pregnancy

Gugu Guru has recently had the pleasure of working with the lovely and gorgeous actress and mama-to-be Claire Holt. You may know Claire from the ever popular Vampire Diaries and Pretty Little Liars and we are thrilled to have her on the blog today sharing some wise words on her pregnancy journey. Claire has rounded up her top 4 picks that have helped her feeling empowered and strong during her pregnancy. You can follow Claire and her pregnancy journey on Instagram. 

1) Gugu Concierge: I cannot say enough great things about this incredible service. I was so overwhelmed by the sheer mass of information out there – friends ‘must have’ lists, blogs, baby-centric websites, not to mention the millions of amazon reviews. Everywhere I looked there was conflicting information. How was I supposed to narrow it down to what I really needed? How could I be sure that I was making the right choice for my little man? I thank my lucky stars every day for Monica, Julie and Abby over at GG. They were completely in tune with my lifestyle and style preferences, which allowed them to recommend the best products for my family. It was all so simple and efficient, and I will always be grateful to them for helping me navigate this crazy, life changing journey.

2) Ava Bracelet: I suffered from pretty significant anxiety during my pregnancy, which I’m sure is the result of my previous miscarriage. Once I started to use the Ava, I felt the sense of dread ease. It gives me really valuable health insights and monitors my sleep and stress levels. I’m the type of person who feels more in control of my situation if I have as much information as possible, so this is incredibly helpful. I’m excited to use the bracelet throughout my postpartum journey, as I become familiar with my body again. I’ll certainly be using it when I’m ready to try for baby 2 (WHICH IS A LONGGGG WAY OFF!!!).

3) Lori Bregman: My doula, Lori, has been a true angel! She has worked with me throughout this journey to prepare for childbirth, postpartum, and all of the major changes to come. I have such a strong bond with Lori and feel so ready to face Labor Day with her by my side! Her ‘no judgement’ approach really resonates with me. I’ve noticed that there is a lot of mommy-shaming when it comes to birth and beyond, and I love that Lori is actively working to challenge that. Her books “The Mindful Mom-to-Be” and “Mamaste” are really insightful, and I felt like I first connected to my son while doing one of the meditations in her book. I know that most readers don’t live in LA/have access to Lori, but I would still highly recommend hiring a doula!

4) Dr Elliot Berlin: I’m certain I would be wheelchair bound if it weren’t for Dr B! He is an incredible chiropractor who has eased all of my aches and pains over the past 9 months. Dr Berlin is so knowledgeable, especially when it comes to pregnancy. He’s like a walking encyclopedia! What is so special about him is that he’s like a therapist to me in addition to a healer. Every time I leave a session, I come away comforted and empowered by his stories, his guidance, and his kindness. Again, not everyone will be able to visit this wizard, however I really believe that chiropractic work is so beneficial during pregnancy.

In this sponsored post, we’re super excited to introduce you to Arm & Hammer Bright and Strong toothpaste; did you know Arm & Hammer Bright & Strong is the only toothpaste with Triple Enamel Protection, fluoride, Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, plus Liquid Calcium Technology? It’s ideal for pregnant moms too – especially those experiencing morning sickness. We had some Gugu Village members check out the toothpaste, so read on to see why they are loving it during pregnancy and beyond. 

Shannan: The day you find out you’re expecting – whether for the first time or the fourth time – so many emotions, thoughts, and concerns run through your head! There is so much to be thankful for, excited about, but also to decipher between! Not all products are created equal & that is why I am so excited about Arm & Hammer Bright & Strong Toothpaste! Oral care is a really important factor in all of that and Arm & Hammer has made toothpaste that is really thinking of us pregnant moms. I am thankful for anything that makes a mom’s life better. Morning sickness can cause acidic pH levels in the mouth and the stomach acid can cause enamel issues during your pregnancy. We all want to feel our best and know that we are taking care of ourselves to the best of our ability.

