Expectant Mothers Can Make Pregnancy Easier With These Surprising Hacks

Morning sickness has to be one of the biggest downsides of a pregnancy. It’s horrible for expectant moms! Thankfully, there are a whole host of potential remedies to call upon nowadays. But this one might be among the most surprising: potato chips! Some women swear by these for easing morning sickness symptoms. Pour out a glass of lemonade on the side, and you’ll be set.

Before your baby bump gets too big, it might be an idea to invest in some tongs. Why’s that? Well, while you’re resting up ahead of the big day, you’ll have a tool that can grab items otherwise sitting just out of reach. You won’t have to walk across the room and put additional strain on your feet or back. 

If your pregnant stomach is starting to feel uncomfortable, this tip will be right up your alley. Get hold of some kinesio tape at the store and place a few strips around the baby bump. Apparently, it’ll help blood circulation in that area, while also raising your skin. Hopefully, you should notice a difference.

Parking can be tricky at the best of times, but it’s even tougher for expectant moms. Your growing bump doesn’t make it easy. Mind you, the addition of “maternity parking” spaces in certain places can be a big help. They’re located near the front of buildings, meaning you don’t have to walk across the entire lot to reach them.

There may come a time during your pregnancy when your bedsheets start to feel… off. The material can begin to really aggravate your skin, erecting another barrier against your pursuit of a good night’s rest. But don’t get frustrated: instead, explore the possibility of buying a pack of softer sheets at the store. They’ll make your evenings much more pleasant.

Leaning down gradually becomes a lot harder when you’ve got a baby bump. It’s not the most comfortable of positions! So, tasks such as tying your shoelaces can steadily become pretty challenging. On that note, you might want to invest in a pair of slip-on shoes for the time being. They’ll make your life much easier until the delivery date.

Do you find that your feet are constantly swelling up during your pregnancy? Try filling a bowl with moderately warm water, before measuring out up to three spoonfuls of Epsom salt. Add that to the water, before sticking your feet in. Wait until it gets cold, then pull them out. They'll hopefully start to feel a lot better after a few soaks.

We don’t blame you if you give up wearing jeans while you’re pregnant. After all, as the baby bump grows, you can no longer button the pants up. But here’s an interesting suggestion. When it reaches that stage, take a hair tie and secure it to the buttonhole. Then, attach it to the button itself. Just like that, you’ve created a nifty expander.

Without wishing to state the obvious, your body goes through a lot of changes during a pregnancy. And one of the most noticeable is an increase in temperature. Yes, you’ll be feeling warmer than normal, which can be a nightmare over the summer! To combat that, you could place your bras in the freezer for a spell, ahead of putting them on. Talk about chilling out!

Gagging is something that you’ve got to get used to during a pregnancy. It’ll be happening a lot over the nine months! Due to that, tasks as simple as brushing your teeth can become extremely unpleasant. But don’t worry; there might be a way around it. Child-sized toothbrushes could make the job easier, as they’re not as big. Simple, but effective!

If your baby bump starts to itch, you’ve got to resist the temptation to scratch it. That won’t do your skin any good! So what should you do? Well, it’s suggested that coconut oil could be the answer. It’s not loaded with chemicals, and it’ll ease the discomfort fairly quickly. Just rub some across your stomach when needed.

As your stomach expands, you’ll struggle to cover it with the shirts in your closet. Most of them won’t stretch far enough. Here’s a cool tip, though. You could create a “belly band” to fill in the gap. To pull that off, all you need to do is cut out a section of an old shirt and place it around your waist. Job done!

For our money, this is one of the more unusual side-effects that come with pregnancies. Yes, you could develop a stuffy nose, constantly needing tissues on standby. To ease the issue, it might be an idea to buy a humidifier. You see, this product releases a mist that’ll hopefully help to clear your airways.

If your morning sickness is hitting you hard, head to the kitchen and grab a lemon, berries, a banana, and mashed ginger. From there, stick it all in a blender. Don’t drink the resulting smoothie, though. Instead, pour it into an empty ice cube tray from your freezer. Now, when the nausea strikes, you can suck on the cubes. They’re said to be a big help!

Heartburn is another problem that you’ll undoubtedly face during your pregnancy. It’s uncomfortable, to say the least. Plus, it also can be very difficult to shift at times. But drinking small amounts of apple cider vinegar mixed with water could ease the pain. It certainly seems to be a worthwhile alternative to antacids such as Tums. Just double-check with your doctor beforehand, though.

