Pregnancy Essentials - part one

Due to tedium and it being a hateful Friday, I decided that I'd share the things that I have found during my pregnancies to be useful. I can't remember trimester three at the moment and as I guess that'll be easier (due to not having twins) or potentially harder (due to having PGP), so I'll come back to that later...

First trimester:

The primary thing here is nausea/sickness, which have various possibly effective remedies. I was thankfully only sick once or twice, but the nausea was awful and these are what helped me:

• lemon and ginger, or peppermint, tea. Twinings used to do one that was called Jolly Ginger Mint, if you ever see this, stock up!!
• bananas
• milk
• fruit - especially melon if it is in season
• travel sickness bands (boots sell them) 
• ginger nut biscuits and other things to nibble

Nausea is a sign of healthiness with regard to your growing placenta and embryo. Tell yourself this often. If you don't feel nauseous, don't worry though, feel lucky! Eat what you can face, the baby will get what it needs regardless if you eat nothing other than jelly babies for the entire first trimester.

The other issue in the first trimester is your expanding waistline. Not all women get this, but I did both times, almost immediately. Maternity clothes are vast at this stage, so I recommend the following:

• A couple of pairs of trousers in a larger size. I really like Next linen trousers for this. These will be useful for the hours/weeks/years after the birth before you "pop" back into shape.
• Leggings or similarly elastic waisted trousers or skirts
• Baggy tunic style tops
• Long line t shirts/jumpers in a bigger size (also useful for after the birth to avoid sobbing about your flabby ex-tummy.

And so onto...

The second trimester

By the time you are some way into the second trimester you will probably be starting to have a definite bump. The most obvious thing about this is that you need maternity clothes. I would recommend you buy the following:

• one or two pairs of maternity jeans. I like the ones that have a stretchy panel that goes over your bump, but you can get ones with stretchy panels in the sides and adjustable waists. See what you like.
• one or two pairs of maternity work trousers
• a couple of dresses if it's summer. Very easy to wear
• a handful of tops depending what you like. Babydoll or some tunic styles are nice because you don't have to have maternity versions, but some ordinary maternity tops are nice to throw on.
• underwear: you will need new non-wired bras. I like sports bras for cheapness but see what you like. I find you can wear ordinary bikini style knickers as they sit under your bump. 
• nighties - so much easier than pyjamas to wear. Make sure you get voluminous ones.
• a maternity jacket/coat/cardigan if you feel you want covered up and not just by a jacket that doesn't hint a meeting at the front. If it's proper cold, just get a giant fleece.

Good stockists of maternity clothes that don't break the bank:

Next (few stores have it but you can order)

Asda

Mothercare

Mamas and Papas

Vertbaudet

New Look

Dorothy Perkins

Asos

and if you're a bit richer:

Isabella Oliver has gorgeous things that all the celebrity yummy mummies wear.

To support your bump, and aid you if you have pain, I recommend the following:

• a support pillow for in bed. I have a sausage type one, called a V shaped cushion, which can be whatever shape you want it to be. This is useful for propping the baby/ies on after birth.
• a bump support belt. I got one from mothercare for £12 and it's marvellous, far better than the physio's tubigrip.
• cushions, cushions and more cushions. Sit on them, pop them behind your back for support, put them under your bump. Love cushions.

Third trimester

To be covered later, but the essentials as I remember them were:

• Gaviscon.

that's it. Just lots and lots of Gaviscon. Get it on repeat prescription.