Top products for pregnancy and beyond

Being a new mum can be hard. In saying that, being a new mum-to-be can be hard too. You never really know what to expect or what you should be doing to provide the absolute best start in life for your little one.

While there are squillions of pregnancy and baby books about, there isn’t a clear manual to tell you everything you should be doing when you’re trying to conceive, while you’re pregnant and when the bub finally arrives.

It’s easy to feel like you’re lost in a sea of baby products, nappies and questions about what to do next – which is why we’re here to help guide you through the pregnancy maze. Well, at least the product part of it anyway. Check out our top pick of products to keep close when you’re entering that very special chapter of your life.

Pre-pregnancy
When you’re ready to start a family, sometimes it can take a little while before you find success. The waiting and the hoping is enough to drive you crazy, not to mention tracking ovulation – which is why it’s important that you lead a healthy and active lifestyle, limit alcohol consumption and keep your life as stress-free as possible. It’s also important that you’re using reliable responses to discover if you’ve conceived. We recommend Clearblue DIGITAL Pregnancy Test with Conception Indicator, which not only tells you in words whether or not you’re pregnant, but thanks to its Smart Dual Sensor™, it also tells you how many weeks along you are.

Pregnancy
So you’ve had the happy news and sure enough in nine months’ time you’ll be a mum! Yippee! It’s a time for celebration – and also for looking after yourself. As you’re now responsible for another life, you need to make sure your health is intact, which is why a pregnancy multivitamin like Pretorius Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Multivitamin is essential. Containing tuna fish oil (which contains 200mg of DHA), folic acid, iodine, vitamin D3 and essential vitamins, it helps to ensure mum and baby receive the necessary nutrients for normal healthy growth and development.

And how can you look after yourself, beauty-wise, while you’re pregnant? Most mothers fear stretch marks, so do yourself a favour and be sure to massage a nourishing body oil like Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil into your stomach daily as a preventative measure.

Post-birth
Once the baby arrives it’s all hands on deck. You’ll need nappies and bottles – not to mention a mountain of onesies. But there are a few other essentials you’re definitely going to want to get your hands on to help care for your baby – and save your sanity! Say it with me, sleep – for both you and bub. To ensure sleep time goes smoothly, there’s a solution you need to know about. Johnson’s® baby Bedtime Lotion™ is perfect for bed time massages to help baby calm down, soothe delicate skin and send your bub off into a peaceful sleep, thanks to a unique blend of gentle ingredients and soothing aromas.

To help keep tears away you need to be prepared for common issues like nappy rash and cradle cap – which are sure to set off the waterworks. Keep Natural Instinct Soothing Nappy Rash Cream and GAIA Natural Baby Baby Shampoo in your kit of wonder products and sleep easy knowing you’re well prepared for anything that happens to your precious little one.

Don’t forget – after your little one’s born it’s equally important to take the time to look after yourself. We know, time for you may be in short supply right now, but try to give yourself little moments of relaxation when you can. Using Johnson’s® Dreamy Skin Body Wash in the bath or shower is a perfect way to help you feel calm. And it’s kind and gentle on your skin, too. Bonus!

Are you a mum or a mum-to-be? What products do you swear by?

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