Being pregnant is a joy, but let's be real, not everything that comes with pregnancy feels like joy. Nausea being one of them. More than 50% of pregnant women will deal with nausea throughout their pregnancy.

With both of my pregnancies, I never threw up, god bless. But man alive, I was nauseas. Honestly, the smells made my nausea worse. So dang terrible. With Quinn, it started the second I peed on the pregnancy stick. With baby #2, it hit me hard around 6 weeks. My morning sickness actually presented itself around 5pm and lasted until I went to bed. I couldn't stomach anything, even food I was craving! My favorite pizza - sick. Chicken - even worse.

The bright light with morning sickness, it usually goes away when you hit your second trimester. For me. I really started noticing a difference around 13-16 weeks. For some, it will linger, and for the rare, it lasts your entire pregnancy. But have no fear, while you're dealing with it, there are some remedies!


1. Eat smaller, more frequent meals. Sometimes this sounds counterintuitive because eating/foods/smells sound terrible. But having an empty stomach actually makes it worse. Try small, meals throughout the day. Or have snacks - plain crackers, toast, cereal, or something bland. I literally had to eat the second I woke up or else I felt terrible. Don't be afraid to eat. It will help.

2. Try ginger. Ginger has been known to settle your stomach. Ginger tea, ginger chews, or ginger ale (my personal fav, extra, extra cold, with lots of ice). My best friend recommended these chews to me, and I loved them!

3. Try preggo pops! I never tried these, but my best friend said she used them. She said it helped a little, but it really helped get that nausea flavor out of her mouth! Another trick that we both used, sour candies!

4. Change up your prenatal vitamin (or the time you take them). A common thing you hear is that your prenatal vitamins can make you nauseas. There are so many options, feel free to switch it up! And, take it at night, on a full stomach. I take this prenatal, Whitney takes this one!

5. Take a walk. I know, walking when you are nauseas sounds kind of terrible, but fresh air and getting your body moving will really help. Exercise throughout your pregnancy will go in waves. Maybe during your first trimester, HIIT workouts won't be your friends, but nice walks will be.

6. Acupuncture. I never tried this, but I have heard that it works wonders!

7. Sleep. This is easier said than done, but sleep when your body tells you to sleep. Sleep extra a night, take naps if you can, sleep.

8. Stay hydrated! You're pregnant, you should already be drinking extra. But try drinking even more during the time your nausea hits. Add lemon. Warm it up. Add ice.

9. Talk to your doctor. If you can't keep food down, can't function, are throwing up all the time, have cramping, call your doctor. There are meds you can take to help you through this stage!

When I sat down to pack my hospital bag last time, I had no freaking clue what 2 days in the hospital would look like. I didn't know that my shower would be the size of a dime and my bathroom would be more of a war zone than a peaceful spa.

I didn't realize that pants, regardless of how "comfy" they are, would never be comfortable. Delivery is messy, and therefore cute fuzzy slippers are NOT ideal. And, taking a 3 minute shower will actually be the best shower of your life.

I lived through delivery and a hospital stay, as will all of you, so hopefully I can help provide some clarity to your hospital bag packing dilemma.



Below you'll find a printable checklist to help you prepare!If you're like me, or Monica from Friends, you love a good CHECK! 

FOR MOM // 

• Insurance Card: The non-fun part of going to a hospital. Make sure it's in your wallet, hospital bag or wherever you won't forget.
• Flip flops or sandals: I love the Arizona Birkenstocks because they are basically rubber so I can clean them, but SO comfortable. They are also adjustable and if you are like me, your feet were so swollen so being able to expand them and then tighten them was key.
• Pillow: I'm partial to my good pillow. This was key. 
• Iphone charger and Cell phone: Duh. My gf told me to buy an extra long charger so you make sure it reaches your hospital bed. This was amazing for both during labor (theres a lot of waiting around okay) and then after! You're taking a lot of pictures, returning texts and calls, don't want your phone to die! 
• Toiletries: These are the things you may not need but will make you feel better. I was very excited to take a shower once we got into our room. Quinn was asleep, I had just nursed her and I had like 15 minutes. It may seem a little vain, but I even threw on a little makeup. Those 15 minutes to myself made me feel so much better. I put on a new, clean PJ dress and robe, and it was magic. My toiletries were shampoo, conditioner, lotion, chapstick, hair ties(!), a little makeup, extra contacts, glasses, and my own towel.
• Robe: Have I told you how much I love robes yet? Sometimes, I would just have on those cute mesh panties and this robe. You're pulling your boob out a lot to nurse, okay. I just bought this super cute one from Milkmaid Goods and baby girl has a matching swaddle because CUTE! 
• Undies: Last time I brought undies, you don't need to do that. You're in pads. But, if you want some for recovery at home, I love these.  Cue, dark colored Hanes. 
• Nursing Bra: I still wear these nursing bras. Even though I am not currently nursing. The nice thing is they have an expander so as your boobs get huge (which they will), it can grow with you. These bras are magic okay?  
• Nursing cover: I have a bunch of 'cute' nursing covers but this one is the best. It's not the cutest, but it works so good.
• Going home outfit: Keep it comfy and loose (you'll be wearing a pad). Aka, a PJ dress and your sandals. 

