I'm 9 Months Pregnant, And These Are The Things That Have Kept My First Pregnancy Experience Manageable

Now that I'm almost done with this wild ride, I wanted to share a bit more about my journey.

Hi 👋 I'm Hannah — and I am 38 weeks pregnant with my first baby. I guess that technically means this kiddo is full term and she can come at any minute. Weird!

Hannah Loewentheil

A few months back, I wrote about what surprised me most about being pregnant. And now that I'm almost done with this wild ride (and still feeling pretty good for the most part), I wanted to write a little more about my journey and the things that have kept me calm, comfortable, and content throughout pregnancy.

Hannah Loewentheil

But first, a quick note: I know pregnancy can be a difficult subject for some people. I'm writing about my own experience in the hopes that it helps other women with their own journeys. That being said, I understand if this topic can be triggering and not helpful for you. 💕

1. Eating intuitively and embracing my cravings.

Hannah Loewentheil

I didn't have any really wild pregnancy cravings — there was certainly no sending my husband out at midnight to buy pickles and candy, as much as I would have liked to — but my preferences were unpredictable at times. Also, I frequently had no interest in a lot of the foods I normally love. For instance, there were plenty of times I couldn't stomach the idea of a salad or grilled chicken for dinner, and instead, all I wanted was cold and refreshing ice cream.

Rather than force myself to eat what I "should be" eating, I allowed myself to be intuitive about what I put into my body. There were nights when all I wanted for dinner was a bowl of ice cream, and following this craving made me so happy. I figured I usually follow a fairly balanced diet, so why fight it?

2. Buying a good pair of compression socks.

Hannah Loewentheil

I've heard that many pregnant women get varicose veins, but I was still startled when I woke up one morning to find that out of nowhere, one of my legs looked like it was covered in bruises. My doctor told me they were just harmless veins, which can be common due to increased blood flow. Phew. But while these veins don't hurt, they don't look so beautiful either.

My doctor recommended buying compression socks and wearing them often. I got a few pairs of Bombas, which I wore religiously from there on out. While my varicose veins aren't completely gone, they've improved significantly since wearing compression socks. And walking has become much more comfortable in them, too! 

3. Finding a great cookbook I could rely on for easy, low-key recipe inspiration.

Hannah Loewentheil

I tried to keep most of my routines consistent throughout my pregnancy. I typically cook at home often — most weeknights — and I really enjoy it, so I tried to maintain this sense of normalcy. Especially during my first trimester, there were many nights where I felt exhausted and tempted to order take-out. But having easy, stress-free, and satisfying recipes on hand that I could whip up without a big production made cooking so much more realistic. I found myself loving Melissa Clark's cookbook, Dinner In One, which is full of one-pot, one-pan, and one-sheet recipes that rely on a huge variety of ingredients. 

4. Having little meals throughout the day instead of big ones.

Hannah Loewentheil

Everyone's appetite is different during pregnancy. Many friends said they could barely eat a thing at first thanks to first-trimester morning sickness but became ravenous by the third trimester. My experience was quite the opposite. I was hungrier than ever before for the first 27 weeks of my pregnancy, but as I rounded the corner into my final trimester I found myself either not hungry or filling up extremely quickly. 

I've found that recently, grazing throughout the day and eating a bunch of small meals (things like a spoonful of peanut butter, a small bowl of fruit or dry cereal, yogurt with granola, a cheese stick and some crackers, a produce-packed smoothie) makes me feel so much better than eating three normal-sized meals. 

5. Keeping up with my workout routine.

Hannah Loewentheil

Another habit I've tried my best to maintain during pregnancy is working out. As I got more pregnant, I felt less comfortable doing at-home workouts and strongly preferred going to in-person classes where an instructor can guide me. My go-to workout is a pilates studio called Nofar Method in Manhattan, and with my doctor's permission, I took machine pilates classes there throughout my entire pregnancy.

I told the instructor early on that I was pregnant and she has been amazing about being vigilant and giving me the pregnancy-safe adjustments I need in order to continue working out safely. At 37 weeks pregnant, I'm still going to pilates three days per week, and I notice a major difference in how my body feels on the days that I work out — I feel much more flexible and less achy and overall comfortable. I've heard plenty of people say that doing pilates also helps with a potentially easier labor, so while the jury is still out on that for me, I'll keep you posted.

6. Treating myself to little things.

Hannah Loewentheil

It's easy to feel like you're giving a lot up during pregnancy and that you're already a servant to a human growing inside of you. As a result, I've found it so important to find time to prioritize myself and do little things that make me happy as long as my budget allows — whether it's getting prenatal massage, treating myself to a manicure, or just saying yes to a pretty bouquet of flowers at the farmer's market or grocery store.

7. Investing in a supportive belly band for back and stomach support.

Hannah Loewentheil

As my stomach has grown larger I've started feeling stitch cramping in my lower abdomen and pressure in my lower back. For about two weeks, I also randomly experienced sciatica down one leg. My doctor suggested trying a belly band to relieve some of the tension. Her favorite product is the Belly Bandit Upsie, but there are plenty of similar and more affordable options on Amazon. 

