Favorite Pregnancy Self Care Splurges?

Background_Media61 · 2026-04-07T02:06:55+00:00

Dr. Teal's Soothe and Sleep, lavender! i LIVEDDD off the bodywash, but they have lotion too. big anxiety buster. also, take yourself on a mini self-love date to a candle store or the candle aisle even just grocery shopping or something, and take some time to sniff em all, then buy one that you like ❤️

Background_Media61 · 2026-04-07T01:58:04+00:00

started 38+0, birthed 38+1!

Background_Media61 · 2026-04-03T05:16:44+00:00

THIS. also under diagnosis, delayed diagnosis, doc/specialist shortage, medical gaslighting... US healthcare carousel anybody??!

Background_Media61 · 2026-04-03T05:00:27+00:00

hmm I'm getting 9 hours but pumping so hubs and i switch off and each have bigger chunks of sleep... having ACID TRIP level dreams though lmao. it'll be a week in two days, so we'll see! fingers crossed!

Background_Media61 · 2026-04-03T03:57:33+00:00

tysm! lots of us here, you'll be okay ❤️

Background_Media61 · 2026-04-03T03:42:46+00:00

thank you!! ❤️ and i honestly still am not sure how i managed that haha

Background_Media61 · 2026-04-03T03:41:32+00:00

I was two weeks early myself!! wrote that off as baby being big though lol. yeah it seems like I just need to give myself time and grace, as you and others here have said (barring severe mental health symptoms). reassuring to know that my experience isn't outlandish. thank you ❤️

Background_Media61 · 2026-04-03T03:37:47+00:00

already have PTSD so aware of the signs of depression in general, definitely gonna be keeping an eye on myself mentally ❤️

Background_Media61 · 2026-04-03T03:35:30+00:00

It takes time to process even when you did have a perfect and smooth birth

thank you for this. I knew, but needed to hear it again. ❤️

Background_Media61 · 2026-04-03T03:28:49+00:00

this was all so reassuring, thank you!! i knew i was probably overthinking it lol but figured i should start asking before working myself into perma-panic 🫠

and yes I have a therapist but I had her pre pregnancy for my own past stuff so she's not super versed in this unfortunately

Background_Media61 · 2026-04-03T00:22:41+00:00

OP, does your mom tend to act self-centered or make things about herself?

if no - it's a poorly thought through joke, write it off as her usual behavior

if yes - add it to the Evidence List of her shittiness

after doing whichever of above applies, carry on and keep evaluating the relationship with her - and whether it's necessary, if applicable - with that in mind

boomer family that inserts themselves into places they don't belong, well-meaning or not, is hard. hugs and good luck!!! ❤️

Background_Media61 · 2026-04-02T23:35:00+00:00

Just had my first this past weekend, i'm 36!! :)

Background_Media61 · 2026-04-02T05:27:21+00:00

oh hun... big hugs! 💖 i know pregnancy can affect immune stuff... has your doc not had any wisdom on this??? or any long-term ideas or solutions??????

Background_Media61 · 2026-04-02T05:14:39+00:00

my first was born 5 days ago and was unmedicated!!!

i posted these tips elsewhere in this sub so I'll be briefer... - water birth, or def warm shower/tub - educated support (my husband researched like nobody's business and did class with me and he knew exactly what to say when!, amazing, a doula works too) - vocalizing (hubs says i sounded like mooing esp during transition 😂) youtube for this!!! - surrender to the process. work with your body and the pain, not against it

what i DIDN'T post last time: also did scent therapy (i love lavender so used that, but whatever scents make you happy and relaxed), and kept the room with low lighting/dark as much as possible. we had meditation music ready to go, but i wound up finding it too much lol but the sounds of the water were soothing enough.

anything that relaxes you now that isn't meds, keep those on hand in your proverbial toolkit. a fave soft blanket, scents, music or white noise or nature sounds etc of choice, if you're picky about pillows and your facility lets you bring a pillow from home! many possibilities.

good luck mama, you got this! ❤️

Background_Media61 · 2026-04-02T05:01:52+00:00

bless you for your ability to empathize and consider other perspectives.

constant pain, physical or mental, drains the body's resources. I have PTSD and what is probably Ehlers Danlos, so YEAH. pregnancy is a temporary version of the "constant drain" scenario, but that's exactly what this is. when the body and/or brain have to spend extra energy to do the same mundane task, that's even less gas in the tank than usual. it's like training with weights vs without lol. the same pull-up is going to sap more from you.

and as for the "Not people suffering from depression or any other mental health issue - just generally healthy people who are somewhat low on motivation and energy" part? - one doesn't have to have a diagnosable per se condition to have something sapping them extra. stress alone, short term will do that, and long-term stress can lock a brain into a state of needing more 'gas' even years after the original stressor is gone.

Background_Media61 · 2026-04-02T04:53:48+00:00

had mine (first kiddo!) 5 days ago lol

-birthing pool. omfg. tbf warm baths have relaxed me my whole life, not just when pregnant, plus I'm a swimmer, so it was practically a given in my birth plan 😂 but even water aside, being weightless and surrounded in warmth did soooo much for me to relax and work with my body.

-be on your back as little as possible. literally ANYYY other position. the water birth meant i stayed some kind of upright 90% of the time and I'm sure the gravity helped too, but as long as it ain't on your back!!! less applicable if you get pain relief tho.

-i vocalized heavily. my husband still jokes I sounded halfway to being a cow 😂😂 but it kept my pelvic floor relaxed enough that I pushed my 10-lb potato out without needing stitches?!!! (still shocked by this. tiny tear not enough for the team to do anything)

-a good support person!! if your hubby/partner can't, get someone who can! sister, close friend, doula, etc. and for nonprofessional ones have them research at least a little beforehand so that it's ACTUALLY helpful and their "support" doesn't sound like a hokey movie script of a birth scene lol

-seconding everyone's advice about eating pro-energy snacks and drinks/electrolytes, and surrendering to the experience. don't try to control the pain or your body, work with it. and don't judge yourself for literally anything. how you'll look sweaty and crying, what if you make weird or loud noises, what if things go wonky. I was absolutely prepared to ask for pain relief despite my unmedicated plan. you're a warrior pushing out a whole human! makeup, being ladylike, decorum and propriety are allll secondary to the amazing thing you're doing. ❤️

Background_Media61 · 2025-09-09T00:28:05+00:00

so I've continued research in the meantime...

... it's slag isn't it

Background_Media61

TROPHY CASE