’s all very sweet and exciting.

But after the baby’s born and your belly still looks 6 months pregnant?

Not so sweet and exciting.

On top of that, you have milk leaking out of a lot more holes than you realized even existed, you’re recovering from trying to push a bowling ball out of your potty spot and/or from major abdominal surgery, and you’re tired as BALLS.

The jiggly baby belly sans baby can be the straw that broke the tired mama camel’s back.

A Painful Walk

The day after my daughter was born – another C-section I didn’t plan on – the postpartum nurse encouraged me to take a walk around the hospital to help the healing process along. Ty and I left the baby in the room with family and decided to head to the hospital cafeteria. I was wearing a super fashionable hospital gown, and I threw another one around my shoulders like a robe to avoid flashing everyone with my sexy, hospital-issued, post-surgery mesh undies.

It was my first walk after the surgery, and probably a little over-ambitious, but the cafeteria had a molten chocolate cake with my name on it.

Down a few hallways, an elevator ride, down some more hallways. Our progress was SLOW.

When we got on the elevator, a nurse was already on it and smiled at us. The ride was quiet, and I soaked up the break from physical exertion.

The elevator door opened, and I shuffled forward.

The nurse followed us off and flashed an oh-so-understanding smile as she passed us. “Walking to get baby out, huh?”

My mouth gaped open, and my cheeks flushed. “Uh, baby’s already out.”

AWKWARD.

I laughed an uncomfortable laugh, and the nurse scurried off.

Related: 36 Awesome New Mom Gifts That She’ll Actually Appreciate

7 Tips for the Best + Most Comfortable Postpartum Clothes

The number one goal of postpartum clothes: Avoid questions like: When are you due and Are you going to find out the sex and Is this your first.

A few years back, I worked as a stylist for a large personal styling service. Using that firsthand experience helping postpartum moms and after talking to everyone I know about how they solved the problem of a postpartum wardrobe, I pulled together a few of the best tips for what you can wear postpartum.

Keep in mind that it took 9 months (or more!) for your body to get to where it is, so be patient while it finds its way back – and it may settle in a different spot than where it started. Some doctors estimate it takes 6-10 weeks just for your uterus to get back to pre-pregnancy size, let alone the rest of your bits and pieces.

In the meantime, it’s important to feel good about yourself. You’re sleep-deprived, everything you do takes twice as long as it used to, and you’ve got some wicked hormones running rampant through your postpartum body. If you can get dressed in the morning (even if it’s at 11:59 am) and feel good about how you look, tackling the day will be much easier.

Disclaimer: A few of these postpartum fashion tips assume you will be breastfeeding and/or pumping. That’s what I know so that’s what I shared, but if it doesn’t apply to your situation I hope the other tips will be helpful!

1. Repurpose Your Maternity Clothes

Don’t go boxing up your maternity clothes as soon as you get home from the hospital. My all-time favorite Paige maternity jeans^† were a go-to staple during the postpartum stage whenever I needed to leave the house and didn’t want to look like I was wearing pajamas.

^† This site is reader-supported. When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Any maternity bottoms with an elastic waist will be your friend after baby comes. (Confession: I wore this foldover skirt every day for two weeks after my summer baby was born, and they have oodles of colors to choose from.)

One more piece of maternity wear that was absolutely essential to me during the postpartum period? This very specific brand and style of postpartum underwear. They come in lots of pretty colors, they were kind to my healing C-section incision, and I didn’t feel like I was wearing granny panties. (This was of course after the glamorous mesh panties phase of postpartum. Although if you’re not into the mesh panties, you can always get something more supportive like these maternity boyshort undies for that first phase.)

Related: Got Greasy Hair Postpartum? Here’s a Simple + Cheap Fix

2. Get Some Stretchy Basics

If you don’t have any maternity clothes that fit the bill, pick up some cheap basics with a stretchy waistband that you can pair with cute tops. Yoga pants are the go-to postpartum pants for many moms, but pants won’t cut it for me in the Texas summer.

I hit the jackpot at H&M with some cute skirts for just $12.95 each, so I got a couple different colors.

Leggings are another good option, paired with tunics or short dresses. However, I tried on several different brands of leggings and joggers but struggled to find a good fit. If they fit me length-wise and weren’t too baggy in the legs, they were too tight on the tummy. What finally worked was a pair of high-waist leggings, but maternity leggings will work too.

