I get a lot of positive comments when I’m pregnant. I think it’s funny when people say, “Pregnancy suits you.”

I admit that I don’t have the regular issues that most pregnant women seem to have. Most recently when I went to get a facial and massage, both the esthetician and therapist commented on how good my skin was and how little swelling I seemed to have. My husband  always compliments me on my minimal weight gain, level of activity and ability to stay attractive while pregnant.

So, to advise pregnant women out there who want to have 40 weeks of looking semi-good, then here are my tips:

– Don’t focus on food like most pregnant women do all day. I don’t want to sound mean, but I think a lot of pregnant women focus on their pregnancy so much and ‘eating for two’. I also think that they indulge a ton because they think it’s for the ‘best’ for the baby. Studies have shown that it’s not! Gaining too much weight pregnant does negatively effect the baby!

– Eat normally but probably add a few indulges…like extra carbohydrates here and there. (You don’t want to diet for God’s sake!)

– Drink a lot of water to prevent swelling. I admit that sometimes I don’t drink a lot of H20 because I hate constantly having to find a bathroom, but at least I know the water is going out of me instead of staying in me!

– Indulge in your cravings for salt and sugar but DO NOT overdue it. Both salt and sugar causes weight gain and swelling – so while I like my share of chips, I really don’t eat more than a handful of wheat thins a day.

– Stay active (especially if you were active before) but don’t train like you are competing in a contest. You have to remember that you are working out for you and your baby. I have been training maybe 2-3 times per week throughout the entire pregnancy. When I say ‘training’, I mean a dance class or 30 minutes light cardio on the elliptical. No running…no heavy weight lifting…etc.

– Get off the couch. I’m not a TV person in general so this is easy for me. I even have a TV in my office, but I rarely turn it on. I admit that this morning I spent the majority of two hours cleaning the house. I think it’s important to stay active in some type of activity, even if it’s not at the gym, so you get off your butt and move your body.

– Focus on fresh foods. Again, I have to go back to food because I think that’s where women really get it wrong. I think they ‘think’ they are craving something when in actuality, they are really just indulging. When they do indulge it’s usually something processed like ice cream, fast food, chips, etc. When I go out to eat, most of the time I still order salad. I love salad! I love that it’s fresh, unprocessed and clean. I also taste foods on other people’s plates (when they let me) should I want a little bit of something more.

– Sleep. I sleep at least 8 hours a night. It re-energizes you and gives you strength for the next day. You also seriously need it before the baby comes!

– Have a beauty routine. I wash my hair every other day. I started having a better face washing routine lately as well. (I used to just use soap and water…no moisturizer, sunblock, nothing!) But now, I begin my nightly routine by washing my face with a cleanser, removing any eye make up, applying treatment for my dry skin, adding moisturizer and using a Q-tip to remove any residue on my face. I floss, I use a toothpaste with baking soda when brushing and I gurgle with Listerine. THEN I apply belly butter on my expanding belly! I never used to do it, but I thought it would be good to add that to my routine.

– Wear clothes that make you feel good about your body. Confidence creates beauty. For me, I don’t wear that many maternity outfits. I just don’t find most of them attractive. The only thing I do wear are maternity jeans. For other stuff, I buy a large. Since a lot of fashionable clothes these days (especially at Forever 21 for example) serve the population of girls with large midriffs, it seems that there are a lot of maternity clothes out there that were not “meant” to be! LOL. I like to wear a variety of clothes including Maxi dresses, jeans and cute t-shirts, my favorite cargo pants with a tank top or workout clothes. Don’t hide behind sweats and overalls! Wear something cute!

– Don’t stress out. Welcome the new changes in your body and enjoy this process. Having a baby growing in you is a miracle! It’s such an amazing experience so welcome it, enjoy it and love it!