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The 14 Best Pregnancy Hacks for Every Trimester
The 14 Best Pregnancy Hacks for Every Trimester

The 14 Best Pregnancy Hacks for Every Trimester

Pants don't fit? Can't bend down? These tried-and-true life hacks will solve just about all your pregnancy woes.

author-Amylia Ryan
By Amylia Ryan
Fact Checked by Shannon Vestal Robson
Published Nov 26, 2024|Updated On Dec 14, 2024
Published Nov 26, 2024Updated On Dec 14, 2024
Our editors independently test and curate products. If you make a purchase via our links we may earn a commission.

In This Article

First Trimester Hacks
1. Build a Morning Sickness Survival Kit
2. Download an App to Know Which Meds are Safe for Pregnancy
3. Stay Hydrated and Nourished
Second Trimester Hacks
4. Keep Midnight Snacks Within Reach
5. Get Ahead on Scheduling
6. Use Elastic Ties to Secure Your Pants
Third Trimester Hacks
7. Cooking Oils for Itchy Skin
8. Use Kinesio Tape to Support Your Belly & Back
9. Turn Your Shoes Into Slip-Ons
10. Extend the Life (and Band Size) of Your Bra
11. Extend Your Reach with a Grabber Stick
12. Buy Baby’s Humidifier Early (and Use It)
13. Cool Off Your Downstairs
14. Fix Swollen Feet With Salt

Throughout each trimester of pregnancy, your body goes through a lot of changes (some less welcome than others). With all the uncomfortable shifts and symptoms—from itchy stretch marks to swollen feet—it can be tough to not buy every remedy and gadget that promises sweet relief.

These tried-and-true pregnancy life hacks are more cost-effective than any temporary fixes, and the products here are truly multi-purpose, so you can continue to use them long after your pregnancy is over. (And you’ll be happy you don’t have a box full of pregnancy-specific gear gathering dust in your garage.)

First Trimester Hacks

1. Build a Morning Sickness Survival Kit

If you’re experiencing morning sickness, heartburn or fatigue in the first trimester (or anything else those pregnancy hormones throw at you), it can make your life a little easier to carry some essential remedies with you at all times.

Fill a small pouch like the one below with nutritious snacks, chewable antacids, anti-nausea candies, peppermint gum—anything you need to get through a rough day—and keep it in your purse, your car or your side table at home so you’re always prepared.

2. Download an App to Know Which Meds are Safe for Pregnancy

Speaking of remedies, you may have questions about which medications are safe to take while pregnant. Thankfully, there’s a convenient resource for that: the MommyMeds app, developed by the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, cuts through all the conflicting results with a research-backed, doctor-approved database. 

For an annual subscription cost of just $4.99, the database includes everything from over-the-counter medicines like Tylenol and Tums to prescriptions, and thanks to their color-coded system, you can easily see if something is considered safe to take during pregnancy. 

And after you’ve given birth, you can keep your membership to see which medications are safe to take while breastfeeding. There’s even an alcohol calculator to help you figure out how long it’ll take after drinking for your breast milk to reach zero percent alcohol content.

3. Stay Hydrated and Nourished

If your morning sickness comes with vomiting, you’re at greater risk of becoming dehydrated. But you need to replenish more than just water—vomiting can deplete your body of essential nutrients, too. So instead of just chugging water all day, make sure you’re also giving your body plenty of vitamins and minerals by eating high-water-content foods like melons, berries, cucumbers, broths and cottage cheese. 

You can also talk to your doctor about adding extra hydration like Liquid I.V. to your water to replenish electrolytes, which can also help battle any first trimester fatigue.

Liquid I.V. Sugar-Free Hydration Multiplier - Raspberry Melon (14 Servings) - $16.24.

Liquid I.V. Sugar-Free Hydration Multiplier - Raspberry Melon (14 Servings)

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Second Trimester Hacks

4. Keep Midnight Snacks Within Reach

The second trimester usually means no more morning sickness...and the triumphant return of your appetite. It’s totally understandable if you find yourself suddenly famished, and we fully support you if you need to eat at odd hours (even the middle of the night). 

To help keep yourself full and your baby nourished, keep an assortment of snacks on your nightstand. Non-perishable snacks like granola bars and crackers can be stashed in a drawer, and for things like yogurt, fruits and veggies, a micro-fridge can come in handy.

5. Get Ahead on Scheduling

With everything else you’ve got going on in the second trimester (like building your baby registry), it can be easy to forget to schedule important things like your glucose screening or 34 week appointment. Instead, book them all at once so you can plan accordingly with work and know exactly when the next few are scheduled. Even better, try to book your appointments all on the same day of the week at the same time, and add them all into your phone’s calendar or Google Calendar so you get automatic reminders.

