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6 Ways to Get that Elusive Pregnancy Sleep
If you find yourself eyes wide open at 2 a.m., wondering if you should reach for your phone, get up and make yourself a snack, or power up the kindle, you’re not alone. Any parent’s advice to a mama-to-be is, “Enjoy your sleep!” But guess what? Sometimes it’s just not that easy.
Even the soundest sleepers can become total insomniacs once the creation of life is on our to-do list. And there’s a whole host of reasons why. Maybe it’s because you have to get up to pee every two hours, or because your new nightly heartburn makes it impossible to lie down. Or maybe it’s the cramp in your leg, the ache in your back, or the ever-growing belly you’re trying to maneuver every time you want to roll over (or the tiny human inside that’s kickboxing your uterus!).
And it doesn’t stop there. Our mind can be as big of an insomnia culprit as our body. What will labor feel like? How many prenatal vitamins do I have left? Did I remember to put those crib sheets on the registry? Cloth or disposable? Sometimes we can easily spin ourselves out till sunrise. There’s no tried-and-true secret for sinking into a deep, undisturbed sleep while pregnant, but there are a few ways you can set yourself up for greater success.
Body pillow With your growing belly, stretchy hips, and achy joints and muscles, getting comfy at night can feel like a pipe dream. But a body pillow can be a huge help. And there are so many different kinds—S-shaped, U-shaped, wedge-shaped, and more—so if one isn’t right, don’t let it stop you from trying out another. Find one that gives you support where you most need it, whether that’s between your knees or under your neck or belly.
Diffuser Lavender essential oil has been shown to alleviate anxiety and up sleep quality. Add a few drops to a diffuser and let that little machine mist you into dreamland. Or skip the diffuser all together and just go straight for the oil: add a couple drops of lavender oil to your pillow case before you go to sleep, or dab a drop or two on your wrists or temple.
Eye mask When we’re having trouble sleeping, even a little bit of light (from a streetlamp, a bathroom light, or even a smartphone) can feel like a floodlight. If you’ve never been an eye mask person, now might be the time to try it—wearing one is the easiest way to you may just wonder why you went so long without one.
Meditation Yeah, we know you know—meditation makes everything better. But it’s kind of true! Especially when it comes to sleep and the mental acrobatics anxiety makes us perform. You can start small, really small, with just a couple of minutes a day. But see if you can keep it up, we swear it gets easier.
Exercise Here’s another one you’ve probably heard, but that’s ’cause it truly works—a bit of exercise every day has been shown to improve sleep. We’re not saying to benchpress your weight after you put your PJs on, but getting your body moving during the day will help it slow down at night.
Sound machine They’re not just for babies! Having some soothing, consistent noise in your bedroom at night—hello ocean sounds!—can help lull you to sleep and then keep you there, by drowning out external noise and keeping your brain in a state of calm.
7 Surefire Baby Shower Tips
By Amorology
There’s one especially great thing about planning your own baby shower: you can have total control over the entire thing from the invites you send to the food you serve to the games you play (or don’t!). And while that may seem daunting, it doesn’t have to be. Your shower can be as simple or extravagant as you want. Here San Diego–based wedding and event planner Heather Balliet of Amorology offers up seven tips for making your celebratory day as inspired and unique as possible.
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Invite to Excite
Your invitation sets the tone of your shower so tie it in to your theme or concept, make it look playful or pretty, and give your guests something to look forward to. Be sure to include your registry (guests will want it), and in lieu of a card, ask them to bring something for the baby’s nursery such as a bag of diapers or a book. You’ll be able to stock up on necessities, or create a curated collection for the baby's library!
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Show Love to the Littles
If there will be little ones at your shower, make sure to include them. A mini table of activities is a fun way to give them a place to play and stay busy while the mamas enjoy the party.
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Favorable Mention
Giving guests a personalized favor is always a good way to make them feel welcome and thought of, and it doesn’t have to be complicated or extravagant. For this shower we incorporated personalized name patches into the décor so they pulled double duty—a cute design element and a super fun takeaway!
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It’s Not All Fun and Games
Don't feel like you have to force a game into the party. If you value conversation over competition, feel free to skip it. If you’re a game girl, though, go for it, and consider trying a few atypical shower games to really step it up.
