17 Pregnancy Hacks For Expecting Moms

Congratulations! You’re expecting a baby and you’re probably really excited, a little anxious, but super happy about the whole thing, right?

Pregnancy is really amazing and beautiful, but it’s also full of all sorts of unexpected surprises.

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One of the best way to prepare for all the little things that pregnancy throws your way is to read up on the pregnancy hacks that other moms have learned through their own trial-and-error.

Whether it’s morning sickness you’re worried about or finding the right maternity clothes, these hacks will help you out.

Pregnancy hacks for morning sickness

Morning sickness is something almost every pregnant mama experiences. And, the funny thing about it is – It doesn’t always happen in the morning.

Some women are sick all day long unfortunately and sometimes it lasts the whole pregnancy. Yikes.

However, there is good news. While morning sickness is super unpleasant, there are some things you can do to minimize the impact it has on your life and help you feel human again.

Eat what sounds appealing

The very first pregnancy hack for morning sickness is to eat whatever you can. Yes it’s OK if it’s not the healthiest choice. If you can stomach it, eat it.

The calories will do you some good!

Sometimes it’s dry crackers (these are magical when you’re nauseated and pregnant), sometimes it’s chips, sometimes it’s chocolate chip cookies. Whatever you can eat without throwing up is a win, so don’t feel guilty about it right now.

And sometimes it’s popsicles.

When you’re having trouble keeping down actual food, a popsicle can be a great idea.

Dehydration is a huge culprit when it comes to morning sickness and you can combat this by grabbing some flavorful and delicious popsicles.

Experts say that cold foods are handled well by our bodies when we experience nausea.

You can buy some from the store, of course, but you can also make your own popsicles so you know exactly what’s in your food.

Here are some favorite popsicle recipes:

So, grab some popsicle molds and get to work! If you have other kids at home (or nieces or nephews), they would probably love to join you.

Hydrate and hydrate some more

It may sound boring and basic, but the easiest way to stay hydrated during pregnancy is to drink plenty of water. The best way to stay on top of your water intake is to pick up a nice water bottle that helps you keep track.

There are all sorts of these to choose from. Some even have stickers. So, if you don’t already have one, go add one to your Amazon cart before you forget!

Try a Sea Band

You can purchase a product called a Sea Band to help cope with the morning sickness.

You can use a regular sea band or a pregnancy-specific one, but they are created to help people overcome nausea.

We love this product because you’re not ingesting anything. What it is, is an acupuncture wristband that applies force to your pressure point on the wrist with a small plastic button.

This natural choice for nausea relief is an excellent pregnancy hack that doesn’t get enough credit.

Scents

Your sense of smell is heightened during pregnancy and there are definitely some scents that can be triggering for you, but there are also some that can help you fight off nausea too.

The same company that created the Sea Band also has an essential oil product that’s designed to relieve nausea.

There are several other aromatherapy products for morning sickness as well that you can try to help you get some relief.

Create a bedside nausea kit

Getting out of bed can seem super daunting when you’re experiencing morning sickness and a bedside nausea kit can help.

If you didn’t have a snack before you went to bed, your tummy might very well be digesting itself, which causes you to feel very ill. Sometimes you will feel nauseous even if you had a snack or two before bed.

Add some goodies to your bedside table to combat this issue. You can add pretzels, cereal, and crackers to your little kit, and don’t forget the water bottle!

You may also want to add your prenatal vitamins to your kit so that you can take them at night right before bed. This is really helpful is they tend to make you feel sick when taking them during the morning or daytime.

Pregnancy hacks for when your clothing feels too tight

As your tummy grows, your clothes seem to get smaller and smaller and tighter and tighter. The next thing you know, you’re having trouble breathing or you simply cannot button your clothes.

Here are some tips to help.

Hacks for regular jeans

If your regular jeans are getting tight, you can use a hair tie as a makeshift button.

This trick has been used by many women for many years (including myself) and is still a go-to pregnancy hack when those jeans are still fitting everywhere else except for the tummy closure.

