Your wish list this Christmas should be full of things that celebrate YOU and how amazing you are for choosing to undertake the greatest calling known to woman. While it is completely natural to be consumed with preparing for the arrival of your baby, Christmas is the perfect opportunity to bring your attention back to yourself for a while. Relax, indulge, pamper, and re-energise yourself with my top picks for you this Christmas.
1. Maternity & nursing lingerie
By far, the most stylish and beautiful maternity and nursing underwear I have come across is You! Lingerie and Hotmilk Lingerie. At a time when you may be feeling anxious about how big you are getting and how limited your control over your body is, wearing beautiful lingerie can be extremely empowering. Wearing something beautiful and sexy really can make you feel beautiful and sexy!
2. Day spa!
Allow someone to spoil you this Christmas with a manicure, pedicure or a pregnancy massage (or all THREE!). Pregnancy is the PERFECT time to indulge in a little tender loving care.
3. Holiday reading
Stop Reading Baby Books, by J.J. Keith is a brilliant read for mums-to-be.
I only had to read up to page two of the ‘Introduction’ of this book and I was hooked! I quote, “I just do shit and shit happens; I try not to be a dick to my kids, but it’s okay if sometimes they’re inconvenienced by my need to be a human in addition to being a mother”.
While my approach to motherhood is a little more attentive than ‘I just do shit and shit happens’ I LOVE the author’s down-to-earth and realistic approach to motherhood and her emphasis on a mother’s need to be human and imperfect is spot on.
4. Pregnancy body products
My absolute favourite body products during and after pregnancy were products by Perfect Potion.
My personal favourites were their New Bloom Pregnancy Body Oil (RRP $19.95) and the New Bloom Pregnancy Body Cream ($39.95). Both help to keep skin soft, smooth and supple as it stretches throughout pregnancy. It feels and smells amazing and is made of all natural ingredients.
5. Prenatal yoga classes
Apart from leaving you feeling, calm, relaxed, centred and re-energised, prenatal yoga has lots of other great benefits for you and your baby including:
-Improved sleep
-Reduced stress and anxiety
-Increased strength, flexibility and endurance of muscles needed for childbirth
-Decreased lower back pain, nausea, headaches and shortness of breath
-Prenatal yoga can also help you meet and bond with other pregnant women.
6. Essential oils
Using essential oil for aromatherapy is great for during pregnancy. Using the right oils can be calming, help with nausea, swollen ankles, aches and pains as well as give you an energy boost too. But it’s important to remember that not all essential oils are pregnancy-friendly. Some essential oils like basil and marjoram (and others) should be avoided during pregnancy so always seek advice first.
DoTerra have some great products to pamper and sooth your body and mind during your pregnancy and during childbirth.
7. Cute & comfy maternity PJs
It is so important that you wear comfortable sleepwear during your pregnancy and throughout your time breastfeeding. A lot of your feeds during the first few months will be at night so comfort and easy access for breastfeeding is a must! If you want to avoid looking like a frumpy nanna at night then check out Hotmilk’s gorgeous sleepwear range of pyjamas and nighties.
8. Magazine subscription
Mother & Baby magazine and Pregnancy Life + Style are great magazines aimed at providing mums with support and solutions for pregnancy and motherhood in a stylish and informative way. You can subscribe for your iPad through iTunes or have your own copy delivered to your mail box through MagShop for just $28.
9. Designer nappy bag
A baby bag should be at the top of your list of must-have items for motherhood. A good baby bag should help keep all of your baby bits and bobs organised while also looking super stylish. One of my favourite range of baby bags is OiOi’s range of colourful and stylish totes. A great mix of style and functionality. Prices range from $99 (on sale now) through to $375.
10. Affirmation cards for pregnancy
During my first pregnancy I used these Joyful Expectancy Oracle Affirmation Cards everyday to help ease the anxieties I had around childbirth and to also ensure that my thoughts and mindset remained positive and empowered.
Here’s to YOU this Christmas, may the spirit of Christmas fill your stocking all year long!
With Love,
MammaBelle
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