These are some of my favorite (and not so favorite) things...

At 13 weeks, I haven't delved too far into the world of pregnancy related products. However, I have made a few purchases, some of which I love and some..well, not so much.

1. Boppy Pregnancy Pillow (this one):

I've always been a side-sleeper, typically using a regular pillow in between my knees. So, side sleeping isn't/won't be all that difficult for me to stick to permanently in the next coming weeks. I've read different ideas on when you should stop sleeping flat on your back and since I am already a side sleeper on top of being a crazy pregnant lady, I'm starting early. Seriously, if I read that sleeping on my left side provides the best circulation to the baby, I'm there.

So anyways, after comparing different brands online, I decided to go with the Boppy. I figured I would like the fact that it's 3 different pieces, as I don't really need all of them yet. Plus, I wasn't sure I wanted the one piece pillow that had a head rest as I'm partial to my memory foam pillow.

With that being said, I do like that there are separate pieces. However, I could really do without the Velcro attachments. They are really loud and don't stay together all that well. Plus, right now I'm just using the long leg support pillow, so the little Velcro attachment segment is just..in the way. I think maybe using snaps would have been a better hold and more comfortable.

I don't have a belly yet, but once I do I have to assume that the "belly" support pillow isn't going to do much supporting. It's pretty flat and just seems kind of pointless. Right now it's serving as a bed for Tank, our chihuahua. It may or may not have found its permanent use.

Overall, I feel like maybe I shouldn't judge too harshly before I'm really pregnant and looking for some relief. I will say that I wish there was more filling or stuffing inside the pillows. My hips have really started hurting due to the leg pillow being pretty thin, maybe not keeping my hips in alignment like I would hope. I tend to switch back and forth from laying on my left and right because my hips get really stiff and sore.

I haven't decided if I'll try a different brand. I've been checking out the Snoogle and wondering if it would offer more support. If I do make the switch, I'll let ya know.

2. Burt's Bee's Mama Bee Belly Butter (here):

 Remember when I said that I'm a crazy pregnant lady? Well, I went out and bought this Belly Butter the day after we found out that I was pregnant. Can never start too early right? There are a ton of stretch mark products on the market. I haven't decided if the whole idea is moot as I've read that no cream or product can actually prevent stretch marks. From what I've gathered they come from a combination of genetics (if you're mom had them, you're getting them) and gaining weight faster than your skin can stretch.  With that being said, I think as women we will do whatever we can to prevent them so buy I did.

I really love Burts Bee's products and I really love this Belly Butter! It's light weight and not greasy and the best part, it doesn't smell! Lord knows I hate things that smell right now. I'm still battling the pregnancy nose and maybe I will for the entire pregnancy. Which leads me to my next purchase...

3. Burts Bee's Mama Bee Nourishing Body Oil  (here):

I bought this at the same time as the Belly Butter. I used the oil after a shower or bath, and the Butter whenever I felt like being proactive. I was 5 weeks pregnant when I bought the oil and I'd say I stopped using it right around the same time I stopped using my Belli Face Wash, probably around 7 weeks. It has the same lemon scent. You know, the smell that should be really nice and refreshing but instead makes me want to hurl. Plus, it's an oil so it doesn't absorb very quickly and leaves a little bit of a sheen.   Between the two products, the Belly Butter wins my vote.

4. Bolthouse Farms Green Goodness:

Ok, so not really a pregnancy product but it has quickly become a staple on my grocery list! From about 6 weeks up until 12 weeks, I couldn't imagine eating anything green. It was probably the biggest struggle I faced in the first trimester.

Before pregnancy, I ate clean and lived on lots of fruits and vegetables and rarely ate bread carbs. I also avoided dairy products and ate a ton of seafood while avoiding red meats (for moral and health reasons). I felt great and was so excited to eat healthy while pregnant. I secretly judged women who ate processed, enriched white flour "crap" and nutritionally empty foods when pregnant.

Insert foot deeply into mouth.

Once the morning sickness hit, the thought of a vegetable would make my stomach flip & fruit was hit or miss. The first thing I ever threw up was a big kale salad...yeah, not fun.

At the time when I said I would eat the healthiest I've ever eaten, I found myself surviving on english muffins with cream cheese. Like..for every meal. Bread carbs and dairy? I wasn't a happy momma. Mainly because I felt guilty. I felt like I wasn't giving my body what it needed. I knew that the baby wasn't relying on me for nutrients yet, but I still felt like I was failing.

Enter, Green Goodness.

YUM! Okay fine, it's high in sugar but it also has a lot of great things inside:

PINEAPPLE JUICE FROM CONCENTRATE (WATER, PINEAPPLE JUICE CONCENTRATE), APPLE JUICE FROM CONCENTRATE (WATER, APPLE JUICE CONCENTRATE), MANGO PUREE FROM CONCENTRATE (WATER, MANGO PUREE CONCENTRATE), BANANA PUREE, KIWI PUREE, SPIRULINA, NATURAL FLAVOR, CHLORELLA, ZINC SULPHATE, GREEN TEA, SPINACH, BROCCOLI, VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID), BARLEY GRASS, WHEAT GRASS, ECHINACEA, GARLIC, JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE, LEMON BIOFLAVONOID, NOVA SCOTIA DULSE.

That's more fruit and vegetables than I had in a month. I'll take it. Seriously, I would really suggest this to anyone who struggles to get some green into their diet. I don't drink a ton at one time, just a small glass in the mornings and maybe with a snack during the day. 

So, those are my purchases so far! Thanks for checking it out.