I often mention in prenatal classes or am asked after class about certain tools for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum - this blog post is an attempt to bring those recommendations together as a resources for you.
You do not need any of these things or services to be complete, but if you are seeking support in a certain area - I hope it helps. None of these links are affiliate links - just honest recommendations from my experience as a pregnant person and/or prenatal yoga teacher.
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For the first trimester (or however long your nausea lasts): nausea acupressure bands - it doesn't hurt and it might help, so I am a fan of wearing these.
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For pregnancy and feeding: Wishgarden's Immune Boost Seasonal Rescue for Pregnancy - I love it because in a world where everything if off limits in pregnancy + feeding, you can actually take this instead of "just rest up" AND it actually works.
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For labor and early postpartum: any water vessel with a straw that a support person can just hold out in front of your face for easy + quick hydration. I personally love my Bink water bottle.
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For pregnancy/labor/postpartum: any birth or exercise ball that is the correct size for your height (so it doesn't restrict your pelvic positioning). I love these for an alternate sitting position in pregnancy, movement options in labor, and gently bouncing babies to sleep postpartum.
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For pregnancy/labor/postpartum: Freya app (contraction timer and virtual birth partner) - I love it because it is a simple and not overwhelming app - the contraction timer is discreet (even ignorable), the guided breathing is great, it comes with a few meditations, and you can upload your own meditations (like the ones I offer here!!). It is not free but the one-time payment is under $10 and well worth it.
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For pregnancy and postpartum: raspberry leaf (pregnancy) and mother's milk (postpartum) by Traditional Medicinals - I love it because they are good formulas and readily available at most grocery stores or co-ops (and complimentary at Blooma).
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For pregnancy and postpartum: oat straw + raspberry leaf + nettle herbal infusion - I love it because it is deeply nourishing. Red raspberry strengthens and tones the uterus, nettle provides much needed minerals, and oat straw bolsters the deep tissues and nervous system. It is more time intensive than a tea bag but really lovely. I get most of my dried herbs at Mountain Rose Herbs.
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For postpartum: Wishgarden's AfterEase - Just when you think contractions are behind you, the after-birth contraction kick-in, especially if this is your second, third, fourth, etc. birth. The uterus is doing important work to help control bleeding and shrink back to size, and this tincture noticeably helps make that process more comfortable.
- For pregnancy/labor/postpartum: Services I adore include yoga, prenatal + postpartum massage, webster technique chiropractic care, and birth doula services. I am happy to share specific recommendations and referrals - just reach out to me at class or send me an email at hello.megandwyer@gmail.com.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and this website does not provide medical advice. Anything I share is for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical care.
