Every woman’s experience of pregnancy (and postpartum) will undoubtedly be so different since our bodies + our babies are! But here’s a list of what has worked for ME so far in pregnancy (currently 27 weeks) to help me most enjoy this season + feel my best!

As I’m writing this, I’m exactly 27 weeks pregnant with our first baby! Mark and I got pregnant back in May, which was sort of a surprise, but also the biggest gift ever. You can read the entire story of how we found out here! I’ve also been documenting my pregnancy experience thus far as an Endo girl because I know how helpful I found reading about other people’s experiences.

First Trimester Recap
Week 14-20 Recap
Pregnancy with Endometriosis: My Experience Thus Far

Even though we weren’t trying to get pregnant, from the moment I knew – or rather, SUSPECTED – that I was pregnant, I embraced this new season with gusto + have been doing all of the pregnancy things. My personality is one that loves to research, to be prepared, to find tips + tricks + resources and take advantage of all the experience that has gone before me! I didn’t feel the need to reinvent the pregnancy wheel, but I did want to learn all I could + to ensure that I felt like I was really having the pregnancy that I wanted.

There have definitely been parts of pregnancy that haven’t been the most fun (hello chronic constipation), but the vast majority of it has been really magical. There’s nothing like feeling your baby move + kick in your tummy, which for me started as early as 14 weeks!

Regardless of whether your pregnancy is a breeze or really challenging, there are SO many things you can try to make it the most enjoyable experience for you + for baby. Here are the things that have been essential to my health + happiness in my pregnancy so far:

Maternity Clothing

In full transparency, I have not been one to go out and buy a whole new pregnancy wardrobe, but that does not mean that you can’t! I decided to invest my resources in a few really high quality pieces that I would wear all of the time + that’s what I’ve been doing so far. My belly is continuing to expand, so I might need to grab a few tops in trimester 3, but so far, here are my “must buys” that have made growing + dressing a bump easier:

Lulu Lemon Leggings (UK link here):

I took everyone’s advice + grabbed a couple of pairs of Align leggings during my first trimester. I did choose to go a size up in the Aligns to give some extra space my growing bump for the duration of pregnancy + feel like that was a great choice. They fit when the bump was smaller, but have ample room for more. The Aligns, if you’ve never tried them on, are soft as butter + SUPER stretchy, so not really compression like. I grabbed a regular + also a super high rise pair. I think I prefer the regular now, but will find myself reaching for the high rise as the bump gets bigger!

To note, I still fit into my normal pre-pregnancy size Wonder Under leggings, but they’re starting to get a bit tight now that we’re at the end of trimester 2. I have actually enjoyed the extra tight waistband to help support babe when I work out, but they’re too tight for comfortable lounging, ha!

Bravado Nursing Bra (UK link here):

My chest has gotten ginormous, which doesn’t happen to everyone, but has for me! I’m already up 2 cup sizes. It just continues to grow, so I really wasn’t in any rush to buy special bras. I generally wear comfy, cozy bralettes anyway + they’ve stretched with me so far! Just this week, however, I grabbed a few nursing bras from Bravado + FELL IN LOVE with this one, like didn’t take it off for 3 days, wanted to sleep in it in love. Obviously I haven’t nursed in it yet, so can’t attest to that, but LOVING the bra so much I’m ordering more, ha! It’s not overly shapely, but is supportive + is the silkiest material which I imagine will be so soothing on sore nipples in months to come.

Madewell Maternity Jeans (UK link here):

While in the US in September, I bought + tried on tons of maternity jeans + didn’t really love them. Because of my endometriosis, I have a sensitive stomach + don’t love the idea of jeans with the side inserts that cut across your bump. They’re too uncomfortable for me!

Madewell makes a maternity jean with the over-the-bump waistband + I am SOLD. This pair is in a vintage wash, straight leg + is my dream jean even not pregnant. They’re pricey, but I chose to invest in one high quality pair rather than a few I didn’t love + I’m SO happy I did this. I’ve been wearing them since 20 weeks + there’s still tons of room. Sizing note: I did size down from my normal size in these jeans to make sure they stayed up the way I wanted!