How to do this hack:

If you’re looking for a way to get even more room in your jeans and you don’t want to purchase maternity jeans, there are other extenders you can try.

Belly band

A Belly Band is a lifesaving maternity piece of fabric that is small but mighty. This allows you to wear your regular jeans, as long as they fit you around the legs and bum almost all the way to the third trimester.

Some lucky ladies only wear their regular jeans and a belly band the whole way through. This little piece of fabric can save you a lot of money if you’re already on a tight budget.

Baby gear is already so expensive, so having a place where you can save a little cash is an awesome thing.

Nursing bras

If you find that you’re starting to outgrow your current bras, you’re not alone. With pregnancy, your body changes in so many different ways.

Instead of sizing up, you may want to consider buying a few nursing bras instead. If you plan to nurse your baby anyway, this will save you a few extra bucks.

Versatile clothing

Maternity clothing can add up fast, so if you’re needing to shop for clothes while you’re expecting, try to look for clothes that you can wear post-pregnancy.

Babydoll dresses, maxi dresses, flowy tops, loose sweaters, and any clothing made with stretchy materials are all versatile pieces you can add to your wardrobe and wear postpartum as well.

Slip-on shoes

For warmer weather, it’s hard to beat a good pair of Birkenstock sandals! But, if you’re a flip flips kind of girl, just be sure to choose some that at least have decent arch support or you may end up with achey feet.

For mamas who are pregnant in the fall or winter, you can put Xpand laces onto your regular runners to help you avoid bending down to tie your laces. With these, you’ll be able to slip your shoes on without too much trouble.

Pregnancy hacks for insomnia

When you’re pregnant you may experience some insomnia. Since you won’t be getting much sleep when the baby arrives, it’s a good idea to try and get as much rest as possible while you’re still pregnant.

Here are our tried-and-true pregnancy hacks to help you get some quality sleep!

Pregnancy pillow

You’re probably thinking, why would you need a pregnancy pillow when you’ve got a bed full of pillows you can use to get comfy?

Pregnancy pillows just hit different. A pregnancy pillow is very versatile and you can use this item beyond the pregnancy as well.

These pregnancy pillows are created to help pregnant women slip into a nice deep slumber and their unique shape is what allows you to get really comfortable. They give you a little extra support in all the right places!

Pregnancy hacks for random aches, pain, and discomfort

When you are literally growing a human, you’re bound so have some discomfort at some point or another – It’s no easy task!

Here are a few things you can try to help you be more comfortable.

Maternity belt

When you enter your third trimester (be sure to read this checklist by the way) the belly tends to slow you down a bit.

This is where the maternity belt comes in. These maternity belts help relieve lower back pain by redistributing pressure evenly.

Compression socks

Growing a baby could mean some swelling around the legs and feet for you, and compression socks are here to save the day.

They aren’t meant to be cute socks that you want to show off to your friends when you take off your shoes, but they are meant to help you put on your shoes and be comfortable while you’re out.

You can even wear them in bed if you can tolerate the feeling of having socks on your feet while you sleep.

Compression socks will help reduce the swelling you’re going to experience throughout the pregnancy and it’s a good idea to have a pack handy around the second trimester.

Salt soak for feet

Sore and swollen feet are a pregnancy nightmare that most women face and a nice Epsom or sea salt soak is a great way to help with the swelling.

Itchy skin

As your bump grows, it’s common to experience some itchy skin. If you have nothing else on hand, coconut or olive oil can help you get relief from the itching.

You may also want to consider purchasing some high-quality belly butter. The Pipette Belly Butter is our top pick because the ingredients list in this formula is squeaky clean (the EWG agrees).

Wrapping up pregnancy hacks for expecting moms

Whether you are dealing with nausea, pains, insomnia, or shrinking clothing, these hacks may help relieve some of those common pregnancy annoyances!

17 Pregnancy Hacks For Expecting Moms