Kisha: If you’ve followed my pregnancy journey you know one of the things I’ve had to deal with is morning sickness/Hyperemesis Gravidarum. With my first pregnancy though, I never knew the importance of taking care of my teeth while pregnant. I had no clue the increased acidic activity in my mouth from morning sickness was damaging my teeth. I’m so happy to have found Arm & Hammer Bright & Strong Toothpaste. It has a one-of-a-kind formula that will help repair, strengthen, and protect your teeth from acid that can erode your enamel surface.

Denisse: With little Leah cooking in my belly, it’s so important to take care of myself. Specifically my mouth, to keep my teeth strong and healthy. Part of my morning routine is brushing with Arm & Hammer Bright & Strong Toothpaste along with my electric brush for a better cleaning. The reason why I do this? Well if you don’t know, morning sickness leads to acidic PH levels in the mouth. (Side note – If you get sick, make sure to rinse with water and baking soda (1 tsp baking soda + 1 cup water) first to neutralize the acids!) This product is able to help strengthen enamel with fluoride, neutralize enamel-eroding acids with baking soda, and repairs the enamel surface with Liquid Calcium Technology. Arm & Hammer Bright & Strong Toothpaste is free of triclosan, parabens, artificial preservatives, and microbeads. You should definitely try it out!

Megan: Did you know brushing with Arm & Hammer Bright & Strong Toothpaste can be beneficial to moms suffering from morning sickness? I know I needed this my first trimester when I was sick (not to mention chasing around my two older kids!) Stomach acid caused by morning sickness can create enamel issues with pearly whites. Did you know that brushing with Arm & Hammer Bright & Strong Toothpaste will: 1) strengthen enamel with fluoride; 2) neutralize enamel-eroding acids with baking soda; 3) help repair enamel surface with Liquid Calcium Technology? I love that Arm & Hammer Bright & Strong is free of triclosan, parabens, artificial preservatives, and microbeads so you’ll be putting no harmful chemicals in your body while pregnant.

April: Since morning sickness can lead to some serious acidic pH levels in the mouth (yep, that awful metallic taste in your mouth that won’t hardly go away, if you’ve experienced it, you know what I’m talking about) I made sure to brush my teeth as often as I could stand. Not only did it help keep my breath fresher, but it helped keep my pearly whites healthy, as well as helping cut down on my never ending nausea. As many of you all know, I’m super careful about what products we bring into our home, and since pregnancy is an especially sensitive time for a woman’s body and for the baby growing inside, I wanted to make sure I was only using the best. Arm & Hammer Bright & Strong toothpaste is made with 35% natural baking soda and is free from many of the not-so-good-for-you ingredients that we like to avoid (ingredients like triclosan, parabens, artificial preservatives, and microbeads to name a few). So it was the perfect choice for me and our baby.

Thank you to Church & Dwight for making this sponsored post possible – we are so appreciative. 

Renovations and pregnancy are both stressful, and when you put them together, without a plan to mitigate the challenges of both at the same time, you may be in for trouble. Luckily, with a little prep, and a few pro tips from mother’s who’ve done it before, you can make pregnancy easier while you finish the new space that you’ll welcome your baby into.

Don’t Do It All At Once

Finishing a renovation is like ripping off a bandaid—once you get started, you just want to finish it as quickly as possible. But if you pile too much onto your plate, this will not only be stressful, but downright frustrating. If you over-promise what you can do, you’ll inevitably be disappointed.

Instead, focus first on the things that can be done while you’re pregnant, and push back the ones that can wait until you have more energy to complete them. This is especially important for working mothers, who will be spending the whole week working, before exhausting themselves with a long weekend of renovation work.

Have a Plan and Work Ahead

Both pregnancy and home remodeling can go awry at any moment, whether you’re hit hard with morning sickness one week or the contractor is 5-days behind schedule. Having a plan—and working ahead—makes it easier to manage these inconveniences when the renovation is happening.

When creating your plan, consider every detail, from choosing and purchasing your materials and replacement items (doors, cabinets, etc.) to putting plan B options in place if that ends up being the only choice. Colleen Shaut at CaseDesign explains:

“The last thing you want to be doing while pregnant is running around town trying to track down a cabinet, cabinet pull, hardwood floor stain or that striking accent tile you knew you should have ordered the moment you saw it.”

Keep the Work Area Blocked Off

Allergies are annoying enough. Add pregnancy into the mix, and they may feel impossible to deal with. To mitigate this issue during a home renovation, make a point to properly seal the work area, keeping dust out of the rest of the house.

“We always designate one doorway as the entry and exit to the work area before the project starts, and the other doors are sealed to limit where dust can travel. Covering furniture, air vents, and erecting dust walls and barriers along with attention to floor protection are also very important,” explains experts at Quality Craftsmen.

This can be done with simple plastic coverings for the doorways and windows as necessary.

Avoid The Workers (Including Your S.O.!)

This may seem odd, but Kara, of KyalandKara.com shared her personal experience renovating while pregnant, and shares a tip you don’t want to miss:

“It sounds weird, but the smell of Kyal and the boys after a hard days work is normally something that makes me happy (mainly because I know stuff is getting done). However, since being pregnant, this smell is something that sets my morning sickness right off. This and most other smells you’d expect with renovating—paint, glue, sawdust you name it.”

If the smells are still affecting you, find ways to avoid them during the day, using an essential oil diffuser, candles, and keeping the windows open.

Send Out Your Laundry

If your laundry room is a mess during the renovation, or part of the renovation itself, it can be impossible to get your clothes cleaned efficiently. Laundry is enough of a pain when pregnant, much less when you’re shimmying between tight spaces and weaving around obstacles.

Not to mention, laundry is a constant task that’s that’s only made more cumbersome with a growing belly. All of that aside, it takes 100 minutes to do one load of laundry, according to CD One Price Cleaners—and that’s not counting folding. Make your pregnancy easier during the home renovation by taking it off your hands altogether.

When choosing a fold and wash service, look for features like same-day pick-up (clothes dropped off and picked up on the same day), eco-friendly cleaners, and text notifications.

Hire a Cleaner

Cleaning, like laundry, is a necessary evil that you no one wants to do, pregnant or not. Add that to the extra stress of renovating your home, and you’ve got the recipe for a break down. Instead of taking everything on your own shoulders, ask for help. Not only does a cleaner relieve you of a chore no one wants to handle, but it ensures your home is as clean as possible, at a time when it will likely otherwise be a mess.

Most cleaners are inexpensive, at just $25 or $50 an hour, and even having someone do a monthly “deep clean” may be enough to keep your messy home manageable, while saving your sanity. Who knows, when the renovation is over and the baby comes, you may not want your cleaner to leave.

Be Open and Honest

A home renovation is stressful. When you add in the limitations of pregnancy, especially if you’re far along, it’s a breeding ground for fights, as Jamie explained, in a Bump forum post, pointed out:

“Probably the biggest problem with this is the fights that it has caused. My hubs really likes high end finishes and they are expensive! I often have to talk him down to a more mid-range product, and sometimes this does not go over well.”

If this is a concern for you as well, have an honest conversation about what is expected from both of you, along with must-haves. Going into the renovation with this conversation in the back of your mind will help both of you keep your cool during the stressful times.

Is It Time to Start Renovating?

Don’t knock down the first wall or rip off the first strip of wallpaper until you’ve planned, including time of year and length and breadth of project. Don’t forget to nail down all the details before starting as well, like the finishes and flooring you’re going to use. Ultimately, however, if you can get little help from cleaning services and keep a relaxed mindset, you’ll make it through with a new home for your baby to grow up in.

Guest post by: Jessica Thiefels