Holy crap people, time is flying and I am not ready (yet)! I'm obviously ready for her to be here, we just don't have a crib, changing table, or anything prepared! But that's what the next 12 weeks will be dedicated too. Our hearts are prepped, now its time to prep all the details.

Today on This Girl Life, Whitney and I are diving deep into the world of pregnancy. Since we are both pregnant, we thought it would be so fun to do a Q&A with questions from our IG followers, friends and TGL listeners. And boy did you guys show up! We got so many amazing questions!

I've broken down the questions here, some basic answers, and linked some correlating blog posts to help. If you're pregnant, congratulations, we are so excited to walk through this crazy journey with you.

Also, if you are currently working to get pregnant, struggling to get pregnant, or still deciding if having a baby is something you want, I hope you know both Whitney and I are here for you. We've both been through fertility issues of some kind, both of us suffered miscarriages, and Whitney has been very vocal about her journey through fertility issues. We are here for you, to listen, to be a place of resource, and a place of love.

We're praying for you guys, regardless of what stage of this journey you are in and we hope you feel our love and support.

Let's get to the questions!

ONE || What are you naming your baby? At this point, we have NO clue. Send name suggestions! As with Quinn, once we decide on a name, we won't make it public until she is here! It's the one little secret we get to keep to ourselves. We found this app called Baby Names and it is kind of like baby name tinder. You and your partner download the app and then you swipe on baby names, if you match, it tells you! So far we've matched on 2 names! We have two we currently love, and are hoping to narrow it down soon!

TWO || Do I really need a prenatal vitamin? Yes. But before we get into this, please know neither Whitney or I are doctors. NONE of this is medical advice and make sure to always ask your doctor first, but Whitney broke down some super interesting facts and reasons why a prenatal is so, so important. Obviously a healthy diet is the best way to get the vitamins and minerals you need so starting there is always KEY! But being pregnant we really need to ramp up on our vitamins and a few in particular.

**Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects. These defects are serious abnormalities of the brain and spinal cord. The CDC states that up to 50 percent of spina bifida cases could be prevented simply by taking enough folic acid. It suggests that all women who could become pregnant should consume at least 0.4 milligrams, or 400 micrograms of folic acid per day which is the recommended daily allowance for both adult men and women.  Side-note: Do some research but Whitney always opted for 5MTHF, an active form of folate that shows superior bioavailability compared to folic acid. If you have MTHFR your body can’t just accept folic acid as it is—it has to go through a conversion process into a form called Methyltetrahydrofolate, or MTHF, in order for you to use it.

**Iron supports the baby's growth and development. Iron also helps prevent anemia, a condition in which blood has a low number of healthy red blood cells

• Whitney uses the Smarty Pants Prenatal.
• Kristen uses the Nature Made Prenatal. 

THREE || How many ultrasounds will I have? 4 ultrasounds is typical! The typical ultrasounds include one at 8 weeks (the pregnancy confirmation ultrasound), 12 weeks (post first trimester), between 18-22 weeks (the anatomy scan), and 35-37 weeks (the one pre-labor!). But keep in mind, every pregnancy is different. With both Whitney and my first pregnancies, we had extra ultrasounds due to Whitney having a high-risk pregnancy and me having a subchorionic hematoma. You may have extra ultrasounds for a variety of reasons, placenta previa, previous pregnancy issues, or anything that comes up throughout the course of your pregnancy.

FOUR || When can I find out the gender of my baby? Most women find out the gender at their 18 -22 week ultrasound appointment (the anatomy scan!). You can opt for blood tests at earlier stages. Most doctor offices have blood test options you can do for genetic testing and they include gender results too!

• I went to an ultrasound location around 13 weeks. You can just google, early gender detection ultrasound and I'm sure you'll be able to find one in your area. 
• Whitney did DNA testing via Sneak Peek at 9 weeks. 

FIVE || Can I still exercise during my pregnancy? Again, ask your doctor! But both Whitney and I exercised and have exercised during their pregnancies. Keep in mind, your body is constantly changing. Your workouts will change as your pregnancy develops! Do whatever is comfortable for your body. Also, make sure you are drinking way more water than you are probably used to.

I really love Beachbody for all my workouts, pregnancy and non-pregnancy. They have some great pregnancy workouts on their app, including even breaking them down in to trimester specific workouts. My best advice, listen to your body. For instance, yesterday I went out for my usual 2 mile walk (I do it every day) and my body quicklyyyyy told me it was not up for it. I did about a mile and called it quits, and that's OKAY!

