2) Vitamins

I take several vitamins during pregnancy to help my growing child develop properly and also to prevent myself from being depleted. This is not medical advice so make sure to do your own research and talk with your doctor or Midwife before adding anything, but this is what I take, I take a prenatal multivitamin, an Omaga 3 with DHA in it, 1,000 IU of vitamin D, a probiotic and about 375 mg of magnesium. I take the Omaga 3 to help with brain development, as well as my multivitamin which has Folic acid, I take the probiotic to help with my gut bacteria, the vitamin D to help my mood since I live in NY where 6 months out of the year, we don't get a lot of sun or outside time, and I take the magnesium to help with leg cramps at night. I get my vitamins from Melaleuca The Wellness Company which is a Christian run, privately owned, debt free, company that sells clean products. 

3) Drink lots of water

While pregnant it's important to drink 80-100 ounces of water a day (or half of your pre-pregnancy weight in ounces plus 24-32 more ounces so since I started this pregnancy at 116 that would mean I need 58 oz. plus 24-32 more putting me at 90 oz. of water a day I usually aim for 96). Drinking enough water helps with loads of pregnancy related symptoms and helps prevent some complications that can occur. Dinking enough water can help prevent you from retaining water, ease constipation, reduce lightheadedness, help with leg cramps and many other things. In addition to that according to the American Pregnancy Association, "dehydration (not getting enough water) can lead to serious pregnancy complications, including neural tube defects, low amniotic fluid, inadequate breast milk production, and even premature labor. These risks, in turn, can lead to birth defects due to lack of water and nutritional support for your baby." So, drink up not only are you taking care of you, but you are protecting you baby too.

4) Stretching

I don't do this as consistently as I would like or should but when I do some squats, maintain good posture and do some pelvic rocks/tilts (also called the cat cow) it has done wonders for my lower back and left hip that seem to consistently be in pain this time around. some days I feel like I can't even walk from the couch to the bathroom but that usually when I realize it has been a while since I have stretched and after stretching, I always feel way better.

5) Lowering my expectations of what I can get done in a day, week or month

if you have read my posts about The Fly Lady Cleaning Method you know what I expect of myself on the regular basis for keeping my home in order, but I have had to acknowledge that my body has physical limitations and although I can do much of those things I have needed to alter my routines a bit and be okay with doing less until I have recovered from the birth of this baby and that is okay. I was praying and asking God to help me figure out how to slow down and pregnancy and having a toddler are good ways of doing that.

6) Balancing my moving around and resting

With my first pregnancy I had a lot of trouble with feeling lightheaded and passing out so in addition to drinking lots of water I also am careful not to either sit or be up moving around for too long so that I can help with my circulation but also not tire myself out to badly and cause all my blood to get trapped in my feet from standing too much. I had to wear compression socks the first time, but I was determined to not have all my cute summer dresses and outfits ruined by wearing knee high socks.

7) Eating healthy foods

Over the last year since I have learned so much about the effect of diet on hormones, energy levels and many other things, I have been trying very hard to be more conscious of the food I'm eating. I try very hard to eat all three macro nutrients at each mean (so a healthy carb, a protein, and a healthy fat), I also try to by organic and non-GMO when it makes sense financially for us but try not to stress to badly when we have to by the modified sprayed stuff. Having grace with myself knowing I am doing my best with the resources God has provided me helps me to feel more relaxed about eating things like that or being okay with eating out occasionally too.

8) Opening my curtains and letting the sunshine into my home

this Just makes me feel so much happier and calm and often reminds me to take a few moments to pause and take in Gods beautiful creation. One thing I do nearly every morning is after I open the curtains in my Kitchen I close my eyes and absorb some wonderful sunlight and it is just wonderful, there are other times where I will sit in my living room and listen to the birds or watch the rain and just practice being still and in the present, remembering that I am a woman and God created me wonderful and beautifully too.

I hope you liked my "self-care" list and maybe I gave you some ideas on how to actually care for yourself too not just getting a Mani/Pedi or shopping when you don't have space or money.