Note: This is the 3rd installment in a series of posts designed to help moms and moms-to-be stay healthy through their 40-week pregnancy journey. You can find links to all of the posts that make up this series at the bottom of this post. Ideas for future posts? Let us know!
Hi ladies! MacKenzie here, cofounder of Snuggin, and expecting momma (anxiously awaiting the arrival of our 2nd child and 1st son, due May 28th!).
Ask any momma who has carried a baby around in her belly for 9 months what the biggest challenges were and tiredness is certain to be at or near the top of the list! Some may have only felt moderate fatigue but for others the tiredness can be downright debilitating to the point where doing even the most basic things becomes a very big chore!
The good news is that there are a number of things you can do to improve your energy levels during pregnancy. If you’re battling your own exhaustion as you read this post, read on for some ways you can get back some of the energy you desperately need!
Eat Right
A healthy diet and lifestyle are absolutely crucial to keeping your energy levels up throughout your pregnancy, especially during the 1st and 3rd trimesters. In the past we’ve talked all about the types of foods you should avoid during pregnancy but what sort of foods should you eat when you’re expecting?
- Bananas – rich in potassium bananas are a great way to gain energy and fight off pregnancy fatigue
- Protein & Iron – foods with protein and iron are important to a healthy pregnancy but these vital nutrients also keep your energy levels up so make sure they are an important part of your diet! Beans, eggs (not raw or runny), meat (fully cooked), and spinach are just a few to keep you going through the day.
- Fortified Cereals – folic acid (the synthetic form of B9) and/or folate is critical when trying to conceive but it’s also important during your first few weeks of pregnancy as well, however, it’s exceptionally important to continue to intake a diet high in vitamin B throughout the course of your pregnancy and breakfast cereals is a good way to ensure you’re getting your fill since many contain more than 400 micrograms per bowl
- Broccoli – rich in nutrients such as folate and calcium, broccoli also contains disease-fighting antioxidants and vitamin C which will help your body absorb iron when eaten alongside iron-rich foods such as brown rice and whole wheat pasta
- Water – staying hydrated plays a huge role in keeping your energy levels high during pregnancy so be sure to get your eight glasses of water each and every day, you can add flavor with lemon or cucumber if you get tired of plain old water
Dress Right
Wearing the right clothes won’t just make you look good boosting your confidence, they can also play a crucial role in increasing energy and improving blood flow.
We recently teamed up with Therafirm, owners of the Preggers line of compression legwear and support garments for expecting and post-partum mommas, to do a giveaway for our fans. In the process of doing so the topic of me being expecting and how exhausted I’ve been came up and they were gracious enough to send me a pair of their compression leggings and socks to see how they could help! I’ll be honest, I was a bit a skeptical but agreed to give them a try.
Let me be upfront with y’all (as we say here in the south) – these are NOT your grandmother’s compression stockings – Preggers makes stylish, more comfortable true gradient compression legwear in fashionable colors and styles including leggings and tights. They also carry not only light compression but also mild (15-20 mmHg), moderate (20-30 mmHg) and firm (30-40 mmHg) compression levels often prescribed by healthcare professionals.
Support hose or graduated compression clothing like these have often been recommended for use during pregnancy to help energize tired, achy legs and to help reduce and prevent swelling. True gradient hosiery delivers a controlled amount of pressure greatest at the ankle and gradually decreases towards the top of the stocking promoting better blood flow to help energize tired legs and feet, improve circulation, and assist in the prevention of swelling. They are also ideal for individuals required to sit or stand for long periods of time.
For any of my fellow expecting mommas who are have to be on their feet for extended periods of time (retail workers, hairstylists, waitresses, teachers like me, or so many other fields) while carrying a baby these are a life and leg saver!
Even better, their full-length leggings, tights, and pantyhose include a very comfortable, supportive belly panel that will fit me now all the way through the term of my pregnancy which can easily be folded under my belly or unfolded to cover my belly depending on what my needs and their CoreSpun yarns make them easy to get on and off!
Their maternity leggings really helped me get through the day as it helped my circulation and helped prevent swelling and energizing my legs and feet. There was a bit of transparency in the material but these were perfect for long tunics or dresses. I also loved that their smooth seams didn’t dig into my tummy or show under my clothes and were super soft against my skin. Their moisture wicking fibers also meant a comfortable coolness as I wore them through the day!
Their compression socks were great as well and perfect to wear with my boots during the cold winter we’ve had here in Virginia, particularly a couple weeks ago when us and the Northeast was pummeled with one of the worst blizzards in our region’s history.
Wearing the right clothes through your pregnancy can make a huge impact on your energy levels so I highly recommend Preggers to help you get through 40 of the longest (and most amazing) weeks you’ll ever experience!
Stay Active (easier said than done, I know!)
It sounds crazy but it’s true – regular exercise during pregnancy will not only help keep your weight under control but it will improve your energy levels as well. To be clear – don’t go overboard when exercising but a 30-minute walk, yoga, pilates, or swimming can be the ticket to improving your energy levels throughout your pregnancy.
Get your Rest and Relaxation!
Your energy is being consumed not by just one, but two of you while you’re pregnant so it is important to make sure you’re getting enough rest! 8 hours at night and occasional power naps through the day will go a long way toward ensuring you’re waking hours are as productive as you need them to be.
I’ve written a lot in this post but it can be summed up with the four points below:
- Eat right
- Dress well
- Stay active
- Get enough sleep
If you do these things, you’ll be much more likely to be able to enjoy this magical period of your life instead of having to suffer through waiting for it to all be over (because trust me, energy will be even tougher to come by once your little loved one has finally arrived and you are trying to establish a sleep schedule!).
Other posts in our “Pregnancy Health” series include:
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Love,