6. Use Elastic Ties to Secure Your Pants

A burgeoning belly doesn’t have to stop you from wearing your pre-pregnancy pants. If your pants fasten with a button, you can use a basic elastic hair tie or rubber band to give yourself an extra couple of inches in your waistband. With your pants unbuttoned (don’t worry, they won’t fall down with this hack), loop the hair tie over the button, through the hole and back over the button.

Third Trimester Hacks

7. Cooking Oils for Itchy Skin

Stretch marks usually start to show up right around the start of the third trimester, and while we can’t promise you a remedy to help them disappear, this hack can definitely help soothe the itchiness. If you run out of your favorite belly oil or decide to forgo it altogether, then kitchen staples like olive oil and coconut oil will do the trick. 

Just be sure to only use a little bit! These oils are often the main ingredients in your typical everyday moisturizers, but you don’t need to use as much as you would for a lotion. You’ll also need to let the oil dry on your skin before putting clothing over it, or else your clothes might get stained.

8. Use Kinesio Tape to Support Your Belly & Back

As your belly gets bigger, your body is going to need more support—particularly to prevent back pain. This is where belly bands usually come in, but if you don’t want to dish out the money for one (and have it sit in a box until your next pregnancy...or forever), there’s another option. Basic Kinesiology tape can serve the same function as a supportive belly band, but it’s cheaper and can be used for a variety of things other than pregnancy. 

Once you’ve put the tape on, you can wear it for up to five days (you can even shower with it!). When you’re ready to take it off, dab some oil onto it to help dissolve the adhesive. Then you can reapply more tape as necessary. Check out the Instagram Reel below to learn how to properly tape your belly to get the best support.

Frida Mom Body Support Tape - Grey - $19.99.

Frida Mom Body Support Tape - Grey

$19.99
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9. Turn Your Shoes Into Slip-Ons

No need to give up your favorite sneakers just because you can’t bend down to tie the laces. Get more mileage out of them by using stretchy elastic laces, which turn your regular lace-up shoes into slip-ons.

And if you’re looking for an excuse to buy a new pair (or several), we love Kizik shoes for their innovative no-tie, no-bend-over, step-in design. You don’t even need to see your feet to pop these sneakers on. (And with 15+ designs and dozens of colors to choose from, they’re one of our favorite shoes for pregnancy.)

10. Extend the Life (and Band Size) of Your Bra

Your belly may not be the only thing expanding in the third trimester. As your body prepares for breastfeeding, your bustline and cup size may go up, too. But there’s no need to buy all new bras—an extender can increase your bra band by a full size or two. And once your bustline goes back down, just remove the extender and voila, you have your regular old bra back.

SAMGU Women's Bra Extenders - $6.99.

SAMGU Women's Bra Extenders

$6.99
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11. Extend Your Reach with a Grabber Stick

At some point in the third trimester, you’ll realize it’s impossible to bend over. Between the huge bump, the extra weight and the sore back, you’re probably tempted to leave whatever has fallen on the floor down there forever. But a grabber stick, with nearly three feet of reach, can help you pick up just about anything off the floor without needing to bend over (and it costs less than $10!).

PowerGrip Grabber Reacher Tool, 32" with Magnet - $8.99.

PowerGrip Grabber Reacher Tool, 32" with Magnet

$8.99
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12. Buy Baby’s Humidifier Early (and Use It)

Feeling more stuffed up than usual, or have a runny nose that seems to come out of nowhere? Pregnancy rhinitis is a real thing, and while a humidifier is great to have on hand for baby’s first cold, it can also help you. You may already have one on your baby registry, but it’s a good idea to get a humidifier before baby is born so you can find some relief from your own runny nose.

Crane Droplet Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier - 0.5 Gallon) - $44.99.

Crane Droplet Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier - 0.5 Gallon)

$44.99
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13. Cool Off Your Downstairs

Ice packs made from menstrual pads—also known as “padsicles”—are a common remedy for postpartum recovery, but if you’re suffering from hemorrhoids and/or vulvar varicosities (varicose veins in and around your vulva), a set of padsicles to use while you’re still pregnant can save you a lot of discomfort. You can also make your own with just a few ingredients!

14. Fix Swollen Feet With Salt

Swelling in your feet and ankles is another extremely common symptom in the third trimester of pregnancy, thanks to the pressure from your growing baby causing your body to retain fluids. If you don’t want to spend money on compression socks that you may never wear again, soaking your feet in an epsom salt bath works wonders to tame the bloat. Just mix one cup of epsom salt into a few inches of water in a bucket, large bowl or your regular bath tub and you’re good to go.

Keep in mind that swelling could also be a sign of a serious condition, so check in with your doctor if swelling in your feet or legs is painful or seems unusual.

Dr Teal's Epsom Salt Magnesium Soak (Fragrance Free) - $5.99.

Dr Teal's Epsom Salt Magnesium Soak (Fragrance Free)

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