Because the first step to taking care of baby is taking care of your pregnant self.

In no particular order, these are the things that helped alleviate the discomforts of pregnancy.

Snoogle Loop! This thing was simultaneously my best friend and David’s worst enemy – and I can’t wait to use it again. I am a natural stomach sleeper, and that ability went away when I was about 14 weeks pregnant with Sam. You’re not supposed to sleep on your back while pregnant, and side sleeping is just achy joints waiting to happen. This thing brought the joy of sleep back to me. It’s like being wrapped in a hug and supported in all the right places.

Liz Lange Maternity Tank Tops – Target I am convinced that this is actually the perfect shirt. It fits your shape from awkward early pregnancy, big-as-a-house late pregnancy, to postpartum and beyond. (And I mean the beyond – I’d be lying if I said I weren’t still wearing them) I have black, black-and-white, white, grey, and aqua and they are just. so. good. On their own or layered, with literally anything on the bottom, they are the perfect length and perfect shoulder width, and the material is stretchy enough to expand over your belly while pregnant or pull down for nursing. They are the only maternity item I didn’t pack up with all the others.

Preggie Pops I can’t remember who recommended these to me, but they are delicious. I don’t know how or why they work (my guess is the sourness actually just distracts from your nausea) but I can vouch that they do. But mostly they’re delicious.

Peppermint Oil – Good for nausea, good for headaches, good for just feeling nice.

If anyone finds a good remedy for heartburn before my next pregnancy, please let me know. I tried papaya enzyme and a couple of other natural remedies, and in the end the only thing that really worked was slowly eating pints of vanilla ice cream. At least it had calcium!

Photo: Me 35 weeks pregnant, Loki saying hi to her baby brother.