Pregnancy is a very tough time for expecting mothers – other than the dilemma of picking products & fretting over finances, the physical pains are really very challenging. It seems like there’s a new discomfort to be discovered every trimester, and we’re always scrambling to find a solution.
We’ve compiled a list of items that have helped with Tofu V’s pregnancy thus far, including some self-care items to work around pregnancy restrictions.
Will update this list when we discover more gems along the pregnancy journey!
Cubble pregnancy body pillow
Tofu V was advised pretty early that she would need a pregnancy pillow, especially as she heads into the second and third trimesters.
While she initially didn’t think she would need something THIS big (it covers half of a queen-sized bed lol), it ended up being one of the best purchases she’s made so far.
This particular design from Cubble is a multi-purpose maternity & nursing pillow which is designed to follow the body’s natural contours. It really does provide support in all the right places (hips, neck, shoulders, back) without feeling too hot even under the covers.
The best part? You can reuse it as a nursing pillow post-pregnancy!
You can buy the Cubble pregnancy body pillow here.
U-shaped pregnancy pillow
This was actually the first pregnancy pillow that Tofu V bought in her first trimester, before the aches became too unbearable.
To be fair, it still provides pretty decent support. Tofu V just finds it too troublesome to move her cushion everywhere, from the bed to the chair and back.
It is best used as a chair cushion – and works pretty well on a car seat too!
You can buy the U-shaped pregnancy here.
Maternity leggings
Tofu V wanted to exercise throughout her pregnancy to keep fit and get ready for labour, but eventually outgrew all her current workout gear after the first trimester.
She didn’t want to invest in expensive options from her usual brands (Nike, Kydra etc.) as there was a chance she wouldn’t wear them again after pregnancy. Hence, she turned to Shopee and found some pretty affordable options, including this one!
This is pretty nice as the material is not only suitably stretchy, but also breathable and easy to wash. It also backs up as Tofu V’s casual outdoor wear when she’s too lazy to put on a nice dress but can’t fit into her other shorts!
You can buy this pair of maternity leggings here.
Compression socks
You’ve probably read some horror stories of women who have horribly swollen legs and ankles, especially in their third trimester.
Tofu V thought it would be a good idea to invest in them first, especially to prepare for her upcoming travels. She likes that the size guide given by the seller is pretty accurate and makes it easy to buy the correct size (extremely important!) – but will update again if it is effective!
You can buy this pair of compression socks here.
Nail wraps
Most would advise against using nail polish and doing manicures during pregnancy due to the chemicals involved. But it doesn’t mean you can’t indulge in self-care and pamper yourself for 9 months!
A good workaround is by using nail wraps or press-on nails. Tofu V’s personal favourite is from Dashing Diva, which really stick on very well and look almost like a professional manicure!
She doesn’t really recommend the press-ons though, as bloating & swelling tend to be common especially in the later weeks. It may cause problems later on if your fingers out-bloat your press-on nails!
You can buy Dashing Diva nail wraps here.
Pain relief ointment
Body aches are especially common during pregnancy, especially the back and shoulders.
While Tofu V did get medical clearance on painkillers like Panadol, she’s a bit hesitant to eat them regularly. In lieu of taking medications, you can also consider using pain relief balms and lotions, such as Yoko Yoko!
Tofu V finds that it provides temporary relief (the sensation from the menthol feels great!) and helps quite a bit.
Frozen food
There were many days in the first trimester where Tofu V struggled to eat due to morning sickness, and cooking was even more of a chore.
Thankfully, there are a lot of products out there which are not only easy on the stomach, but also simple to prepare.
We might do a separate post detailing all the food products which helped made it easier for Tofu V to stick to a healthier diet at home!
The Soup Spoon soup packets
There are many frozen soup options in the market, but Tofu V’s personal favourite is definitely the ones from The Soup Spoon.
For a nutritionally-balanced and easy-to-digest soup, go for the SG Chicken & Mushroom Ragout. If you have sour cravings during your first trimester (as did Tofu V), try the Tangy Tomato with Basil! You can dip bread or crackers in the tomato soup if you need an easy & digestable carb option.
You can buy Soup Spoon soup packets here.
Frozen chicken breasts
Tofu V had a love-hate relationship with chicken during her first trimester. Some days she could stomach it, and on others she just couldn’t stand the taste & texture of it.
However, one thing which stayed consistent was that she absolutely could not stand to look at, much less touch, raw chicken.
Thankfully, the frozen chicken options in the supermarkets make it much easier for Tofu V to eat her chicken and get the necessary protein intake. If you find yourself with the same predicament, you may want to try out these brands:
For healthier, unflavoured chicken breast fillets: Tay’s Skinless Chicken Whole Breast Fillet.
For smoked snack-sized chicken breast: Kitchen Joy Piri Piri Charcoal Grilled Inner Fillet – Frozen.
Arumi Japchae
Tofu V’s not sure why she craved kimchi a lot during her first trimester – pregnancy cravings are odd! But she really liked cooking kimchi together with this frozen japchae.
This is very easy to cook and doesn’t require defrosting. All you have to do is take it out from the freezer, put it in a pan and cook for about 6 minutes.
You don’t even have to add any additional vegetables, though Tofu V highly recommends adding kimchi for a flavourful kick!
You can buy Arumi Japchae here.
Pregnancy clothes (to wear at home)
While it wasn’t too difficult finding pregnancy-friendly dresses for outdoor wear (Taobao has lots of them!), it was a bit harder to find home wear options.
To combat the problem of tight pants and the sweltering Singapore weather, Tofu V opted for sleep dresses from Young Heart. These are like longer, extended T-shirts which are extremely comfortable!
You can buy Young Heart sleep dresses here.
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