Consider this my neurospicy nonsense announcement: I’m pregnant! I’m currently a week past being halfway through, and it’s gone faster than I expected it to. I was hoping for a girl but didn’t feel as disappointed as I thought I would when we found out it was a boy. My family has multiple generations of eldest daughter trauma that I’m eager to have the chance to break. As excited as I am to meet our baby and become a mom, I can’t say I’m enjoying pregnancy. I feel truly baffled by the people who say they loved being pregnant.

That’s not to say I’m having a difficult pregnancy. The first two weeks were the worst I’ve ever felt in my life. Before that, the sickest I’ve ever felt in my life was when I had dysentery. Early pregnancy was worse. By far. I was spending almost six hours a day in the bath and often was even eating in there because it was the only place my stomach wasn’t brutalizing me. I was put on Bonjesta for morning sickness and a prescription antacid for a month. Once I was on that regimen, I was able to function and have had very little morning sickness since. Although, my stomach does start to feel weird if I don’t eat every two hours, which is yet another pregnancy reality I find completely irritating.

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The Impacts of a Neurodivergent Pregnancy

There are a number of reasons I am not enjoying being pregnant, and I think a lot of it is related to my neurodivergence. There are so many things you can’t do while pregnant. You can’t drink. You probably shouldn’t smoke weed (but of course, they haven’t really bothered to do proper studies on it because that would be too convenient for pregnant women). Thorough research into every over-the-counter medication and skincare products is required, and I’m not a fucking fan. There are a bunch of different foods you can’t eat. (Allegedly. I, of course, have a rant about this that will come later I’m sure.) All these no’s and don’t-do’s are for sure triggering my demand avoidance. Pregnancy has brought with it a feeling of a lack of autonomy that I was not prepared for.

However, at least I was aware of most of those restrictions going into pregnancy. What I wasn’t prepared for was the way hormones seem to make all my neurodivergent symptoms worse. It’s hard to stay focused when you’re exhausted. Most clothes trigger my sensory issues in one way or another. My time management skills are basically nonexistent. I’m really struggling with transitions, and I’m even struggling with being as verbal as I usually am because words seem to be swimming in my head, just beyond my grasp. Obviously, I’m coping, and I am so thankful to have a supportive husband who works to understand the ways I’m struggling but five months in, and I’m ready for this pregnancy to be over.

How I’m Coping With a Neurodivergent Pregnancy

As always, I’m here to share my saga with you. I know I can’t be the only one struggling with a neurodivergent pregnancy, and I’m for sure not the only woman who is finding pregnancy extremely uncomfortable. I thought I’d put my experience to good use and put together a list of Amazon finds that have been helping me feel more comfortable, prepare for (terrifying) labor, and maintain my sanity.

Please be aware that this post includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small amount from qualifying purchases. This helps support my work so I can keep bringing you NeuroSpicy content to help spread the spicy word. For more information about policies and partnerships, head over to my policies page.

Things to Help With Morning Sickness

Powdered or Liquid Prenatal Vitamins

This is first on the list for a reason. So many women feel better, whether it be less nauseous or less weak, after taking their prenatal vitamin. However, for too many women, it can be hard to even keep that prenatal down. For some, they feel better after taking it, but only after it’s been digested, all while their stomach aches in the meantime. It’s a lot of vitamins at once, and the iron in it can be hard on the stomach, which is truly the last thing you need when you already don’t feel well.

When I was really sick in the beginning, a doctor at the pregnancy clinic recommended switching to a powdered prenatal, and let me tell you, game changer! It’s so much gentler on the stomach. I mix mine in with Benefiber in flavored soda water, and it’s helped my whole system work so much better

I like the powdered one, but the liquid prenatal is a bit more cost-effective while still being gentle on the stomach. Whether you opt for the powdered prenatal or the liquid prenatal, they both include folate, which is the natural form of folic acid (which is synthetic.) This is crucial because some women have a gene variant that prevents their body from properly converting folic acid well, and low levels of folate has been found to be a common cause of postpartum depression.

Pink Stork Nausea Sweets

While my morning sickness is largely under control now that I’m in my second trimester, you never really know when it’s going to rear its ugly head. Calling it morning sickness is a lie, and that monster has no time limits. I’ve started stashing anti-nausea sweets in multiple locations. I’ve started keeping a handful of these Pink Stork sweets in each of the purses that I tend to switch between, so I always have some on hand if I need them.

Ginger Chews

For the same reason I carry Pink Stork nausea sweets around, I’ve also started keeping ginger chews on hand. I know that the taste of ginger isn’t for everyone, but sometimes they just handle nausea that nothing else helps with. These UpSpring ginger chews have a great combo of nausea-quelling ingredients while having no artificial colors or flavors, making them friendly for an ADHD diet as well.

Staying Hydrated While Pregnant

You’ve probably never consumed as much water in your life as you do while pregnant. The average pregnant woman needs to drink two liters a day. My tall ass? Three. I have to drink three fucking liters of water a day and it honestly gets tedious and boring. Here are some items that have been helping me remember to hydrate while hating it slightly less.

