In this post: Body positivity, pregnancy nutrition, prenatal vitamins, staying active, self-care, and building a support system.
Pregnancy is beautiful, but let’s be honest… it’s also hard.
The emotions are hard. The body changes are hard. Eating can be hard. Sleeping can be hard. Growing a tiny human is one of the most incredible things our bodies can do, but it doesn’t always feel easy.
When I was pregnant with Milo, I remember searching for anything that would help me feel a little more like myself again. Looking back, these are the things that truly made the biggest difference during my pregnancy. I hope they encourage you too.
1. Practice Body Positivity
Why are women so hard on themselves?
God literally designed our bodies to grow and carry babies. Think about that for a second. He created our bodies knowing exactly what they would need to do. Every kick, every stretch, every little change is part of the amazing way He created us.
Yes, your body is going to change. Your clothes won’t fit the same. You might get stretch marks, your hips might widen, and there will probably be days when you don’t feel like yourself.
But your body isn’t working against you. It’s doing exactly what God designed it to do.
For me, every change became worth it the moment I held Milo in my arms.
So give yourself a little grace.
Your body deserves kindness, not criticism. One day you’ll look back and realize your body did something absolutely incredible.
2. Eat What You Can
The first trimester can be brutal.
One day your favorite meal sounds amazing, and the next day the smell alone makes you sick. I swear everything smelled like fish at one point!
Your body still needs fuel, even when eating feels impossible.
I don’t necessarily believe in “eating for two,” but I do believe in nourishing your body throughout the day. Instead of trying to eat three large meals, I found it much easier to eat smaller meals and snacks every few hours.
For me, granola bars, fruit, and plain bagels were lifesavers. Once I started eating more consistently, I actually noticed I felt less nauseous.
Listen to your body. Some days all you can stomach is toast, and that’s okay. Just do your best to give your body the fuel it needs to grow your little one.
3. Find a Prenatal Vitamin That Works for You
This was one of the biggest game changers during my pregnancy.
Before I was pregnant, I had tried prenatal vitamins for my hair and nails, but they always made me feel sick. Every time I took them, I ended up nauseous, so when I found out I was pregnant, I honestly planned to get most of my vitamins from food instead.
Then the second trimester came…
Let’s just say baby boy mostly wanted Zaxby’s. Not exactly the balanced diet I had imagined!
After talking with my midwife, she recommended Birthright Bloom, and I’m so thankful she did.
One thing I really appreciated about Birthright is that Birthright Bloom contains naturally occurring, whole-food folate instead of synthetic folic acid. It provides bioavailable nutrients that your body can absorb more easily and is made without many of the unnecessary fillers found in other prenatal vitamins.
I loved knowing I was giving my body quality nutrients to support both me and my growing baby, especially during a season when I wasn’t always able to eat as well as I wanted to.
I was nervous to try another prenatal because of how sick other brands had made me feel, but Birthright was completely different for me.
Instead of making me nauseous, I actually felt better.
I noticed I had more energy, I wasn’t feeling as sick, and even my husband noticed the difference. I remember him telling me, “You need to keep taking these.”
Every pregnancy is different, and what worked for me might not work for everyone, but these truly became one of my favorite parts of my pregnancy.
Birthright also offers supplements for different seasons of a woman’s life, not just pregnancy, which I think is really neat.
If you’re looking for a prenatal vitamin that worked really well for me, I’ll link the Birthright vitamins I took below. They became one of my favorite parts of my pregnancy, and I’m so thankful my midwife recommended them.
4. Stay Active
I know…
Sometimes getting off the couch feels like enough exercise.
There were definitely days when resting was exactly what my body needed, and that’s okay.
But when you can, gentle movement makes a huge difference.
Whether it’s taking a short walk, stretching, or doing a prenatal workout, staying active can help with aches, stiffness, sleep, and even prepare your body for labor.
One of my favorite resources was Pregnancy and Postpartum TV on YouTube. She has amazing prenatal workouts and stretches that are safe, gentle, and easy to follow from home.
You don’t have to do anything crazy. Even ten or fifteen minutes can make a difference.
5. Don’t Forget About Yourself
Pregnancy is one of the last seasons where your time is mostly your own.
Once your little one arrives, your routines naturally change.
So enjoy this season.
Take the long bath.
Do the ten-step skincare routine.
Go get your favorite iced coffee.
Read a book.
Take a nap.
Spend time with your husband.
Enjoy the quiet.
Motherhood is worth every sacrifice, but don’t feel guilty for slowing down and enjoying this chapter before everything changes.
6. Stay Connected
Pregnancy can feel lonely.
It’s even harder when you try to go through it alone.
Having a supportive husband made such a difference for me, but let’s be honest, sometimes they just don’t understand what we’re feeling.
Women need other women.
Find friends who encourage you.
Join a local mom group.
Ask questions.
Celebrate each other’s milestones.
Pray for one another.
Motherhood wasn’t meant to be lived alone.
If I didn’t have my girls, I don’t know what I would have done.🤍
If you don’t have that community yet, I’d love to be part of it.
Before You Go…
One of the biggest things pregnancy taught me wasn’t just how to prepare for a baby. It taught me how to care for myself, too.
For a long time, I thought taking care of myself was selfish. But pregnancy reminded me that when I take care of my body, I’m also taking care of my baby. Eating well, resting when I needed to, taking my prenatal vitamins, going for walks, and slowing down weren’t selfish choices. They were ways of loving the little life growing inside me.
I truly believe God gave us these nine months not only to grow our babies, but to grow us into mothers.
Whether you’re trying to conceive, expecting your first baby, or already holding your little miracle in your arms, I hope this little corner of the internet reminds you that you’re never alone.
Thank you for being here, for reading my story, and for supporting Milo’s Mummy. Every view, every share, every comment, and every purchase made through one of my affiliate links helps support my family and allows me to continue creating honest, faith-filled motherhood content.
If this post encouraged you, I’d love for you to leave a comment below and share one thing that helped you feel your best during pregnancy. Your story might be exactly what another mama needs to hear.
Until next time, hug your babies a little tighter, give yourself a little more grace, and remember, you’re doing better than you think. 🤍
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