Pregnancy + Birth Books/Resources

Like I mentioned above, I am SUCH a researcher! Having all of the information, feeling equipped + empowered is the way that I choose to ease anxiety + try to show up as my best. I really learned to inform myself during my endometriosis journey, and have LOVED doing the same while pregnant. Here are some of my go-to’s when I want to learn:

The Birth Hour Podcast:

A friend of mine who also happens to be a doula recommended this podcast to me + I’m so incredibly glad she did. It’a nothing super special + is really just normal women sharing their birth stories, but I have found so much comfort + learned so much just listening to them share. Since birth isn’t something that I’ve gone through before, I so appreciate hearing from those who have. I’ve even chosen to become a Patreon member for the podcast to get access to 500+ extra episodes!

Ina May’s Natural Guide to Childbirth:

I heard nothing but amazing things about this book before I read it. It focuses on all natural childbirth + the capability of women’s bodies to trust + experience something they were created to do. In a world that often dramatizes labour in a quite extreme way, I really wanted to have a chance to fill my mind with the opposing perspective on childbirth + it did just that. I would recommend EVERYONE read this book regardless of your desired birth plan + I intend to read it 1-2 more times before I deliver in January.

The Mama Natural Week-By-Week Guide to Pregnancy:

So, in full transparency, this book will not be for everyone. I am so grateful for the way that this book has shed light on all sorts of tips + tricks that I would never have known before. Things like incorporating tart cherry juice into your diet to help with sleep insomnia, which I’ve hugely struggled with. Or the importance of being aware of the flame retardants in car seats, etc. My one caveat would be that this book can also feel a bit overwhelming/intense in some of it’s language. Because this is “Mama NATURAL”, the emphasis is on totally non-toxic living, a very clean diet + an all natural labour. It can be a bit all or nothing, so take it with a grain of salt!

Real Food for Pregnancy:

The HOUR I found out I was pregnant, I bought this book, ha! I had actually heard Nichols speak on a podcast last year + was so impressed at the nutritional approach she has for pregnancy that I knew I wanted her knowledge to be my starting place. Nichols was part of extensive research on women with gestational diabetes + so, uses actual data + science to back up her real food, higher fat + protein approach to pregnancy.

This book breaks things down in SUCH a relatable way, explaining the purpose and source of all of our essential vitamins + minerals during pregnancy. She addresses all of the “don’t eat that” foods (and why you might want to eat some of them), as well as going into nutritional approaches for handling all sorts of pregnancy concerns like constipation, headaches, etc. I loved that there was also a small section on how to eat postpartum!

Built to Birth Course:

A girlfriend gifted me this birth course by Bridget Taylor + I’m REALLY grateful. Mark + I had fully intended to attend an in-person birth course, but I waited too long to book one + it looks like he might be out of the country in November when the course would happen anyway, ha! I’m going through this course to prepare for childbirth on my own time + LOVE the scientific information about what’s happening, but also the meditations, coping skills + tips + tricks to navigating labour + postpartum in this course!

Self Care Items

In trying to prepare for baby, I’m also trying to care for myself really well. This category is just for all of the random items that have made my pregnancy it’s healthiest + happiest! Not an exhaustive list, just a few things that I’m really loving + relying on:

Beautycounter Body Butter + Body Oil (US only):

With pregnancy comes…lots of stretching. For me, I’ve mostly seen growth in my stomach + my chest, but am really only feeling tightness around my belly button + lower belly. I’ve been using both a body oil + body butter to keep things moisturized as they stretch. I love that I can trust Beautycounter as safe for pregnancy + breastfeeding + that there aren’t any hidden ingredients in there.

So far, I have no stretch marks, which are really genetic anyway + not preventable with creams or topicals, but these are helping to ease some of the discomfort. (I also know that stretch marks are nothing to be ashamed of + I totally won’t be if I get them, I just want to love on my skin as best I can during every stage!) I also love rubbing down my belly each night knowing that baby can feel that!