Obviously, you can only wear a belly band with certain outfits, but I tried wearing mine whenever I went for long walks, when I'd lounge around my apartment, or when I went out under comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. I definitely noticed that the band eased some of my back pain and the stitch cramps. And coincidence or not — my sciatica disappeared completely. 

8. And heating pads to relieve aches and pains.

Hannah Loewentheil

When my back pain got really bad, I basically swore by these ThermaCare disposable heat wraps. They're activated by the air, so you just unwrap one, secure it around your waist, and it heats up instantly. Unlike a heating pad that has to be plugged into a wall, I could put on one of these wraps under a sweatshirt and go about my day. They stay warm for a few hours, providing some nice relief without getting super, uncomfortably hot. 

9. Walking every single day.

Hannah Loewentheil

Pregnancy is nothing if not unpredictable. One day I'll feel great and the next I'll feel lazy and tired. But even on the most uncomfortable of days, forcing myself to get up and go for a walk has been the best thing I could possibly do for myself. Not only does walking make my body feel better, but it's also great for my mental health. I can feel my mood improve almost instantly with some fresh air.

10. Taking a one-step prenatal vitamin.

Hannah Loewentheil

I started taking Ritual prenatal vitamins about four months before I got pregnant and have continued to take them throughout my pregnancy. After consulting with my doctor, I was advised that the Ritual vitamin is a great all-in-one prenatal option that contains all the folic acid, iron, calcium, and other vitamins that a baby needs for development. I loved that I didn't have to take multiple pills every day. These prenatal vitamins are technically citrus-flavored but super mild, so taking them once a day was never an issue even when I was averse to some smells and flavors in the first trimester. 

11. Consistently using a belly oil that feels luxurious and hydrating.

Hannah Loewentheil

People say that there's a genetic link to stretch marks during pregnancy, but I still wanted to do everything in my power to prevent them. So starting from early on every time I got out of the shower I would alternate between Hatch Belly Oil and Burt's Bees Mama Belly Butter. Who knows if these products actually do anything, but they definitely feel luxurious and soothing on a growing belly.  there are so many different oils and creams and moisturizers on the market at every price point). All I know is so far, no stretch marks!

12. Wearing soft-as-butter onesies, stretchy athleisure wear, and clothes that maximize comfort.

Hannah Loewentheil

There were a handful of rare occasions where putting on jeans made me feel like a human, but for the majority of my pregnancy, I just wanted to be as comfortable and unconfined as possible. I found myself obsessed with stretchy, cozy onesies like this one from Beyond Yoga's maternity line. Not only do I wear onesies to exercise, but I also layer them under sweaters, oversized tee-shirts, and button-downs. Onesies have been a staple of my pregnancy wardrobe. 

Another favorite are the Lululemon Align leggings, the stretchiest and comfiest leggings I've ever put on my body. I bought them when I was eight weeks pregnant and still love them now at 37 weeks. And for a budget-friendly alternative, there's these Amazon leggings that reviewers absolutely swear by. At the end of the day, comfort is key.

13. TUMS, TUMS, and more TUMS.

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One of the worst pregnancy symptoms I've personally experienced has been the heartburn. It started in my second trimester and hasn't yet gone away (although it's gotten far less unpleasant). I never know what's going to trigger the burning, acidic sensation in my throat and esophagus: sometimes it emerges after a meal but sometimes I experience it randomly in the middle of the night or while I'm on my way to dinner. The solution: TUMS. They are a constant fixture in my medicine cabinet, and I wouldn't dare leaving the house without a pack of them in my bag. 

14. Relying on mocktails for when I wanted to drink something non-alcoholic but fun.

Hannah Loewentheil

One thing that has surprised me most about pregnancy is the fact that I really don't miss alcohol. That being said, there have been plenty of times that I craved a fun and tasty non-alcoholic drink that is a step up from some basic soda, juice, or seltzer. I've tried a handful of ready-to-drink non-alcoholic beverages and have a few favorites such as the St. Agrestis Phony Negroni, Figlia non-alcoholic aperitivo, and Curious Elixir No. 6 (a non-alcoholic take on the tropical Painkiller cocktail). I also love the Seedlip non-alcoholic spirits for mixing up my own concoctions. 

15. And taking a baby moon (I know, I know, but just hear me out...)

Hannah Loewentheil

I used to laugh at the whole idea of a baby moon, but I convinced my reluctant husband to take one anyway. At first, it was really just an excuse to take a vacation, but ultimately a baby moon getaway was really special and exactly what both my husband and I needed. We took a long weekend vacation to the beach, disconnected from everything going on back home, and focused on nothing but ourselves for a few days. 

We talked a lot about the things we're excited for, nervous about, and ways we foresaw our lives changing (and staying the same!) post-baby. It was an important thing for us to recognize that this would be the last trip before our lives changed drastically and to totally take advantage of it. 

What are some things you did, habits you upheld (or ended), items your purchased, and self-care tips that you found especially helpful during pregnancy? Tell us in the comments!