25 Pregnant-Women Approved Hacks For Having An Easier Pregnancy

Mom tested, mom approved.

We recently asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to tell us what helped make their pregnancy easier. Below are some of their amazing suggestions!

1. Eat kiwis to prevent constipation during pregnancy.

elliss_party / Via instagram.com

Kiwis are a godsend for pregnancy constipation.

—katherineo4acc8c2f1

2. Freeze your fish oil supplements to stop fishy burps from coming up.

taotowellness / Via instagram.com

If your fish oil supplements are coming up like a bad tuna sandwich, freeze them. They take longer to dissolve that way and are further down your digestive track when they thaw. It helps you not burp fish all day.

—caru959

3. Drink pickle juice to prevent leg cramps and heartburn.

preserving_my_sexy / Via instagram.com

Pickle juice is literally the only thing that helped my HORRIBLE leg cramps!

—amyjaz

Dill pickle juice for heartburn works WONDERS. During my third trimester heartburn would wake me up in the middle of the night, disrupt my day, and generally make my life miserable. I don’t remember where I’d heard about dill pickle juice for heartburn, but I was desperate enough to try it and IT WORKED. Just a couple of sips and my heartburn would disappear for hours. Definitely recommend it!

—amandar79

4. Wear sea sickness bands to prevent morning or motion sickness.

psibands / Via instagram.com

Sea sickness bands saved me. I would get motion sick just by watching my husband walk past me. Once I got these, my whole life changed.

—jessicabp

Sea sickness bands were a LIFESAVER during the early weeks when I was nauseous. They helped a TON.

—julig4cba3da1f

Use sea sickness bands for nausea and morning sickness. They seriously worked wonders, especially when I started getting nausea from driving.

—jeng4665298ff

5. Once your belly starts getting bigger, invest in a belly band – or a back brace – to minimize back and hip pain.

ashleywade_fit / Via instagram.com

It’s crazy how much it helps, it will help support your belly and it actually helps with any pregnancy related hip pain.

—kacielouised

My husband's back brace from work was amazing. It had a waist band that I could put under my belly and it would help take some of the pressure off.

—no1spcl

6. To reduce swelling, rub your feet with a mixture lemon oil, grapefruit oil, and almond oil.

buzzfeed.com

I bought a 10 ML bottle, filled it with 20 drops of lemon oil and 20 drops of grapefruit oil, then filled the rest with almond oil.

—kristinaf48a52bf0d

7. If your prenatal vitamins make you nauseous, take them before bed.

emharris2u / Via instagram.com

It keeps you from getting sick after taking the pill and you’ll wake up with close to zero morning sickness.

—rebekahl45fd4eb79

Take your prenatal vitamins before bed if they make you nauseous, and do not take gummy ones because most don't have iron.

—cynthiabonville

8. Toward the end of your pregnancy, lean forward as far as you can while peeing to fully empty your bladder.

This tip saved my sanity when I was completely over having to get up to use the restroom every hour!

—cristina1990

9. Start looking for maternity clothes early.

jesashjax / Via instagram.com

Like, start looking as soon as you know you’re pregnant! You don’t have to start buying yet, but get an idea of what’s out there and the sizing and price points, both new and used. Think about what you’ll actually need and when (season-wise) so you can get pieces that are flexible and classic, and will work with pieces you already have that you can use during and immediately after your pregnancy. This includes bras, undies and shoes! You’ll spend less overall, and you’ll have pieces that will last through multiple pregnancies. And if you end up needing something in a pinch – like a dress for a wedding – you don’t have to drag your hot and tired belly all over town.

—grant101010

Everyone told me to save my money and just wear regular stretchy pants and I did for a long time, until i saw some full-belly maternity leggings on sale. My life changed when I bought them! No more tugging my pants up, no more indents from my waist band, no more feeling uncomfortable! I will definitely be wearing maternity clothes for my whole pregnancy next time.

—ashleyisamexican

10. Freeze Gatorade for a slushie treat when you're nauseous or have a headache.

thepet17 / Via instagram.com

Drink a little out of the top and then toss it in the freezer for a couple of hours. It will get full of Gatorade flavored ice chips with a little liquid and it was perfect for when I wanted something sweet but also when I was feeling nauseous or had a headache!

—erinevaughnp

11. Get a tongue scraper to get rid of bad tastes in your mouth.

conqueringautoimmunity / Via instagram.com

Morning sickness made my mouth taste awful, but brushing my tongue with my toothbrush made me gag, so I got a metal tongue scraper and it got those funky tastes out of my mouth. The firm pressure didn’t trigger my gag reflex. Total lifesaver!

—jessicalanes

12. Say "no" to constant belly touching if you don't like it.

catheed / Via instagram.com

Some people treat you more like a "baby vessel" than an actual human being. My pregnancy is a personal and intimate experience between my partner and I, not for every single stranger in Walmart who mistakes me for a walking, talking petting zoo.

—lyndsayr42c1074c7

13. Check local mom swap pages on Facebook for great deals.

filipina42

You can find some great things like maternity clothes, swings, strollers, and rock and plays that your kids are only going to use for a short amount of time. You can even find great deals on gently used, expensive brand name items.

—caru959

14. Invest in compression socks to help lessen pain and swelling in your legs and feet.

tgrunfit / Via instagram.com

Compression socks were the only thing that helped me stand up and walk around without horrible pain. If you struggle with leg/feet swelling these are a must!