3. Give the Girls a Break With the Right Nursing Bras

For the first couple weeks after your baby’s born, your boobs are going to be a MESS. Huge, leaky, aching. Forget about trying to stuff yourself into your pre-pregnancy bras.

Get a good quality sleep bra and wear that for those early weeks. Actually, get two or three. Remember the leaky bit? You’ll want a backup when your bra is in the wash.

I’ve tried a few different brands, and the Majamas Organic Easy Bra is my favorite. They’re soft and comfy, but they have enough support to get you by until your body stabilizes and you can get a real bra.

4. Feel Sexy From the Inside Out With a Fun Bra, Too

The MINUTE you feel like your breast size has settled – usually after a couple weeks once your body figures out how many babies you’re nursing – get yourself a real nursing bra.

I tried on bra after bra after bra from Motherhood Maternity, Pea in the Pod, Target, Gap, and several other brands available at a local maternity boutique. Here is what I learned:

1. Most nursing bras fit like crap. They smush you together into a single amorphous blob, or they pinch your back fat, or they don’t even perform the basic bra function of you know, HOLDING YOUR BOOBS UP.
2. Most nursing bras are frumpy. They look like something your great-grandma would have worn. Forget demi cups. But hey, good news – the cups can double as a neck warmer!
3. Most nursing bras are boring. Nude or black. That’s pretty much it. If you do happen to find a bra with a cute pattern or some lace? See #1 and #2.

But I kept looking and finally found a brand that fits awesome AND looks like something you might have worn before you had a kid – Belabumbum.

As it turns out, you CAN feel pretty while wearing a nursing bra. The day my Belabumbum bras arrived in the mail, I ran to try them on. So, so pretty.

And I was so happy to not feel like a lactating cow that I walked around the house the rest of the day, lounging around in nothing but my pretty new bra and my black H&M skirt with the stretchy waistband.

Sorry about that, neighbors!

5. Go for Function With Basic Nursing Tops

Nursing tops have a lot of the same issues as nursing bras. Not to mention they can be outrageously priced.

But you can find some simple, affordable nursing tops at places like Gap, Old Navy, and H&M. When you’re out running errands and baby gets hungry, a nursing top is awfully convenient for getting the job done.

Pick up a few basic staples that you can mix and match with pre-pregnancy clothes. Pair a black nursing tank with a cute cardigan, or get a bright nursing t-shirt to go with the black yoga postpartum pants you find yourself wearing 24-7. (This flowy 2-in-1 top is my favorite pick-up from my last pregnancy. Pair it with jeans, and you’ll look awesome!)

If you can’t find any nursing tops you like, look for regular tops with a crossover bodice or an elastic neckline, or buy one size up for a flowy look so you can easily lift up the top to nurse.

A quick warning: You might want to avoid banded tops – that is, blouson-style tops with a fitted hem but loose up above. I wasn’t alone in thinking that they’re the perfect trick for hiding your poochy little belly. But for me, all they did is call attention to my belly where it pushes out the fabric. Banded tops hide nothing on me and make me look even bigger. Which is totally not the goal for postpartum clothes!

6. Splurge on Something Fun

You were busting out of your pregnancy clothes in those last few weeks, feeling like a morbidly obese penguin. Now you’re in this purgatory where those clothes won’t work AND your pre-pregnancy wardrobe definitely won’t work.

Comfort is important, but you also deserve to have fun. So during this in-between time, treat yourself to a couple fun items.

Here are a few fun ideas for how you might complete your postpartum outfit:

• A pretty dress that’s nursing friendly so you don’t have to lift up from the bottom to nurse when you’re out and about,
• A flowy cardigan to mix and match with basic nursing tanks, or
• That simple but elegant necklace you’ve been eying on Etsy for a while? (Seriously. Why don’t I just buy it already?!)

7. Avoid the Tent Look With Nursing Covers

Nursing covers come in all kinds of pretty fabrics nowadays. But when you put the cover on, it can feel like a cross between a 4-person tent and your grandma’s apron.

Some might say to just use a blanket. For me, blankets have a tendency to fall off my shoulder at the worst time. And here in Texas, the baby doesn’t take too kindly to a blanket over her face, trapping in the heat.

