Every month we give away a box of our favourite things suitable for the unique stage of your journey. This month’s featured box is a few our favourite things for pregnancy. We thought the contents would be worth sharing. 

One important caveat!! We are firmly of the belief that far too much information these days is pushed because of financial gain. You know the drill #sponsored #ad. Sometimes whoever is pushing a product hasn’t even tried it…. 

Any product we talk about is because we believe in it not because we are paid to promote it:

Integrity is key to everything we do. Something we think is especially important during the vulnerable time from conception, pregnancy and with a rapidly growing small person. All this being said, there are some great products these days that can help us along the way. We often get asked for specific recommendations. We just want to be VERY clear that any information we give or product we recommend is because we believe in it and have looked into it. Not because we are being paid to endorse it. 

So, with that caveat out the way: here are a few of our favourite things for pregnancy this month and most importantly why we like them: 

This month, our winner’s stage is pregnancy. A time when you want to be looking after your mind, body and soul. Keeping hormones balanced and your microbiome nice and healthy. Here are a few positive things to add to your life to help this along. To enter next month’s add your email to our pop-up. 

The organic scent free deodorant that works: by Green People: 

The research strongly suggests that Phtalates (basically added fragrance that you find in most beauty products – sadly) are what is known as endocrine disruptors. That means they have the potential to disrupt your hormones. Not what you want at any time but especially not for conception/pregnancy and breastfeeding. Of course one application is unlikely to make a difference. However, most of us use deodorant at least every day. Click here for much more. This product from Green People contains no Aluminium, no scent and importantly it actually works! Whilst you want your hormones balanced you don’t want to smell dodgy! 

The tool for reducing pesticide/herbicide residue on your food: Activated Charcoal by Kiki Health:

Once again another way to avoid hormone disruptors is to avoid too much herbicide and pesticide exposure. There has been a lot of emerging research around how much more we use these days and how it can have a negative impact on your body. Particularly in vulnerable stages. There has also been linked to disrupting the all important microbiome. Click here for much more. Activated Charcoal is one cheap, easy effective way to reduce your exposure. Click here for what you need to know.

For more on how to use this/avoid too much pesticide/herbicide exposure click here.

The way to stay hydrated in a healthy way: Black & Blum water bottle with Activated Charcoal filter: 

Speaking of hormone disruptors. We know plastic and specifically BPA is bad for the environment but did you know it is also bad for your body? BPA which is commonly found in plastic containing food and drink is another known endocrine disruptor. Specifically it has been found to mimic Estrogen in the body. Click here for more. So – for your body and the environment we always have our own plastic free bottles for our drinks. We also like the activated charcoal filter (which is in most good water filters these days – see above for more and click here for much more on charcoal itself) to make sure all that hydration that you’re getting is good hydration. 

One way to kick your caffeine habit: Pukka Tea: Organic Vanilla, Chamomile and Manuka Honey:  

Alas caffeine when you’re pregnant is really something you should have in moderation. Research suggests the less the better. Click here for much more. What do you do as an alternative? Find something else you like. It can be a really hard habit to give up. So you need to find something tasty that you like to ease the pain! At The Journey HQ we are all addicted to this organic caffeine free tea. Give it a try or experiment to find a nice substitute so you don’t feel like you’re missing out too much!

Something to drink it in: Glass Keep Cup: 

Well you need something plastic free to put your tea in!

As above avoiding plastic containers especially for hot drinks is ideal for body and our environment. When you’re drinking your tea and on the go this is our favourite. 

Keeping your skin supple and healthy: Green People scent free facial SPF: 

We don’t like added fragrance but we do want to keep nice skin on our faces. So, this is a great way to go. We all know that you have to be careful in the sun these days (although make sure your vitamin D is up especially during pregnancy – click here for more). There has also been a lot of controversy around Oxybenzone (also known as Benzophenone 3) found in many SPFs for their ability to disrupt important hormones. Click here for what you need to know. So, we have found this which is free from all the nasties and you can use on your face every day. Beautiful! 

Healthy gut and keeping it flowing! Linwoods organic flaxseed with nuts and added CoQu10

Sometimes our digestion is not the best during pregnancy. That is thanks to the hormone Relaxin. Very useful for pregnancy, but not great for making us regular! We are big fans of healthy omega 3/fats (click for why), prebiotic foods (which feed the good bacteria in our guts) click here for more. We are also big fans of CoQu10 which is a well documented antioxidant and declines as we age. It is absolutely important for pregnancy. Click here for more. This is something we add to breakfast or a smoothie to give us a healthy helping hand. 

Our favourite things: supplements:

We often get asked about supplements and which to take. We do not include these in our goodie bags as everyone’s needs are different. Too much can be as bad as too little. We always say talk to your doctor before taking. Here are our top things to be aware of before taking a supplement. However. There are a few that we do like if you wanted to consider a helping hand.

Instead of Folic Acid (the synthetic version of Folate) we prefer Methylfolate by Cytoplan

Folate is crucial for neural tube development in babies. The discovery of which was a breakthrough in preventing developmental issues in babies. However, some people have a genetic alteration which means their bodies find it hard to absorb the synthetic form: Folic Acid. Our bodies are best designed to absorb food form and Cytoplan does this with their Methylfolate. There are other brands but we like this one. The dosage is just right too based on recent research. Click here for all you need to know about Folic Acid v Folate. 

DHA:

Wiley’s Finest prenatal DHA/EPA

This is a form of something you have probably heard of: Omega 3. Ideally in the right ratio to another Omega 3: EPA. Research has shown DHA to be effective fighting chronic inflammation. Something that has been put as a root cause of many issues ranging from premature birth to developmental issues. Click here for much more. The best source is from fatty fish. We prefer brands where the fish is wild and low down the food chain to minimise heavy metal (mercury exposure). This one does just that.

For more science-based supplements: 

For more science-backed supplements for every stage click here. Although it goes without saying – we will say it anyway! Always check with your doctor before taking any supplement particularly if you are taking any other medications or supplements as these can interfere.

Tune in next month for our next selection. To enter add your details to the pop-up or drop us a message on instagram @thejourneydotcom

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This article is for informational purposes only. This article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice. The information on this website has been developed following years of personal research and from referenced and sourced medical research. Before making any changes we strongly recommend you consult a healthcare professional before you begin.

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