Summer pregnancies can feel unbearable at points, especially if the weather’s really hot. Those intense temperatures can quickly make your feet swell up, taking you out of action in the process. But try not to fret: an ice pack will help bring down the puffiness. And if you’ve got any blisters, the cold should make them easier to deal with, too.

Here’s a baby-bump benefit that you might’ve overlooked: your pregnant stomach could make for a handy snack “table” while you’re sitting on the sofa. It’s perfect for those days when you don’t want to move a muscle. Just rest some candy on it and you’ll be set. Remember it’s there, though. You don’t want food falling on the floor!

You’re all familiar with the phrase, “Better safe than sorry,” right? Well, that certainly applies to this next hack. Before you start feeling sickly during a pregnancy, put together a “nausea kit” at home. Using a resealable bag, fill it with gummies, nibbles, wipes, and tissues. The food’s there to offset the symptoms, while the latter two can be called upon if you’re actually sick.

It might sound obvious, but it bears repeating anyway — you’ve got to drink plenty of water when you’re pregnant. You’re supporting two people here! Yet water can get quite boring after a while. To spruce it up, slice some fruit in the kitchen and drop it in your glass or flask. It’ll instantly improve the taste. Staying hydrated should be less of a problem from there.

Got any spare ice pack straps lying around the house? Awesome! As it turns out, they could be perfect for easing any back strains. How so? Well, when secured under a pregnant belly, the straps can support the weight of your unborn baby. Plus, your shirts can hide them, too: the people around you will be none the wiser.

In the past, pregnant women would’ve been told to stay in their beds as the delivery date closed in. Today, though? That’s not the case. In fact, you’re often encouraged to stay as active as possible during the latter part of the pregnancy. Exercise isn’t frowned upon! Rather, it’ll give you a welcome boost. A good walk could be just what you need.

This next tip might catch you off guard. A user on the BuzzFeed website revealed that their pregnancy nausea was eased after slipping on a certain item. They wrote, “Sea sickness bands saved me. I’d get motion sick just by watching my husband walk past me. Once I got these, my whole life changed.” 

Another helpful BuzzFeed contributor and Gatorade fan wanting to ease the suffering of other expectant moms wrote, “Drink a little out of the top and then toss it in the freezer for a couple of hours. It will be full of Gatorade-flavored ice chips with a little liquid. It was perfect for when I wanted something sweet, but also when I was feeling nauseous or had a headache!”

Meanwhile, another BuzzFeed user noted, “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 [the hack], but I was desperate to try it and IT WORKED.” Tempted to give it a go?

Unsurprisingly, your muscles and joints go through a lot during a pregnancy. The additional weight can really wear them down as time goes on. So how can you help your body? Simple — take a dip in a swimming pool. As soon as you wade into the water, all of that weight will be lifted off your legs and back. You’ll feel better before you know it.

A BuzzFeed user recalled, “When I was pregnant, I craved the taste of blood. When I cooked red meat, my boyfriend had to make sure I didn’t drink the raw blood at the bottom of the package. When my labs were drawn, they saw I was severely anemic, which is what led to those cravings. My body was telling me I needed iron.” So remember: your weirder cravings might not be as random as you think.

If your puffy feet are stopping you from moving around comfortably, it might be an idea to buy a pair of compression socks. These items might just make a huge difference: sure, they might not look too fashionable, but your feet will absolutely love them. You can finally kiss the pain goodbye!

Cramps are the absolute worst — especially when you’re pregnant. But don’t just grit your teeth to get through the pain. Instead, grab a bottle of electrolyte water and a banana from your kitchen. You see, cramps can come about when your body doesn’t have enough electrolytes and potassium in its system. So fuel yourself up: hopefully, it’ll do the trick.

Something tells us that most pregnant women won’t miss the swelling in their feet after giving birth. But until the big day, here’s another tip for dealing with them, and it’s pretty creative. All you’ve got to do is fill a bowl with some tonic water. The fizz is said to ease your feet’s sensitivity, while the quinine contents can help to fight off any inflammation.

As your pregnancy progresses, you’ll probably be eyeing up some maternity bras at the store. After all, your current set won’t fit for much longer, right? Then again, you could get creative and save a bit of money on that front. Yes, bra-back extenders are available to pick up. By sticking them between the clips, the size of your bras will increase. No more tight squeezes!