LAFEENOIRE MATERNITY

PREGNANCY  SURVIVAL TIPS

Time you Got comfortable!

While you're pregnant, the last thing you think about is what you'll want to wear after the birth. And while it might seem a little irrelevant at the moment, you'll probably find that it increasingly concerns you as the days wear on (pardon the pun) after the birth of your child. It will only be a week or two before you have shrunk out of your maternity clothes but you may still be too large for your regular clothes. It's worth investing in some cheap, stretchy items that will shrink with you and you feel comfortable in, both out and about, and while you're at home looking after your new baby. It's also worth thinking about the season - if it's autumn when your baby is due, invest in a coat with a hood, while if you're due in the summer, make sure you've got a stash of t-shirts and cardigans. Oh, and comfortable footwear is a must - it's likely you'll spend a lot of time pushing your baby around your neighbourhood - at least in the early days!

You Bored?

When you're thinking about packing your bag for the hospital, it's worth thinking about what you're going to do while you're in labour. The puffing and panting part of giving birth is only part of the time you'll spend in hospital before your baby is born, and you may find yourself with several hours on your hands before your baby is ready to face the world. So make sure you pack something to do, whether it's a pack of cards, a good book, a cd to listen to or a travel game to play with your birth partner while your labour progresses - as well as killing some time, it may help to take your mind off your contractions. If you have any tips to share on coping with pregnancy, birth and beyond, email us and we'll feature them here.

Are you Sick of it all?

Morning sickness affects most women at some point during pregnancy, with symptoms ranging from mild nausea through to full on sickness, which can be quite debilitating. It can also occur at any time, not as the name suggests, only in the morning. There are some things you can do to help yourself however. Try sipping peppermint tea when you feel nauseous, and eat little and often throughout the day. Some women also find that eating something, such as a piece of dry toast or a plain biscuit before they get out of bed in the morning can help. Ginger is also an excellent antidote to sickness, so try ginger tea or ginger nut biscuits as well.

Too tight?

You might be pregnant, but that doesn't necessarily mean you want to compromise on style. If you're into skirts, you'll finding comfortable hosiery a real challenge. Now, there are some over-the-bump tights on the market, from the likes of Aristoc and Spanx, however, you may find that tights raise your temperature or make you uncomfortable. Hold-ups may be just the answer you're looking for - available from all the usual suspects, they allow you to feel sexy without the restricting feeling tights can give you. What's more, you don't need to buy special maternity versions so you'll be able to wear them after the birth. And, although it may not be sexy, it's worth taking a look at pop-socks too.

Get him to Plump them up

You've got your bag packed with all the items suggested by your hospital and you're pretty sure you've got everything. But have you considered taking a pillow from home into hospital? Not only will you have something comforting from home with you while you deliver and afterwards on the ward, you may find that your hospital doesn't give you enough pillows to make you feel comfortable. If you have a v-shaped pillow in preparation for breastfeeding so much the better, the midwives on your ward can help you feed your baby as you would at home, and they offer excellent support for your back when you're sitting in your hospital bed.

So Hot and bothered?

There's no two ways about it, most hospitals are hot places. For pregnant women they can sometimes be uncomfortably hot, and while you're in labour, the effort may raise your temperature another few degrees. A cooling water spray is the answer to this, and may just keep you from being hot and bothered while you're waiting for your new arrival to announce him or herself.

Home stretch!?

You're nearing the end of your pregnancy and you feel uncomfortable and fat. Your ankles are swollen, you get tired walking up the stairs and it's difficult to have a bath because you're afraid you won't be able to get out of it when you've finished. The later stages of pregnancy can make many women feel unattractive and tired, so make sure you organise some treats for yourself in the weeks leading up to the birth, because you won't have much time for yourself once the baby arrives. Why not book a spa day - making sure the venue you've chosen has a pregnancy specialist? Or create your own spa-day at home with all your favourite products. Just make sure there's someone around to hoist you out of the bath!

Midnight munchies?

Unfortunately babies don't often come along in time for dinner. With most babies born at night, most hospitals are ill-equipped for providing new mums with a well needed snack after they've given birth. So while you might have packed your bags - you’ve got your nightie, some clothes for the baby and something to travel home in, have you thought about including a snack for after the big event? Hospitals vary in their policies on eating during labour, but it's also worth taking some cream crackers or dry biscuits in with you to keep you going - you might be awaiting your new arrival for some time.

Chill Out Girlfriend!

While it might not have been the best summer on record in terms of hours of sunshine, the temperature has definitely been rising, and for many pregnant women that can mean swollen, uncomfortable ankles and feet. If you're in this predicament, why not try covering your lower legs and feet with a cooling leg gel? Found in major chemists and toiletry retailers, they feel doubly effective if kept in the fridge. And if you can get your partner to help you rub some gel into the affected areas, so much the better - you'll be transported to a complete chill out zone

Folic Acid

Make sure you take your folic acid!

Taken as a tablet and included in many cereals, folic acid is recommended by the Dept of Health from trying to conceive through to the 12th week of pregnancy.

Folic acid can prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida.