By Amanda Griffin Jacob This is my fourth pregnancy. Since I’ve been on this journey a few times before. I thought I’d compile a list of my personal pregnancy necessities that helped me during this 10-month adventure. FOR A HEALTHY MOM AND BABY PRENATAL VITAMIN: Your baby needs a lot of nutrients to develop optimally. Taking a prenatal vitamin ensures that your baby will receive nutrients you may not be getting from food, especially if you are finding it challenging to eat healthily or keep food down if you are experiencing nausea. My preferred prenatal multivitamin is from mykind organics (amazon.com), which is non-gmo, vegan, and gluten free. HEALTHY SNACKS: Hopefully, you’re one of the lucky ones who don’t suffer from morning sickness. I, however, suffered from it for five months of my pregnancy. I always felt like vomiting (or vomited) and was bedridden for most of that time. Plus, the thought of anything healthy sent me straight to the toilet. Try this healthy Bliss Ball recipe so you can have a healthy snack on hand that will satiate your sweet cravings. Bliss balls 2 cups of raw cashews and roast in a pan till toasted 1/4 cup goji berries 8 medjool dates (seeds removed) 3 tbsp. prana chocolate protein powder 1 tbsp. chia seeds Process until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs and then roll into balls and coat in desiccated coconut. Store balls in fridge. STRETCH MARKS: After 3 pregnancies and 200 lbs. I don’t have stretch marks on my belly. I attribute this to religiously applying Mustela Stretch Marks Prevention Oil (@mustelaphilippines) on my tummy. During this pregnancy, I’m doing the same. BELLY BLANKET: As a working mom, I am always worried about the radiation emitting from my gadgets. I’m perennially on my computer and my phone. I like to use the Belly Armor Belly Blanket (@bellyarmorph) because it has RadiaShield® Fabric to protect my baby against the risks of everyday radiation. KNOWLEDGE & PREPARATION: It’s a good idea to prime yourself for pregnancy and childbirth. Pregnancy books and apps have a lot of important information about your and your baby’s health. I recommend my book Project Mom (available at Fully Booked: @_fullybooked) that is a guide to pregnancy, childbirth, and the first year, which caters to mothers living in the Philippines.   NAUSEA RELIEVER: Morning sickness is quite debilitating depending on the severity of your condition. For me, I felt ill for five months. I decided to diffuse essential oils to help alleviate the symptoms. Ginger is helpful as is peppermint. My gynecologist also prescribed me Vitamin B6.   FOR A MORE COMFORTABLE PREGNANCY SUPPORT: Your changing body will need support at some point in your pregnancy. Some women need more support earlier, others less and later. For most of us, our breasts and belly change radically throughout the ten months. For me, my breast size goes up at least two sizes and are very, very sensitive. I need support and comfort from the second trimester onward. I love Coobie bras because they are ultra comfortable, supportive, and affordable. My favorites are the Coobie Seamless Bra and their Seamless Nursing Bra (@coobie.ph). The nursing bra is a good investment because you’ll be able to use it when you start breastfeeding. Your belly is obviously going to get pretty big. My babies are always huge so my tummy gets big fast. This means my back bears the brunt of the weight of my belly. One of my must haves is BLANQI’s signature BodyStyler full coverage tank top (@urbanessentialsinc or go to www.urbanessentials.com.ph) that eases the pains and strains of pregnancy. It has a knit-in belly you can wear it with jeans or shorts or even when you’re working out. The material is breathable and moisture-wicking, keeping you cool and dry.   SLEEP: During pregnancy, it is a challenge trying to find rest. A pregnancy body pillow is contoured to wrap all around you. It helps to give support where you and your burgeoning belly need it. Trust me, you need all the help you can get when it comes to trying to achieve the ever elusive sleep. The struggle with pregnancy insomnia is real. MATERNITY CLOTHING ESSENTIALS: Speaking of clothes, comfort is essential when you’re expecting. Some lucky moms-to-be don’t ever need to buy maternity clothing and can get away with things they’ve had in their wardrobe or just by buying larger sizes of regular clothing. For me, you need a great pair of maternity jeans, comfortable leggings, and workout gear that supports. My top picks are: Uniqlo maternity jeans, Elin leggings (@elin_ph), and maternity workout gear from Certified Calm (@certified_calm).