BYE-BYE THONGS…HELLO GRANNY-PANTIES!

Thongs were the first thing to go.  As soon as I found out I was pregnant I started reading everything I could get my hands on.  The books say, as does the OBGYN, that Urinary Tract Infections (UTI’s) can be quite common with pregnant women.  I’m fortunate enough to say I’ve never had one, but I didn’t want to risk being on antibiotics to treat one either.  Prevention is the key…and one of the ways was to get rid of thongs and synthetic fiber underwear, and break out the 100% cotton Hanes.  For the first time ever, I didn’t care about my VPL (visible panty line)…and my hubby thought that those full coverage undies were pretty cute!

FOOD! A big misconception is that “eating for two” means pigging out, doubling what you eat, and consuming anything you want.  What it actually means is that you now need to make better choices about what you put into your body.  When it’s just you, you don’t think twice about speeding through a drive-thru line, but when there is a little person inside of you, you second-guess yourself.

The other day I saw the sign displayed on the McDonalds wall…”2 Big Mac’s for $4.”  For some strange reason, this made my mouth water.  If I wasn’t pregnant I would have easily driven up and bought a mini-heart-attack, yet instead, I drove straight home to make a salad with apples, walnuts, carrots, celery, onion, and topped with raspberry vinaigrette dressing.  The same went for the yummy looking Starburst, when I opted for raisins instead.  Not so fun, but it’s not all about me anymore!

ORTHOPEDIC SHOES?

I don’t understand how the women in Hollywood wear heels during the later months of pregnancy?  Of course you can wear them (if you can stuff your over-sized, swollen feet in them) but is it really worth it when you wake up in the middle of the night with sharp muscle pains (AKA: Charlie Horse) shooting up and down your legs?  Go for the flat, cushioned, comfy, and probably unstylish footwear.  Tip: If you wake up screaming with a Charlie Horse, immediately pull your toes up toward your head (do NOT point your toes), and when you can, get up and hobble to a cold tile floor and it should immediately go away.

THE NY TIMES BEST SELLERS LIST…a thing of the past? No time for pleasure reading (even though everybody should make time for themselves).  I found myself buried in countless baby books.  Many were passed off from friends…and really, stunk!  I can tell you the must-reads….skip the others.

• Jenny McCarthy’s “Belly Laughs.”  It is fun, pleasurable, comforting, and two page chapters….so you can read it when you actually have time.
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• “Baby Bargains” by Denise and Alan Fields…and read it with a highlighter.  Without this book I would have been lost, and seriously even more overwhelmed with the baby registry.  It goes through each and every item that you will absolutely need (who knew there were soooo many), it clues you in on the items you  can actually skip, and it rates every brand you can think of from cribs, strollers, car seats, bedding, clothing, bottles, breast pumps, etc and gives you their top votes.  So, if it looks cute, check the rating and find out if it is really top notch or a big fat D (and why).  This book will save you money and stress…and if it doesn’t there is a money back guarantee.
• Get a week-by-week pregnancy book, or subscribe to an online one (for free).  Actually, my favorite mini-book was a free “Babies R Us” registry gift put out by Huggies.  We kept it on the nightstand and it was my husband’s job to read each week out loud.
• Of course you should have a pregnancy reference book containing everything you need to know.  My doctor’s office gave me one.
• MAGAZINE MUSTS:  I have sooo many pregnancy/baby magazines that I receive and really only two are up to par (the rest I no longer bother with).  I obtained a free copy of Pregnancy and Newborn from my doctor’s office and loved it.  I subscribed ($24 a year) and feel that they have great, quality articles and great buys/finds.  Same goes for Pregnancy magazine ($5 – $10 a year).  Both are very worthy of your subscription.

Please share your comments about some of your great sacrifices or self-disciplines…and just remember that in the end, you are rewarded with the greatest gift ever!

– Famespy Patty