Binto Prenatal Supplement Packs (US only):

I started taking Binto’s prenatal support vitamins + supplements before I got pregnant. I joke that starting them 3 months before we got pregnant is maybe partly WHY we got pregnant so easily, ha! Once we were pregnant, my vitamin packs changed slightly to meet my needs pregnant + I am so grateful they come to my door each month. They’re in daily packs for me, super high quality + REALLY affordable. I love knowing I’m getting all of my Omega 3’s, DHEA, Folate + all of the other things baby needs without even thinking. You can get your own recommendations + save 20% off your first month with the code JESSICAEATS.

Myrtle and Maude Raspberry Leaf Tea:

One of the things that I’ve started in the last few weeks is drinking raspberry leaf tea. It’s a tea that literally comes from the red raspberry plant, but its believed to help tone the uterus, which is great for labor prep! You can read more about the science behind it here. It tastes like black tea + I’ve been enjoying it both hot + cold! Some mamas wait until their last few weeks to start drinking it, but my midwives were fine with me starting now. You can save 15% off if you want to try my fav brand here!

Pregnancy Food/Snacks

Everyone has such a different experience with food while pregnant. Nausea, aversions, all of the things, ha! Eating has somehow been both harder + easier than I imagined, even though my pattern seems to change week to week. I’m trying to be mindful without getting too militant with what I consume. Here are a few things that are helping me to survive when my stomach isn’t having it:

Ultima Replenisher (US only):

I have always struggled with drinking an adequate amount of water, but it’s become even harder when pregnant when your hydration needs increase EXPONENTIALLY. I’ve found that adding Ultima to my water not only helps me drink more since it tastes good, but it contains electrolytes which help with pregnancy symptoms like restless leg syndrome + constipation. I love the lemonade flavor the best + have been having at least 1 a day. (I also find using a 32oz Yeti helps me to track + make sure I’m getting as much fluid as I need!)

Perfect Bar (US only: Aldi has the best price at $1.89/bar!):

My appetite has been all over the place this pregnancy. In one day I can go from RAVENOUS to not being able to stomach much of anything. However, Perfect Bars are one food that has always sounded good to me + baby. They are by no means a health food, but they do contain a solid amount of fat + protein + are all naturally sweetened. I love that they contain 300+ calories per bar, which helps me to know I’m getting enough calories in my meals/snacks to support what my body is doing!

Kettle and Fire Bone Broth (US only):

As I mentioned above, getting in protein has become super hard on days when I can’t stomach a real meal. And our protein needs increase dramatically when pregnant, so I knew I needed to find an option. Bone broth is one thing that ALWAYS helps when I’m feeling nauseous + I’m so grateful to have connected with Kettle + Fire. They make slow simmered bone broth that you can buy at the grocery store + is shelf stable. One container has 20 grams of protein, which is basically the same as eating a chicken breast. You can snag 20% off their website with the code JESSICA if you want to try them too! The basic chicken is my fav + I drink it straight with sea salt.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites:

Since I live in England + can’t access Perfect Bars all of the time, I’ve been using my own recipe for oatmeal chocolate chip cookie dough bites as a replacement for the craving. They’re very low in sugar, high in fat + moderate in protein, so a really great snack when I’m not sure what I want or need. These are always good, take 5 minutes to make + last in the fridge for weeks!

Final Thoughts

As always, this is MY experience + what has worked for me, which may be different than what you love or works for you. I also hope you know that you can have a very happy + healthy pregnancy + birth without ANY of these items. They are 100% luxury items that have made my life SO much easier, but there’s no need to stress if you can’t afford to try them or choose something else.

That being said, I am SO grateful for how much easier of an experience these items have given me + I fully stand behind them as wonderful + worth the money…if you have it!

I’ll be sharing my entire pregnancy + postpartum journey (and other recommendations) over on instagram so be sure to come hang out there!

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