THE PRODUCTS THAT SAW ME THROUGH PREGNANCY
As I navigate my postpartum period (for the second time around) I wanted to reflect on the products that I’ve tried and tested, including revisits from my first pregnancy, as well as those I discovered in my second. After sharing some of my initial favourites, I received lots of questions through the website and via direct messages on Instagram.
From intensive moisturisers to ease your ever-stretching skin, to supplements, belly warmers and positive things to listen to, the list below is a culmination of tips and tricks from friends and family, including advice gleaned from pregnancy-focused communities on social media and via the Ayurvedic wisdom I received from my doula.
EARTHERN LIVING HERBAL REMEDIES
As prescribed by my Ayurvedic pregnancy practitioner and doula Dr Seema Datta throughout the different stages of my pregnancy I took various herbal preparations - either with ghee or honey or made into a decoction simmered with water. These helped strengthen various aspects of my pregnancy and aided other issues - eg. fluctuations between poor digestion and high Pitta during the first trimester which gave me nausea and acidity! Meanwhile, the Vata massage oil and the Pitta version were great go-to’s for taming either aggravated dosha which can easily get out of hand during pregnancy.
I’ve been using homoeopathy for the last 15 years to help with everything from coughs, colds and hayfever through to, probably the most well-known of homoeopathic treatments, good old Arnica for any emotional shocks or physical bruises. During pregnancy, the baby requires nutrients which it gets directly from the mother. Tissue salts are non-toxic and completely safe to use during pregnancy to provide support during the baby’s development and reduce common pregnancy complaints throughout the different stages.
WILD NUTRITION SUPPLEMENTS - PREGNANCY AND NEW MOTHER SUPPORT TRIO
Nutritional supplements are well recognised as being a pregnancy go-to both pre, during and post - especially in today's fast-paced world where it’s not always easy to optimise other wellness factors like sleep and freshly cooked, seasonal food. Wild Nutrition’s Pregnancy and New Mother Support Trio have been a great way for me to ensure I am getting the right nutrients both for pregnancy and postpartum. From sustainably-sourced fish oil and probiotics to Vitamin E and folate, the brand’s food-grown formulas mean that the nutrients are recognised and utilised much more easily by our bodies than synthetic supplements. Use WILDJASMINE for £10 off for new customers (+ 20% off for subscriptions too).
There are so many fab brands on the market designed for both mother and baby (I’ll share a full round-up in another post) but for now I wanted to include Weleda, an old-school and accessible brand via a product that friends have relied on for years. It’s gently scented and absorbs easily - a rich and nourishing antidote for skin that is put through its paces. A combination of almond oil and arnica come together to help ease any tightness while helping new and existing stretch marks. Overall, it is a saviour for both pre, during and post-pregnancy.
A belly supporter helps to ease common pregnancy aches such as back and pelvic pain. Wrap it over or under your clothes (be careful not to snag fabrics with the velcro!) to make the latter stages of pregnancy more comfortable. I bought this version after my first pregnancy which is actually a 3-in-1 Postpartum Recovery Support consisting of adjustable stretchy panels that contour around the body. The gentle compression helps to support your spine and internal organs - also a must-have for diastasis recti recovery. During my second pregnancy, I used one of the bands around my hips and beneath my bump.
THE AYURVEDA VERSION: GHEE MOISTURISER
Now for the Ayurvedic version. I was very lucky to have a batch of homemade Shata Dhauta Ghrita made by Dr Seema during my first pregnancy. The name translates to ‘ghee washed a hundred times’ referring to how it’s made, so as you can imagine, it requires a great deal of time and energy to make. The result is a supremely nourishing and easily absorbed food for the skin, said to penetrate into all seven layers, which I applied to my belly during the last few months as the skin grew tighter and I was more prone to dryness. During my second pregnancy, I sourced Shata Dhauta Ghrita from a brand in India called Svarasya, but the shipping costs don’t make this a viable option. Every now and then I see some handmade Shata Dhauta Ghrita pop-up on Etsy and other places (it's currently available here and here) and hope to find a more reliable source for it soon - if you have one please drop me an email. Meanwhile, you can also use quality ghee, the kind you use for cooking and medicinally, as a moisturiser but be warned you’ll smell buttery! It’s also great to consume a good amount of nutritious ghee during pregnancy. A teaspoon of ghee in hot milk before bed sipped on an empty stomach can really help with constipation - consult an Ayurvedic practitioner to find out what is right for you.
BEYOND NINE KHAKI LINEN JUMPSUIT
This relaxed linen jumpsuit is a great alternative for when you want something light and airy which you can use both pre and post-pregnancy. What’s also nice about the jumpsuit is the drop armholes, which allow you to layer (in the cooler seasons) or provide easy access for those who are breastfeeding.
A common symptom of pregnancy is the feeling of tiredness without the ability to easily get to sleep - whether it’s finding a comfortable position to sleep in, googling for hours on end for information and inspiration, feeling anxious or experiencing pregnancy-related insomnia, getting your body and mind to relax can be a rollercoaster. When I need to wind down, ground myself and be present, I naturally reach for sound baths and during pregnancy that’s been no different. They’re a surefire way to relax on what can be a hormonal ride - my Sleep (a 30-min lullaby) and Relax (a 20-min meditation) sound baths have both been go-to’s during this time. If you’ve already experienced all of my downloadable sound baths to date (!) then take a look at my Summer Bird Bath sound bath which is brand new.
Almost entirely made of cotton, besides some spandex where you need it, these low-rise knickers help make pregnancy that bit more comfortable. A “V” shaped design fits under the bump without adding extra pressure to your belly area. They don’t dig in or roll down, and allow you to breathe, unlike other designs. The 100% cotton white cotton lining means you can keep an eye out for any unusual spotting and you can of course continue to wear them beyond pregnancy.
