This third trimester has been a doozy! I’m so grateful to not have experienced morning sickness (or any kind of sickness) my first trimester but the past few months have been a little tougher on my body. Maybe it’s the extra five to six pounds I’m carrying in my front, maybe it’s my body prepping for labor, who knows!

But, with the help of my amazing doctor, doula, and other mommy friends, I’ve found some incredible products, recipes, books, and other sorts of things that have helped me a lot!

Water bottle + a Hydration Secret

I find it so much easier to get water down with a straw and this pack of no-sweat tumblers on Amazon have been doing the trick for me! I’ve been feeling so good and hydrated! I’ve been drinking Liquid IV when I start feeling dehydrated and it brings me right back up! Liquid IV has so many flavors in packets you can carry around with you to work, in your purse. Add a packet to your water bottle and it hydrates you like you drank 3 water bottles full of water! My favorite flavors are acai berry, passionfruit, and pina colada! Click here and use my code “RACHEL.AWTREY25 for 25% off and free shipping!

Back Massager

There are days when I feel great and then there are days when my back feels a little sore from carrying this little guy around and getting in bed and putting this back massager behind my lower back has been amazing!

Melting Body Butter

I’ve been using this body butter on my belly and it’s totally helped the itchy skin and keep my skin moisturized to help avoid stretch marks. I love the smell and it doesn’t feel super oily on my skin!

“Baby Tea” + Dates

Okay, I posted this on my Instagram and many of you expecting were so curious about what this was! I’ve been drinking Red Raspberry Leaf Tea to help soften my cervix and prep my body for labor. I love tea so this is a treat! I drink it hot with a little honey or I drink it cold as an iced tea! Always speak with your doctor before starting something new like this. I make the red raspberry leaf tea in batches for the cold version. I boil 4 cups of water, add 4 tea bags, let steep for 10-12 minutes, let cool, add to a pitcher or jar, and add 1-2 cups of V8 Mango Peach juice for some sweetened fruity flavors. It’s super refreshing! You can also research the benefits of having this a part of your routine during your last trimester.

I’ve also been trying to get my fair share of dates into my diet to also help my body prep for labor. I do this by eating a Larabar every day. My favorite flavors have been Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip.