If having three kids has taught me anything, its that you can control ~~very little~~ next to nothing when it comes to conception, pregnancy, and labor/delivery! All three of our kiddos were surprises in some form or fashion, the biggest surprise being our son who came along after we thought it was physically impossible for us to have any more!

Two of our three were born via emergency c-section; one of those two times I ended up back in the hospital with an infection two weeks later.

I have several friends who are just entering this amazing journey of pregnancy/motherhood, some who are going to give birth any day now, and some who just have given birth. When we talk, things always circle around to our pregnancies and babies. How did you sleep towards the end? How did you function through morning sickness? What about those first days at home: what do I do to take care of myself?

So I'd like to welcome you to our four-part series, Comfy Pregnancy: Your Guide to Comfort from The Plus Sign to Baby's First Days! Here I will share my most favorite tips and tricks that worked wonders for me in all my pregnancies! I'd love for you to share your's too! We're all in this together, right?

Today I'll be talking about The Early Days. When you feel like you've been hit by a train while on a boat in the stormy seas.

So without further ado, here are my top tips for comfort in the early days of pregnancy:

1. Eat What You Can, When You Can. We worry a lot about making sure we get the right nutrition during pregnancy. But it can be hard to eat a balanced diet in the early days when nausea and fatigue rule the day. So, don't worry if you can't fit it all in. Just eat when you can, and eat what sounds/tastes good. I've found eating small snacks throughout the day helps keep the nausea at bay better than eating fewer, larger meals.

2. Starchy Carbs and Strong Mint. During the early days of pregnancy I'm never without a stash of crackers or some other kind of starchy carb. I also keep a stash of strong mints and/or gum. Those two things helped the nausea the most during all three of my pregnancies.

3. Motion Sickness Bands. I'm prone to motion sickness anyway, so I had a set of motion sickness wrist bands already when a friend suggested I try them to help stave off the ~~morning~~ all-day sickness. I was shocked, and delighted, at how well they worked! They work by placing light pressure on specific pressure points. I don't understand the science behind it, but I know they certainly helped me!

4. Water. Staying hydrated is a must. I keep a sports bottle full of water with me at all times and take small sips throughout the day. Small sips are easier to stomach in the throes of morning sickness than trying to gulp down a whole glass.

5. Rest. This is easier said than done if you're working full time and/or have other kiddos you're looking after. But taking any chance you can to lay down and rest your eyes for even a few minutes works wonders! While we're talking about rest, try to get to bed early and if you find that your prenatal vitamins and/or iron tablets upset your stomach, take them right before bed with a small snack and small glass of OJ.

So there you have it! My top 5 tips for a Comfy Pregnancy in the Early Days! Join us next time as we discuss how to help get some comfy sleep!

What are your favorite tips/tricks for comfort in the early days of pregnancy? Share in the comments below!

Note: I am not a medical professional. These tips/tricks are simply things that worked for me. If you have any worries or concerns, please ask your health care provider.

Blessings,

Jen

**************************************************************************************

So now it is time to LINK-UP and join the party!!!!

*****We pin our favorite link-ups on The Better Mom's Pinterest Board!!*****

Better Mom Mondays Link-up is every Monday!!! Every week we have hundreds of posts linked up here from so many beautiful women with beautiful things to share! I encourage you to visit their sites by clicking on the links and reading all of the fantastic ideas and insights! Also don't forget to join the fun by adding your blog!! We request that if you join below -please add the Better Mom Mondays Link Up button to your post so your readers can find us here! (Posts can include the topics of mothering, marriage, homemaking, discipleship, recipes, organization and more!) You can find the html code in the sidebar, or "save as" copy, and paste the button below.