I’m a fan of the scarf-style nursing covers because you can nurse (mostly) hands-free. Look for one with thin, breathable fabric to keep baby happy too.

Want More?

For more tips on stylish postpartum clothes, check out The Perfect Postpartum Wardobe, Postpartum Mommy Makeover: Dressing for the Fourth Trimester, and Postpartum Survival Kit.

Your Turn

What’s your best tip for postpartum clothes that won’t make you look pregnant? Share in a comment below!

The post 7 Tips for the Best + Most Comfortable Postpartum Clothes appeared first on Happy You, Happy Family.

I’m one week past my due date, which means I’ve been pregnant now for 10 months and 1 week.

I’ve heard of this “overdue” stuff happening, but I honestly thought I was in the clear. My first daughter was 10 days early, and on top of that my fiance and I are huge planners. How could any child of ours be LATE?

Well, she is.

At this week’s appointment, the midwife said, “She looks happy in there!”

That’s nice.

First Rule of Fight Club

My first child’s birth taught me my first lesson of parenting: YOU ARE NOT IN CONTROL.

Got it. Check. Don’t need that lesson a second time, I promise.

I actually have been pretty chill about when this little girl will make her appearance, but my appointment this week was a turning point. Because they scheduled my 42-week induction. It’s just a precaution to make sure we can get on the hospital’s schedule.

As my midwife put it:

“Our job is to roll out the red carpet. Don’t stress about it. We’re just putting a plan in place in case we need it.”

So until my water breaks all over that pretty red carpet, I wanted to share the best ways I’ve discovered for passing the time when you’re pregnant past your due date. To pull together this list, I surveyed friends for their best overdue pregnancy tips, plus I combed through countless online forums to find more tried-and-true ideas.

8 Ways to Pass the Time During an Overdue Pregnancy

1. Eat

Specifically pineapple.

This weekend, I ate two POUNDS of pineapple. I burned off the first layer of skin in my mouth, but I’m still pregnant.

Upon further investigation, I found out you’d need to eat about seven whole pineapples to have the desired effect. And make sure it’s fresh pineapple. Canning and juicing destroy the magical enzyme you’re after in the first place.

Eat up!

2. Puzzle It Out

A good way to distract myself, my fiance, and his mom from just sitting around every night and staring at my belly waiting for it to erupt? Jigsaw puzzles.

In the last couple weeks, we’ve finished two 550-piece puzzles, two 1000-piece puzzles, and a 1500-piece monstrosity.

^† This site is reader-supported. When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

3. Sit

If I don’t have my feet up ALL DAY, they swell to twice their size, and I look like I’ve contracted elephantitis. It’s a sexy feeling.

You can try to cover up this sexiness by wearing socks and shoes and long pants, but then you’d have to bend over to put on your socks and/or tie your shoes.

Better to just sit a lot.

Update: My doctor has since given me this fantastic piece of advice to reduce swelling during pregnancy!

4. Stare At Yourself

Every time I walk past a mirror, I lift up my shirt and obsessively stare at these lines that just showed up on my belly last weekend.

Lines that look suspiciously like stretch marks.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?

I make it THIS far with no stretch marks, and NOW they show up?

Please tell me there’s a drug or a procedure or a surgery that will get rid of those.

5. Walk

It’s supposed to encourage your body to go into labor, and my body needs all the encouragement it can get.

My driveway has a steep incline, so by the end of the driveway I’m ready to turn around and head back. But I soldier on for a 20-minute walk, which so far has achieved nothing besides an increase in the size of my feet. (See #3.)

6. Panic

I’ve been having these 20-second panic attacks where the thought crosses my mind that she’s staying in there FOREVER.

7. Gear Up

No, I don’t mean gear up on baby must haves. For this: When I wake up in the middle of the night because one hand is dead asleep and one hip has a shooting pain down to my foot, it’s time to roll over.

But I have to psych myself up for it. First I lay in bed and wonder whether it really hurts enough to roll over. It does.

Then I shake out my dead hand and stretch out my bottom leg. Side note: Stretching out the leg you are lying on top of isn’t very effective.

Still hurts. Time to turn over.