SodaStream

I think I would be losing my mind if it weren’t for our SodaStream. It’s there for me whenever I simply can’t take the boring taste of plain water any longer. With multiple flavor options on hand, the ADHD beverage monster side of me can be satiated without consuming unhealthy drinks. My favorite flavors are the peach mango and grapefruit because they go well with the mild flavor of my powdered prenatal. I love SodaStream because not only does it save the planet from plastic bottle waste, but also because you can choose just how carbonated you want your spicy water. Big plus in my book!

A Cute Water Bottle

When you have to drink two to three liters of water a day, sometimes you start to hate the sight of your water bottle. This is probably especially true for people with ADHD who need variation or something that induces dopamine pretty much constantly. That’s why I love this four-pack of ’90s-inspired retro water bottles. They’re bright and colorful with funky foam textures that are fun to squish and easy to hold. With the foamy outside, you don’t have a water bottle sweating everywhere. These retro water bottles are BPA-free and top rack dishwasher safe. The affordable four-pack means you can switch it up whenever your ADHD ass gets bored and then just toss the previous one in the dishwasher. We love hassle-free options!

Another pregnancy hydration hack: water bottle ice molds, because for some reason, cold things are so, so good when you’re pregnant.

Water Bottle Carrying Bag

A constant need to hydrate means you also need to have your water bottle on hand pretty much constantly. This is yet another pregnancy annoyance, but this water bottle carrying bag is the perfect solution! This convenient bag comes in different sizes so it can hold 32, 40, 64, 87, or even 128-ounce water bottles. This water bottle carrier bag has multiple pockets so you can carry your phone, keys, sunglasses, cards, or whatever else you need on the go while wanting to be hands-free and hydrated.

A Reminder to Drink Water

Remembering to drink water isn’t always an easy task. When you have to drink two to three liters a day, you’re often drinking water when you’re not even thirsty. Cue a handy reminder to drink water! The ULLA drink water reminder fits around most water bottles and flashes when it’s time to drink. It’s hard to forget to drink when your water bottle has a flashing light in front of your face! This cute water bottle attachment blinks every hour so you won’t forget to drink half the day and be left playing catch-up at night (which means fewer wake-ups to pee). The ULLA water reminder also comes in seven cute designs that you’re bound to love.

Helpful Books for Pregnancy

Expecting Better

If you only read one pregnancy book, make it Expecting Better by Emily Oster. I read it close to the end of my first trimester and I really wish I had read it before even getting pregnant, as it would have made my first trimester a bit more manageable. Expecting Better breaks down all the various pregnancy advice you get about drinking, what foods to eat, what medicines to avoid, etc. and helps you make sense of what the research actually says. Reading Expecting Better helped me feel more in control of my pregnancy and less like it was just something happening to me. I truly cannot recommend it enough.

The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read

The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read isn’t a parenting book per se, but it is truly a helpful book to read during pregnancy. Pregnancy really makes you think about the type of parent you want to be or possibly even more so: the type of parent you don’t want to be. I don’t have a relationship with my biological dad or my stepdad. And while we’re working on it in therapy, I don’t have a great relationship with my mom at the moment. This means my brain has spent a lot of time thinking about the things I don’t want to do as a parent but I’ve struggled to visualize how exactly to catch the moments to be able to do things differently. Cue The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read.

It’s written by Philippa Perry, a psychotherapist who highlights ways your upbringing has shaped you and how it could impact your child. In this book, she not only helps you picture things from a child’s point of view but also provides guidance and exercises for how to do things differently so that you can raise a happy child with a healthy attachment style.

Awake at 3 a.m.

As exciting as pregnancy can be, it can also be a time filled with a lot of anxiety and even depression. Between the hormones raging through your body, realizing your entire life is about to change, struggles with feelings of a lack of autonomy, and not being able to take many of the medications we’re used to taking to treat anxiety and depression, it can be a lot. That’s why Awake at 3 a.m. can be incredibly helpful. Written by a therapist with 20 years of experience in women’s health and recovery from perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, Awake at 3 a.m. provides support and guidance in some of your toughest moments. Its short, easy-to-digest chapters are perfect for when you’re exhausted and struggling, so you feel less alone and can learn healthy coping mechanisms. (Even when you’re awake at 3 a.m.)

Dream Journal

As someone who never really remembers their dreams, I was not prepared for the vivid ass dreams that come with pregnancy. Somehow, despite everything else hormones are busy with in building a baby, they also have time to make your dreams super vivid. Personally, my dreams have had a lot of themes around anxiety and the various relationship issues with my parents. Using a dream journal has been really helpful for processing all the confusing thoughts and themes that come with these suddenly vivid dreams I’m having. Of course, you can use any journal at all, but I really appreciate the pregnancy-related prompts included in this pregnancy dream journal.

Pregnancy-Friendly Skincare

Sunscreen: the Ultimate Melasma Fighter

Many pregnant women develop melasma, which is brown freckle-like spots on the face. The best prevention for it is to get religious about your sunscreen. Despite my regular SPF 30 usage, I started to notice some spots on my cheeks and realized I needed to opt for something stronger. I’ve really fallen in love with this mineral zinc sunscreen by FRE. It goes on light, doesn’t feel oily, and even sits well under makeup. FRE’s SPF 50 face sunscreen is also sweat and water-resistant, which are absolute musts for August beach days.

