Pregnant Woman's Helpers 101

Being pregnant is a wonderful gift, because I know a little blessing will soon join our family. Nevertheless, I'm on an endless quest for great products that ease the transition for my ever-changing body along this journey.

I found a great company, Mambino Organics, that makes a great kit called Bun in the Oven. It comes with oh baby! belly butter (softens the appearance of old stretch marks and helps prevent new ones), youth glow omega face complex (a lightweight oil rich in fatty acids that gives skin a radiant glow), moisture me body toning oil (boost collagen production while it firms the areas it's applied to), mandarin creme organic body wash (contains saponified oils of olive & coconut and red mandarin, and does not strip the skin of oils), and kissable lips (a moisturizing lip balm). Everything smells utterly heavenly (the lip balm is unscented), and the ingredients are all 100% organic and pure. How much better can you treat yourself and your baby while pregnant than that?

My favorite product in the kit is the body oil. I put this on my tummy every day, and already know this will be a staple for the duration of my pregnancy. It seems more effective to me than plain cocoa butter, or any other cream or oil I've tried on my tight tummy skin. It contains avocado and jojoba oils, and is scented with pomegranate oil. I love it so much, I find myself applying it multiple times a day, because the smell is so divine and the product is so soothing. I highly recommend it!

The body wash is also a favorite of mine. It is soap- free and contains red mandarin and chamomile essential oils, as well as aloe vera extract. Despite being all natural, it foams very well with a wash cloth or sponge. A friend of mine, who loved the youth glow face complex so much she took it from me, says it helped reduce the redness on her face, so while I didn't try that item myself, I can also post a good review on that as well. It contains evening primrose and hazelnut oils.

As part of their eco-friendly mission, this company packages everything in attractive, 100% recycled and recyclable materials (even the loose fill in the packaging is made from vegetable starch which dissolves upon contact with water), so you'll feel secure and good about both buying and using these products. Everything in this kit is also sold separately on their web-site.

Another great product is the Critical Care Kit For Moms-To-Be by Miss Oops. It contains three products to make the life of an expectant mom easier. First, there are five Popper Stoppers, used to cover a popped belly button when you wear a thin top, or are going to a formal event and want a smooth belly profile in your elegant, clingy maternity gown. My belly button has not popped yet, but the women in my mom group who have tried this say it's great and works well.

This kit also contains a Rescue Sponge, which you use dry to rub out accidents on your clothes, such as deodorant marks or make-up powder. I tried this a few times, and it works great. They are reusable and can be used on any fabric.

Last but not least, Pedicure in a Bottle, an exfoliating cream that does not even need to be rubbed in or washed off...simply apply, and you can put your shoes on immediately (no slippery feeling due to the non-greasy formula). Their web-site does not say this, but since this product contains salicylic acid, diabetics may need to be cautious when using it (or avoid it altogether) and pregnant women should probably ask their doctor first too, just to be sure (it contains salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and menthol, and small amounts can be absorbed systemically- better safe than sorry).

The products in this kit are also sold separately, for those who would just like to try the Popper Stoppers or Rescue Sponge.

My tummy grows bigger each day, my baby is kicking energetically (especially when I'm laying down to sleep!), and I no longer fit into much of my pre-pregnancy clothes (yet don't want to splurge on a wardrobe that I'll only be wearing for a few months before retiring it or giving it to a pregnant friend). I've been told you can save your maternity clothes for the next pregnancy, but based on the clothes that were given to me by others, if you don't use them within a couple of years, they start to look old and outdated.




Luckily, I found the b-buckle, a sort of mini belt that allows you to expand the life of your jeans. It's made of a cotton/polyester blend and has multiple snaps that allow you to adjust it, from the day you start expanding. I am not even halfway through the snaps yet, so my guess is that this product will allow me to wear jeans for another month or two at the very least. If you are a woman who loves to wear jeans often, but aren't fond of maternity jeans with those huge spandex bands on top, this would probably be a great alternative for you. It comes with different designs (mine is a plain black design) and is thick enough to cover the top part of the zipper (if you can't zipper all the way up anymore, like me).

These great finds have been carrying me well through the pregnancy thus far (and I'll be sure to post about any more I come across).