How to Look and Feel Great While You're Pregnant

Pregnancy can be a wonderful time. It can also be full of sickness, nausea, sleepless nights, heartburn, and stretched skin. So how can you keep that pregnancy glow all nine months and beyond? Here are some simple things that helped me to feel and look like a sexy, confident mom to be.

Treat yourself right from the beginning. As soon as you find out you are pregnant, promise yourself the best treatment you can give yourself. Get yourself a motherhood is hot bracelet, (they are only a buck), and wear it every day to remind yourself that although this is a new phase in your life that will bring about drastic changes, you can still maintain your hotness. Many women feel that their beauty and sexy days are over. Believe me, pregnancy opens a whole new bottle of sexiness. If you don't have womanly curves yet, they will magically appear while you are pregnant. So, you should work those curves with form fitting, yet comfortable clothes. Invest in good bras with lots of support, as your breasts will be growing. Go shopping, and check out the latest pregnancy trends. Maternity clothes have come a long way. There are no more potato sack outfits with duck prints on them, but rather there are chic body hugging, curve enhancing silhouettes, that follow classic and modern trends. Whatever your style, you can find something to suit it. These clothes take you from zero to nine months and postpartum.

Invest in some wonderful hydrating stretch mark cream and pregnancy shower gel and replace your daily stuff, you may even opt for scent free formulas for your sensitive nose and stomach. This will help to prevent stretch marks and banish dry itchy skin on your belly and breasts. How can you feel beautiful if you are itchy all the time? Also, make sure to take care of your face. You may have to change your routine to cope with acne, or to prevent the dreaded pregnancy mask. As always, but especially now, make sure you wear a good sunblock. Your skin is more sensitive due to hormones so pamper your skin. Baby it like you would for your child.

Paring down your beauty and makeup routine is a great idea to save time, energy, and to prevent you from giving up makeup all together. Choose a gloss for everyday, switch to a makeup stick, tinted moisturizer, or mineral makeup for saved time in application. You can also opt for clear makeup, it's so easy to put on and no blending is a bonus. Some clear mascara to groom your brows and define your lashes and your good to go. Now throw on some earrings and your a beautiful girl. On days when your skin needs an extra pick me up, use a three in one color stick in a peach or bronze color to perk up cheeks, eyes, and lips.

Keep your hair flair, with a new haircut. Just make sure you think about what haircut you want for a few weeks, as pregnancy hormones can make you impulsive. Don't go too drastic, just try a few face framing layers. You may even try highlights or vegetable based dyes which are safe during pregnancy. Condition and maintain your hair and ask your stylists how best to manage your thicker hair. Thicker hair happens during pregnancy, because the hair does not shed like it does normally, resulting in a thicker mane.

Okay, so your clothes are hot, your skin is soft, your face is glowing, and your hair is looking great, but you still don't feel great. Now what? If you are like me, then you are probably nauseous right now. Combat nausea with ginger. Ginger chews and strong brewed ginger soda found in the health food aisles of your grocery store can help. Try peppermint and spearmint to ease your tummy. Also, lollipops called "Preggie Pops" are great for taming your stomach and they come in a variety of flavors. Try to eat healthy, but you can have some junk food in moderation. Eat frequent small meals to fight feeling nauseas, and if you are on the go throw some pregnancy nutrition bars like "Oh Mama" into your purse to eat. Going a long time without eating will make you and the baby feel sick.

If your feet and legs are swollen try these tips: Elevate them as much as possible. Have someone massage them cupping both hands to form a circle around the toes and pushing up (with oil or lotion) past the knees to move fluid away from your legs. Pump your ankles and feet up and down anytime they feel achy. This recirculates the fluid. Also try cold compresses and a soothing leg and foot cream with peppermint. Wear comfortable loose shoes. You may need wider and bigger shoes while you are pregnant. Avoid stilettos and opt for kitten heels. Make sure that on long car rides you stretch out and do those ankle pumps. Avoid salt which will make you more bloated. Treat yourself to a pedicure. At least your toes are cute.

Your back is bound to hurt, so practice good body mechanics and lift things with your arms and legs. Purchase some good pillows, and a body pillow. When you sleep, preferably on your left side, put a pillow in between your knees to cushion them. Go and get a massage at a spa specializing in maternity massages. Try stretching daily, use the techniques in Lamaze or get a pregnancy yoga or pilates workout DVD. Believe me, your back and body will thank you.

Fatigue can hit you hard while pregnant, so you need to be prepared. Set a schedule, and stick to it for sleep and naps. Take two fifteen or twenty minute naps a day and get a least eight hours of sleep at night, if the baby lets you. Go light on activities that take a lot of energy.

Being pregnant has it shares of ups and down, but maintaining yourself, body, mind, and soul is the best thing you can do for you and your baby. Being sexy means taking care of yourself and loving yourself, so embrace that big, beautiful belly, because being preggers is oh so sexy.