SIX || How much weight should I gain during pregnancy? Again, ask your doctor! (Do I sound like a broken record?!) Quick chat on weight. Pregnancy is a lot, our bodies are constantly changing and developing. How we conquered the weight question, was we broke down weight based on your BMI. If you want to figure out your BMI, you can use this quick calculator to do so!

• Underweight: Meaning your BMI is under 18.5 -suggested weight gain is 28–40 lbs
• Normal: Meaning your BMI is between 18.5-24.9 - suggested weight gain is  25-35 lbs
• Overweight: Meaning your BMI is between 25–29.9 - suggested weight gain is 15 to 25 lbs
• Obese: Meaning your BMI is 30 and greater - suggested weight gain is 11 to 20 lbs.

SEVEN || What are your pregnancy cravings? And when is it okay to give into them? 

• Whitney: hardboiled eggs, salads, and I eat at night because of my pregnancy nausea.
• Kristen: very cold fruit, and sweets. 

Again, back to question two, a healthy, well-balanced diet is always the best way to eat during pregnancy. But keep in mind, your body is so smart and knows what it needs. Trust it, lean in to it and nourish your body accordingly. An ice cream treat here and there isn't bad, and neither are snacks at night! What you crave and what sounds good to you will change throughout your pregnancy. So if carbs is all you can stomach in your first trimester, then eat carbs! When you hit your second trimester, things may change and you'll be back to eating like you're used too.

EIGHT || What is the first piece of advice you give any expectant mum? Whitney and I have similar advice here:

• Whitney: Listen to your own intuition. You know what is best for your baby. A lot of people may try to shame you, guilt you, or tell you 'something better.' But at the end of the day, you are this babys mom, and you know what is best. 
• Kristen: Listen to the people you trust the most. Throughout your pregnancy you get a LOT of advice from everyone. Listen to the people you trust, your best friend, your mom, your doctor, and leave the other advice to the wind. Kristen's blog post about pregnancy advice is linked here.

NINE || What is your birth plan? Whitney and my birth plan is simple, birth our babies in the healthiest way possible.

• Whitney had a c-section with her first pregnancy and will have a c-section with her second!
• I had a vaginal birth with my first and I plan to have one with me second. You can read about Quinn's birth story here.  

• Whitney: Good question and very real and personal for me. Fake till you make it. So I may not enjoy the weight gain/ body changing part pregnancy but my daughter associates a big belly with a growing baby. So she is waiting and watching for my stomach to get BIG. So I never mention food in a way that I can’t have it cause I’ll get big. I constantly show her that I am trying to stay healthy through exercise, helping me making celery juice or AM green shakes.
• Kristen: Give yourself some grace. This is a big life transition and your body is growing at all times. Some days it's super hard and some days it's easier, but give yourself grace. 

ELEVEN || What's in your hospital bag? Whitney and I are sharing our three favorite items! 

• Whitney: My favorite blanket (Barefoot Dreams is my fav!), compression socks , and good undies (Hanes® Premium Women's Smoothing Seamless 3pk Briefs!) 
• Kristen: A pair of flip-flops (things get messy), toiletries (I took a hot shower!), and a cute outfit for your baby! 

TWELVE || Favorite pregnancy leggings and dresses? I love Lululemon Align, extra-high rise leggings and the Ingrid and Isabel pregnancy leggings from Target. True story, the last thing I wanted to spend a lot of money on was pregnancy clothes. My advice, buy a bigger size in regular clothes! If you're pregnant in the summer, my go-to are dresses! Target has great, cheap dresses and you can buy a little bit bigger. Then use them postpartum!

THIRTEEN || Sex and pregnancy! 

• Whitney: Truth is our hormone levels during the first trimester can cause mood swings and nausea all of that can really mess with our libido. Be super honest with your partner, where you are at and let them know... listen when I’m into it you just need to be into it because I can’t promise anything more than that. And GO slow— use lube if needed and worried about bleeding 🤷🏼‍♀️
• Kristen: Same advice, talk to your partner! Your hormones change throughout your pregnancy, different trimesters may make you feel differently. Be open about your feelings! 

FOURTEEN || What skincare? 
Whitney: Whitney wrote a blog post on how to avoid stretch marks here!

• Japanese Camellia Body Oil Blend ( pregnant and postpartum skin moisturized and supple, helping to prevent and treat stretch marks) for stretch marks and HATCH body oil is soothing with calendula and sweet almond oil to help nourish skin and prevent stretch marks.
• Juice Beauty's Hydrating Mist it has in it rosehip, ylang ylang, grapeseed oil and antioxidant-rich organic juices for a fresh, radiant complexion
• Niu body facial serum -Super clean natural means 100% plant-derived, with nothing artificial and have banned over 1,300 ingredients from our products.
• Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum- fighting that hyperpigmentation this product is a brightening serum with natural ingredients like vitamin C and fruit enzymes