12 Ways to Relieve Your Worst Pregnancy Symptoms

We asked Babylist parents what their best “life hacks” were during pregnancy, and their answers were sheer genius. We hope these tips make your pregnancy a little easier. Bringing a new life into the world isn’t always easy, so take care of your body, heart and mind every way you can.

Pregnancy Hydration Hacks

It’s hard to overstate the importance of staying hydrated during pregnancy; dehydration can cause headaches, nausea, cramps and dizziness and can even contribute to preterm labor in the third trimester. Plus, drinking a ton of water can help reduce pregnancy’s toughest symptoms. We loved the inventive strategies Babylist parents used to stay hydrated:

• Long straw: “Buy a water bottle with a long straw so you can drink laying down. Staying hydrated eases bloating and constipation.”

• Camelbak: “I kept a Camelbak water bag next to the bed. I could grab the tube and mouthpiece without sitting up, and was easily able to keep hydrated that way! It works really well for nighttime breastfeeding sessions as well. I chug every time she nurses.”

• Mocktails: “San Pellegrino sparkling juice soothes a queasy tummy, plus makes a fun mocktail in a wine glass with fruit garnish.”

Pregnancy Anti-Nausea Food Hacks

Although nausea is a sign of a healthy pregnancy, it’s definitely one of the least-fun pregnancy symptoms. Here are some tips on how to deal with it.

• Snack basket: “For bad morning sickness I created a snack basket. Literally a basket with saltines, Wheat Thins, water bottles, hard candies, Rice Krispie treats, granola bars—LOTS of options. I would take it to the couch and, since I could barely move, I had some choices to get me through the day. Then I’d put it back onto the nightstand for waking up in the morning.”

• Popsicle breakfast: “Real fruit lime frozen fruit bars helped me not throw up in the mornings!”

• Gingery goodness: So many parents recommended ginger to us—everything from buying ginger candies in bulk from Amazon to hot ginger tea to “ginger+lemon+apple cider.” Ginger is definitely a preferred hack.

• Baby food: “When morning sickness is so bad, I eat organic baby food. Helps get some nutrients down and isn’t bad when it comes up.” This person wasn’t the only one to mention choosing foods that aren’t so bad “on the way up.”

Pregnancy Food Hacks to Increase Well-Being

It’s not just about keeping back the nausea. Here are tips for dealing with other pregnancy symptoms too.

• Almond milk: This was recommended to us by many because it’s supposed to be amazing at preventing heartburn.

• Magnesium-rich bananas: “A banana every day warded off the awful muscle cramps and pain.”

• Chia to ease digestion: “Chia pudding to prevent constipation. Coconut water (and those Chia Mama juice pouches if your clinician will permit) for labor for electrolytes.”

• Protein any way you can: “Scrambled eggs for protein when you can’t stand to touch meat, helps morning sickness and the vitamins are SO good for baby.”

• Treat yourself: Remember that a happy parent = happy baby. “Dark chocolate Dove ice cream bar, like, every night of my third trimester because science says mamas who eat dark chocolate have happier babies. Worked for us!”