While the bump is an obvious place of growth and change, the boobs go on their own journey too. The first indication of both my pregnancies has been an overnight increase in cup size as I hit the first month of pregnancy. While not strictly necessary in my books, for me, it was a little luxury to offer myself some TLS with a cooling, firming, all-natural lotion to offer relief and hydrate this very delicate area and this one is an all-natural (of course) award-winner.
HARAMAKI BELLY AND BACK WARMER
The traditional method of Haramaki uses a piece of material wrapped securely around your waist. This waist wrap is made from 100% Merino Wool and ensures that the middle part of your body is kept warm and supported. It also regulates circulation and your body’s temperature, whilst also keeping the kidneys warm and pesky draughts away both night and day - especially good when a wider top garment no longer overlaps lower garments completely.
SPOTIFY PLAYLIST FOR PREGNANCY AND BIRTH
I listened to a lot of audio during my pregnancy to rest my eyes and reduce stimulation. There is so much brilliant content on the web these days, as well as books, that if you’re like me and like information, can become a major distraction from real life and the present moment whilst also sending your Vata into a spin. Reducing stimuli by relying more on my ears, as above, with sound baths, than visuals was key to helping me rest and either ease into or out of my day. Guided meditations specifically for child birth were one of my go-tos as prep which I compiled in this Spotify playlist. These audios might also be helpful for anyone looking to reclaim their birth, rewrite or revisit their experience.
EMF RADIATION PROTECTION BELLY BAND
And now, another belly band…this one helps with something entirely different. As we navigate a highly electronic world, it’s important to start thinking about protecting ourselves from the radiation emitting from laptops, mobile phones, tablets and any SMART devices in the home, office and everywhere where there is WiFi - so nearly everywhere really! The full negative effects of these devices are not yet fully understood for adults let alone a developing foetus. Better to be safe, this slip-on fabric tube is a practical way to help protect the growing baby from EMF radiation.
An all-natural plant oil blend of peach kernel, sweet almond, jojoba seed, evening primrose, coconut, avocado and Vitamin E oil and nourishing ingredients such as avocado and borage help the perineum for labour. It is best used during the last 6 weeks of pregnancy, and helps to reduce the risk of any tears. Massage the rich combination of natural plant oils into the tissues of the perineum daily to help keep the perineal tissue flexible, supple and elastic to reduce the risk of tearing and help to improve recovery time. Use the code ‘JASMINE10’ at checkout to get 10% off your purchase.
THE AYURVEDA VERSION: BALA OIL
Bala oil is an amazing regenerative Ayurvedic oil made from a combination of herbs which can help to support the muscles in your body during times of stress - a little goes a long way to help restore damaged tissues or muscles. For day to day use, I warm the oil and apply it to the top of my head and soles of my feet at night when needed. To nourish the perineum and surrounding areas, I soaked a tampon in warm bala oil for use overnight during the last month of my pregnancy. Do check with your Ayurvedic practitioner before using.
Witch hazel and sitz baths are a simple combination to provide haemorrhoid relief during pregnancy and postpartum. I didn’t need this in my pregnancy but I could definitely have done with this sitz bath contraption post-birth! If you’re prone to piles, which is a common pregnancy and postpartum affliction, then a sitz bath attachment for your toilet is a quick and easy way to bathe the area. Simply fill it with a solution of witch hazel, olive oil or coconut oil, baking soda and bath temperature water, sit down, and allow your nether regions to be soothed. You can also try out pre-measured, mess-free herbal Epsom salt tablets which you simply drop into the water and allow to dissolve.
For an Ayurvedic solution, simmer ½ teaspoon of neem powder in a cup of water and add to the sitz bath water or apply a mix of neem powder, turmeric powder and aloe vera juice directly to the haemorrhoids before going to bed, remembering to wear protective clothing to avoid unwanted stains!
While you can buy specially designed kits, you can easily make your own solution at home by using witch hazel as a base with olive oil and baking soda in hot steaming water for a gentle way to soothe the affected area.
A pregnancy pillow is often the answer to better sleep during pregnancy. This one from BB Hugme has been a favourite thanks to its almost body length, mouldable shape and soft, pressure-relieving material. Available in a variety of colours, it's something we continue to use beyond pregnancy as a support to avoid stress positions during breastfeeding or rocking baby off to sleep in bed or on the sofa, or simply to sling your leg over when you finally hit the sack. I say ‘we’ because yes my other half and toddler (and one of the dogs!) both like to claim ownership of it when it suits them.
Bra extenders are a sustainable way to extend your non-pregnancy bras, allowing them to grow with you. Made from sturdy nylon, simply add them onto the end of your usual bra straps to get more wear out of what you already have.
This nursing bra is one that I would recommend to anyone looking for softness and support that stretches with you during your pregnancy and comes into its own post-birth if you breastfeed, without any irritating (or infuriating) clasps and clips. Soft TENCELTM with a mix of Lyocell and Elastane, makes it breathable and moisture absorbing, whilst still keeping you cool throughout the day. It feels like a second skin and you can hardly notice it’s there.
These leggings are soft and stretchy and, being GOTS-certified organic cotton, are great for the skin and the planet. Pockets on both sides of the side panels come in handy and I spent most of my second and third trimesters (and postpartum!) in these black, easy-wash leggings. For something a bit more stylish to run chores and lounge in check out this organic cotton two-piece with OEKO TEX-certified dyes from Zita West - use the code ‘JASMINE10’ to get 10% off your purchase.