My 1st Trimester Pregnancy Essentials

I can’t believe I’m already in my 2nd trimester! Today I thought I’d share a few of my favorite products that got me through those first few months. I feel so lucky that I’ve had an easy pregnancy thus far and have been feeling great. I dealt with nausea on and off during my first trimester but it was only ever “bad” for 2 weeks. I definitely have developed some food aversions (mainly white meat and butternut squash-random! ) and have been craving cozy comfort food — which isn’t much different for me in the winter! Read on for a few products that I couldn’t live without and in the next few weeks I’ll share more of the natural beauty products I’ve been using.

1. Trader Joe’s Coconut Body Butter: This stuff is awesome – my business partner Julie gave it to me and I’ve used it every day since on my belly and all over my body. My skin has been super dry so it’s really helped.

2. Mother’s Special Blend Natural Skin Toning Oil: I’ve been trying to use only natural bath and body products since I found out I was pregnant and this oil was one of the first things I purchased. I prefer body oil to lotion anyway but this is formulated with natural ingredients and hopefully will help prevent stretch marks. I put it on my belly, hips and tatas once a day after I shower.

3. Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Tea: I checked with my doctor before having this tea since I read that pregnant women should avoid all herbal teas and after she cleared it I looked forward to getting back into my winter routine. Even more so since I can’t have a glass of wine to unwind at the end of a long day, getting into bed early with a book and my hot tea has been super comforting. I typically like loose tea but it’s recommended to drink more mass produced brands like Celestial Seasonings.

4. Nice Decaf Coffee: My doctor also cleared 1 cup of regular coffee a day but I’ve been enjoying decaf instead. Since it’s not quite the same I’ve been upgrading my coffee beans from what I’d typically purchase. It’s a nice little treat and I like that I still have my morning routine.

5. Saltines: I went through a few boxes of Saltines in my first months of pregnancy. When I was nauseous it’s really all I wanted. I kept a sleeve of crackers in the car and in my bedside table so they were easily accessible.

6. Pregnancy Books: I know people have mixed feelings about pregnancy books and as a natural “worrier” I knew it was risky for me to dive in but I couldn’t resist. I wanted to know everything about what was possible and what to expect.

7. Tata Harper Nourishing Cleansing Oil: A lot of the facial products I was using contain ingredients that are big no-nos while pregnant (retinol or salicylic acid) so I’ve turned to my all natural favorites. This Tata Harper oil cleanser is so great since the skin on my face has been especially  dry.

8. BKR Water Bottle: I’ve been sooooo thirsty and pregnant women are supposed to get 8 glasses of water a day (like everyone else, but it’s especially important for us!) so I take a water bottle everywhere I go.

*Please keep in mind I’m not a doctor or medical expert so please check with your doctor before using any of these items if you’re pregnant!