—n4f058d8e2

Compression stockings help immensely with leg/foot swelling and pain if you have a job where you’re on your feet a lot. I’m a teacher and I wore them every day to work and barely had any swelling, even in my third trimester.

—marissab13

15. Pack a baggy, comfy shirt for yourself in your hospital bag (one that you don't mind getting dirty).

ourfamilyfarmstead / Via instagram.com

When preparing your hospital bag, add a shirt you’d feel comfortable getting dirty in case the hospital gowns are scratchy and awful like the ones at the hospital I go to. Most hospitals allow you to wear your own clothing, just ask beforehand. I got two black tank tops that are two sizes too big for $3 at Walmart and put them in my hospital bag to wear throughout the labor. The sizing up makes it easier to pull the shirt down so the baby can latch onto the breast as soon as possible if you choose to breastfeed.

—saraf46cbcaf4c

16. Try vitamin B6 supplements if you're having really bad morning sickness.

holistic.lifestylee / Via instagram.com

Take B6 supplements at night for morning sickness. My doctor suggested them and they worked WONDERS!!! It was seriously life changing.

—caroline88

I had terrible morning sickness. I could not function or get out of bed. My doctor told me to take a Unisom and vitamin B6 before bed each night. IT SAVED MY LIFE. It’s safe for the baby and I woke up feeling totally fine, no morning sickness.

—malloryw48fb440a4

17. Invest in a gliding rocking chair.

mommystradingpost / Via instagram.com

It was the only thing I could get comfortable in when I was pregnant, and it will also become a great midnight feeding spot once the baby arrives.

—erandrsn

18. Get a U-shaped pregnancy pillow so you can sleep better.

buzzfeed.com

Get one of those U-shaped pregnancy/body pillows! I sleep on my stomach and using this was the closest I could get to being comfortable. When you switch sides you won’t have to take the pillow with you, just turn.

—faonia

Sleep however you can, even if that means on a pregnancy pillow with your belly between the couch and the coffee table!

—sarahk427811044

Buy the pregnancy pillow. Just do it. You will need it.

—candycanegirl

19. Stay active and walk as much as you can during your pregnancy.

fittamamma / Via instagram.com

Stay active. Even during the first trimester. Walk, walk, walk. Second trimester, go a little harder, cardio and squats are your friends. Third trimester, walking and walking, and walking. I did five miles daily for the last two weeks and I feel like it helped so much with labor.

—maret3

Be active! Walking and doing squats several times a week helps keep my hip and back pain more under control than laying on the couch does. Plus it’s shown to make labor easier and faster.

—danih47af4a746

20. Use MommySteps shoe insoles to help achey feet and reduce back pain.

theloulougirls / Via instagram.com

I had no clue before I got pregnant that my feet would hurt so much just from the rigor of a regular work day, and that my back would start hurting if I stayed in any position for too long. So, now I use MommySteps shoe insoles in my flats to save my aching feet and back. They are lifesavers!

—daniellet4a096c9f4

21. Weird cravings can tell you if your deficient in certain vitamins and minerals.

code3spices / Via instagram.com

When I was pregnant, I craved the taste of blood. When I cooked red meats, my boyfriend had to watch me to make sure I didn't drink the raw blood at the bottom of the package or eat the raw meat. When my labs were drawn, they saw I was severely anemic, which is what lead to those cravings. My body was telling me I needed iron.

—quarterhorse411

22. Clarks shoes are super comfortable if you have to be on your feet all day.

khairunisasuhail / Via instagram.com

I bought some Clarks. They were definitely expensive, but they were worth the money after my feet stopped swelling so much. Now I have cool dress shoes forever.

—tiffanyc4a06d980e

So many women don't know about Clarks shoes. The difference between wearing and not wearing mine was staggering. I even wrestled those things on in 100 degree weather because of how much better I felt when I wore them.

—katherineo4acc8c2f1

23. If you're having trouble pushing your stools out, try the Squatty Potty.

reissadams_sportstherapy / Via instagram.com

The Squatty Potty was a life saver when I was pregnant!

—meredithalvarezm

Get the Squatty Potty from Amazon for $24.99.

24. Put a damp towel in the freezer to cool you down in the summer.

gorevolution / Via instagram.com

If you're pregnant in the summer, pop a damp towel in your freezer for 10 minutes, then drape across your belly/boobs/back to help cool you down.

—hayleew426aeb8ed

25. And, finally, do what you think is best for YOU and YOUR baby.

haleemiami / Via instagram.com

Don’t feel pressured to succumb to every little suggestion you hear. If it’s safe for you and your little one, that’s all that matters. Work closely with your OB or Midwife or Doula or whomever. Know that every pregnancy is different just like every person is different.

—ptyram7

Know that even when you are pregnant, this is still your body. If you’re uncomfortable with something a doctor wants to do, like an elective procedure or test, you can decline. Your doctor works for you!

—larkinhpg

If you don't like your doctor switch! I was with a doctor for five months until I moved and had to switch doctors and didn't even realize how terribly I was being treated before. You're not tied to one doctor if yours isn't to your liking then change, this is the person you're going to be seeing continuously for the next nine months who's going to be caring for the little human you're growing. It's important you like them.

—cassmeeks4

Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.