Now that I’ve given birth to my little one and fully embracing motherhood, I seem to get asked questions about pregnancy a lot. This is totally natural seeing as I appear as some sort of expert carrying my baby but so much of my pregnancy seems to be a blur now. Anyone else? I did just recently update my hospital bag post that some of you had requested but let me know if there is anything else you want to see! 

Before I go any further I want to make sure it’s clear that this post just like so many of my pregnancy related posts are somewhat tailored to my own personal experience. It’s always advised to check with your own healthcare provider about your specific situation before moving forward with any supplements, protein powders (get this question a lot!) or general diet and exercise changes.

Before we ever conceived, I was taking a prenatal vitamin. Gosh we were trying for so long it seemed like I had been on those things for years. When the first appointment had finally rolled around with my OB/GYN I thought I was set, but I was a little surprised to find out that most prenatal vitamins don’t provide everything you need, and that your diet plays such a huge role in contributing to the essential nutrients you need while pregnant. Luckily, I was already eating fairly clean and felt confident in what I was consuming. However, when you’re pregnant every little thing seems concerning to you (at least it was for me!) and I would open my pregnancy app each day, I panicked that wasn’t getting enough salt, calcium, or some other vitamin.

After initially making the mistake of telling Trevor how most women don’t get enough iodine or table salt anymore, and having him not so secretly begin covering my morning eggs in it, I decided to keep my concerns to myself. There are a few things I don’t consume a lot of and one of those things is milk. The only way I normally consume milk is if it’s steamed in my coffee but since I wasn’t drinking caffeine while pregnant, I was a little concerned about the amount of calcium I was getting on a daily basis. 

So, I thought I would round up some of my main concerns during pregnancy including getting enough calcium because I thought you all may be facing or will face the same worries I had. If you have any tips or suggestions, send them my way and I can update here for all my pregnant (or soon to be pregnant) readers! 

 

Sleep

It seems crazy but getting enough sleep can become so hard as you progress in your pregnancy. I was horrible at taking naps and was always trying to get something done at work or around the house. Relax! Enjoy this time and make sure to rest when you can. My busy little guy loved to kick me when I stopped moving so try your best to find a comfortable position (my wedge helped a ton in the last months) and close those eyes!

 

Water

Part of this will just come naturally and if it doesn’t really try to stay focused remember to consume enough fluids. This goes the same for post pregnancy, especially if you are breastfeeding! I find myself thirsty ALL the time and so often if I forget to drink water because I am busy with Zain I can notice a dip in my milk supply. My best advice is to buy a nice 1L glass water bottle and keep it with you at all times. It will be easier to refill throughout the day and serve as a constant reminder. 

 

Calcium

Like I said earlier, milk is not my best friend. Getting the recommended 1,000 mg of calcium daily was hard for me and apparently 68% of women in general are calcium deficient. If you’re not supplying enough calcium for your baby to develop, your bun in the oven will eventually pull the calcium it needs from your own bones. I used an all-natural prenatal and I found out that most prenatal vitamins, including mine, only supplied 20-30% of the daily calcium requirement. My doctor’s office recommended I take a calcium supplement and I was already familiar with Viactiv from childhood. When I was younger I was diagnosed with a calcium deficiency and actually took these for years. I have always had a fear of swallowing pills (READ: Seriously. When we moved my parents found hundreds of pills behind my dresser. I would hold them in my cheek and then take them out when I got to my room. I always thought I was going to choke and die if I swallowed one…) so these chews were an obvious choice. The taste has only gotten better with time, and while the caramel is definitely my favorite you can’t go wrong with their milk chocolate flavor either. Each one of the Viactiv Calcium Soft Chews packs 500mg of calcium plus vitamins D and K to aid in calcium absorption while managing to have 1/2 the sugar and 1/2 the calories as traditional gummy supplements. You can snag them at most major retailers and I always find them at Target or CVS. You can find a full list of stores that carry Viactiv here. It’s nice that the calcium chews are small and individually wrapped so you can throw them in your pocket or purse and not worry about forgetting to take them! 

 

Calories

You do in fact need to eat more, but not necessarily for two! My doctor recommended 300 extra calories in the second trimester per day and 500 in the third. Incorporating one to two healthy snacks during the day usually helped me, and although I had envisioned loving to eat big meals, it wasn’t the case. I got full so easily and it started to take me ages to finish a meal, so spreading out smaller meals throughout the day was the way to go. 

 

Most of all, make sure you are taking care of your mind and body and allowing yourself all the love and patience in the world. It really is a miracle and we feel so lucky we got to experience it! You can learn more about calcium needs and pregnancy at http://bit.ly/BumpUpYourCalcium and reach out with any questions!

Make sure to LIKE Viactiv on Facebook and FOLLOW them on Instagram, too!

 

Which flavor would you prefer, milk chocolate or caramel? 

 

 

This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation on behalf of Viactiv that contains affiliate links. I received Viactiv Calcium Soft Chews for my own personal use. This post is not intended to address or diagnose any medical conditions. All opinions, text and experiences are my own. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing or planning on becoming pregnant, speak with your healthcare provider if you have any specific health questions or prior to taking any dietary supplements.