That’s okay, though, because I’ve perfected the process. You just have to break down the rollover of your 35-pound bump into increments of one-sixteenths. With lots of huffing and grunting and grimacing. Don’t skip those because they definitely help get the job done. Or at the very least, they wake up your partner and garner some extra sympathy.

8. Say No—Or Become a Hermit

You’ll get a variation of this question approximately 732 times a day—via text, phone calls, Facebook, email, and of course in person:

“Still no baby?”

Make peace with saying no a lot. The folks asking are almost as excited for that kid to be born as you are—they’re the ones who have to see your cankles, watch you waddle, and catch you staring at your bare belly in the bathroom mirror at work.

If you can’t appreciate their excitement and you fear that you may turn cranky the 731st time you get the question today, it may be better to just stay home.

Your Turn

What are your best overdue pregnancy tips? Share in a comment below!

The post 8 Ways to Distract Yourself From an Overdue Pregnancy appeared first on Happy You, Happy Family.

I’m 38 weeks pregnant with baby girl #2, and we’re FINALLY making real progress on our pre-baby checklist. Part of that progress is due to actually getting things done, but another part is feeling like a grounded hot air balloon and not giving a crap that everything’s not perfect.

Most of my list came from those mainstream pre-baby checklists that include all the little things you might forget, like find a pediatrician and pick a childcare provider. But as I wrote my own list, I realized those other checklists were missing a few important reminders.

Here are 7 must-dos that might surprise you.

Disclaimer: If you’re already stressing about your long list to get done before baby comes, don’t you dare let this list of extras stress you out more! Just focus on baking that sweet little bun.

1. Stay Full

Keep your gas tank at least half full at all times. All you need to worry about during early labor is relaxing and waiting until you have to leave for the hospital. You shouldn’t have to factor in a stop at the gas station too.

2. Find a Chiropractor

At some point in your pregnancy, you’ll get a present. Shooting pains from your hips down your legs (thank you, sciatica), some wicked carpal tunnel, or nearly debilitating lower back pain. Or all three!

Find a reputable chiropractor with good reviews before you find out what surprise your body has in store, and you’ll be ready to make an appointment as soon as the pain hits.

3. Pay a Stranger to Touch You

Treat yourself to at least one prenatal massage.

Yes, it’s expensive. But your body is working hard all day splitting cells.

You deserve it.

My doctor actually recommended it to help with swelling during pregnancy.

Plus, it might be a while after your babe is born before you can afford to splurge that kind of money (or time) on yourself.

4. Stock up on Books

You’re going to be nursing A LOT in the early weeks (or holding a bottle, as the case may be). Feeding a newborn can get kind of boring after the initial blush wears off.

Sure, you can watch TV while you nurse, but won’t you feel so much more accomplished if you finish a book in one day instead of watching back-to-back reruns of Friends for 10 hours straight?

Bonus tip: Get books you can hold with one hand, or use a lightweight e-reader. First on my list? Re-read The Hunger Games trilogy.

5. Get Waxed

Yes, there. This isn’t about looking decent for the nurses and doctors—they’ve seen it all. But with all the various bodily fluids gushing out of you before, during, and after, you might appreciate a different look. Just don’t do it too close to your due date—you certainly don’t need any extra tenderness in that region. (And if you’ve never done this before and you’re thinking “but…ow,” consider it a chance to practice your pain-coping techniques.)

6. Play Hooky

Your world will be upside down after baby’s here, and it might take a while to right itself. So pick a day with your partner that you can both take off work, and enjoy each other.

A few ideas:

• Go to a movie in the middle of the day
• Sleep in til noon
• Play a board game
• Mix up a Preggatini

7. Bake Something Yummy

During early labor, you’ll need something to keep you distracted anyway. So bake something, then pack it up and bring it with you to the hospital for the nurses.

Is it a bribe? Sort of. But the nurses will appreciate it, and it can’t hurt to engender a little extra goodwill from the people who will help you bring your baby into the world.

If you don’t have any ideas, these puppies are very likely the BEST DESSERT I’VE EVER MADE: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake Bars.

Your Turn

What musts would you add to every mama’s pre-baby checklist? Share in a comment below!

The post 7 Little-Known Musts for Your Pre-Baby Checklist appeared first on Happy You, Happy Family.