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Play with Your Food
Colorful fruits and veggies can make for excellent, unexpected décor like the tablescape we created here with citrus, papaya, squash, and more. Add them to your florals for a gram-worthy centerpiece, and eat them up when the party’s over.
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Dessert, Dessert, Dessert!
Everyone loves a treat so don't hesitate to indulge guests with something tasty, whether it’s a traditional cake or a crepe bar. Can’t decide? Go for a dessert display and satisfy all of the cravings.
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Create Cozy Spaces
You don’t want guests just standing around. Get creative and make some fun little seating areas that are both comfortable and stylish where folks can lounge.
Find more of Amorology here:
www.amorologyweddings.com
@amorology
Maternity Must-Haves from Just Pregnant to Motherhood
While assessing wardrobe requirements on a month-by-month (or week-by-week!) basis is fun for some, you may just want to stock up on all your maternity style needs now, in a single swoop, and know you’re good to go for the months (and growth) to come. We’ve curated this simple list that will get you through your entire journey, from that first belly pop to holding that babe in your arms. Of course you may find you want a little something extra when it’s time to pack for your babymoon, or if you need some additional work attire, but these are the go-to pieces that will cover just about every need you’ll have during the next nine-plus months into motherhood. Consider it an all-encompassing kit for looking cute and feeling comfy throughout your pregnancy.
Bellaband®
You won’t want to go through pregnancy without it! This maternity style superstar will help keep you in your favorite pre-pregnancy jeans for months to come. Click to Shop!
Afterband®
If the Bellaband® is your prized possession during pregnancy (it will be!), the Afterband® is the new mom equivalent. It’s designed especially for postpartum use—soft and stretchy with just the right amount of snug. Use it to make your pre-pregnancy and maternity pants fit, for extra coverage while breastfeeding in public, and for super comfortable compression as your belly recovers. Click to Shop!
Seamless Cami
This supersoft basic will comfortably stretch as your belly grows, so you can use it for layering throughout your pregnancy. Click to Shop!
Seamless Drop Cup Pullover Nursing Bra
Our drop cup pullover bra offers awesome and comfy maternity support, plus you’ll be able to wear it right on into motherhood for the wild ride that is breastfeeding.
Click to Shop!
Essential Tees Set
This essentials set is a basics jackpot. These three buttery soft tees—a tank, a short-sleeve V-neck, and a long-sleeve scoop neck—will cover your casual everyday needs. Click to Shop!
Cross Front Jumpsuit
This might just be the most versatile piece in your maternity wardrobe—dress it up for work, events, and a romantic date night, or pair it with sneakers and a sweater for everyday errands. You’ll especially love the flattering cross front neckline for ease of breastfeeding and/or pumping. Click to Shop!
Pleated Tank Dress
Side pleats make this dress a perfect fit through every stage of pregnancy, and it’s just the basic you need for dressing up or down, on workdays or weekends. Click to Shop!
Distressed Maternity Skinny Jeans with Crossover Panel
A pair of skinny jeans are a maternity must, and this pair’s got the perfect wash plus our patented Crossover Panel, which feels so good on a growing belly (and even supports your lower back). Click to Shop!
Seamless Maternity + Nursing Sports Bra
Our seamless sports bra is the perfect activewear foundation. It’ll support you through all your prenatal activities, and you’ll love its nursing functionality post-pregnancy too.
Click to Shop!
Active Knee Pant with Crossover Panel
These are the bottoms you’ll practically live in. Stretchy but opaque, these pants will get you through yoga and your errands. The Crossover Panel is just icing on the comfort cake. Click to Shop!
Cozy Wrap
You’ll want to be cozy throughout your pregnancy, and even moreso after baby arrives—this wrap is the perfect fit no matter your belly size, and its snuggle factor is through the roof. Click to Shop!
Flutter Sleeve Knit Wrap Maternity Maxi Dress
You need a shower-worthy dress and this one will make you feel flawless—flutter sleeves, an adjustable tie-waist, plus maxi length with maximum movement. Click to Shop!
Show Off Your Bump
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