When I’m just going to be inside, I’m still using my favorite sunscreen from Tula. Partially for sun protection and partially just to make sure it stays in my routine so my ADHD-riddled brain doesn’t forget about it. We also moved last month, and now my desk sits next to a window, so I try to be mindful of that sun creeping in. Additionally, a lot of people don’t realize blue light from computers can have long-term impacts on skin pigmentation. That’s why I continue to use Tula’s Protect and Glow, even when I’m inside. I love how light it feels and the glowy effect it has on my skin. This SPF 30 sunscreen has been my favorite for years now, and I don’t plan to give it up anytime soon.

Zo Skin Health Brightalive

Despite my consistent sunscreen usage, I started noticing some melasma spots on my cheeks anyway. I mostly use professional skincare products now, so I immediately asked my esthetician about what I could add in. Zo Skin Health products are on the pricier side but they’ve been so worth it for my skin. The ingredients are in a higher concentration than anything you can find in a drugstore brand, which is why they’re so effective. If you’re open to investing in professional skincare products, Zo Skin Health’s Brightalive is fantastic for balancing skin pigment using only pregnancy-safe ingredients. A little bit goes a long way, too. I’ve been using it twice a day for the last month and the bottle doesn’t feel any lighter yet, but I’ve definitely seen results already!

Suquato Azelaic Acid Serum

If you’re not ready to spring for professional skincare prices, there are still other options to help fight pregnancy melasma. Azelaic acid is one of the best products you can use to help with melasma. Problem is, so many azelaic acid products include ingredients that aren’t pregnancy safe. Don’t worry though, because I did the work for you! I literally ran every single ingredient through a pregnancy-safe ingredient tracker until I found a product that contained only pregnancy-safe ingredients. That product is Suquato’s 10% azelaic acid serum. It’s paired with niacinimide, which helps azelaic acid work even better, making this suquato serum a great solution for pregnancy melasma.

Jason Wu Tinted Moisturizer and CC Cream

I’ll be honest, with how exhausting pregnancy is, I have had virtually zero interest in doing my makeup (you know, when I do actually leave the house). This tinted moisturizer by Jason Wu has been the perfect solution. The tinted moisturizer and CC cream combo helps hide any skin redness and makes for an even skin tone that looks natural and not like makeup just sitting on your skin. With all the sunscreen usage, my face is also a bit lighter than the rest of my body, and I just love the way this tinted moisturizer evens everything out. It feels light and comfortable for all-day wear and even comes in more shades than most CC creams!

Getting Comfortable During a Neurodivergent Pregnancy

The Best Pregnancy Pillow

Sleep doesn’t necessarily come easily when you’re pregnant. That’s why a good pregnancy pillow is crucial, and that’s exactly why I love this Cuddobaby Pregnancy Pillow. Browsing pregnancy pillows, all I could think was how awkwardly shaped most of them are. I wondered how there was still room for your husband given how bulky most of them are, and I was baffled at what you do with such an awkwardly shaped pillow once you’re no longer pregnant. Not with the Cuddobaby Pregnancy Pillow!

I love this pregnancy pillow because of its convertible shape that can be used for nursing or holding the baby once pregnancy is finally over. Its shape provides a range of support for side sleeping, which is so helpful. It’s also firm enough to offer the support you need without starting to sag like so many of the other pregnancy pillows I read reviews for. Another benefit: it was inspired by sportswear clothing, so it actually helps regulate your body temperature in this time of pregnancy-induced unregulated body temperatures.

Pink Stork Pregnancy Bath Soak

Like I said earlier, I was living in the bath at the beginning of my pregnancy. As my body has started getting stiffer and more swollen in the second trimester, I feel the bath summoning me again. What I found frustrating was that a lot of bath soaks aren’t actually pregnancy safe! I was so happy to find this PinkStork Pregnancy Bath Soak to help me relax and calm my angry body. The Dead Sea salt includes magnesium flakes that are gentler on skin (which is more sensitive during pregnancy) than Epsom salts. Another bonus of this PinkStork bath soak? It’s unscented, so no fragrances to irritate your skin or your currently very sensitive nose.

Anti-Chafing Stick

Let’s be honest, chafing is a common pregnancy problem. Even if you’re keeping up with your workouts during pregnancy, there’s probably some part of your body that’s starting to rub together that you’re not used to rubbing together. To prepare for breastfeeding, your body stores fat in your abs, back, thighs, and even around your underarms. In these sweaty summer months, it’s not a particularly pleasant feeling to have so much chafing suddenly. That’s why an anti-chafing stick is helpful to have on hand throughout pregnancy. This Megababe Anti-Chafe stick is easy to use on thighs, underarms, and bra lines, and protects your skin from getting irritated.

Amazon Finds for Staying Fit During a Neurodivergent Pregnancy

Yoga/Exercise Ball

An exercise ball is helpful during pregnancy for a handful of reasons. Using one as a chair can help relieve some of the pressure that pregnancy puts on your hips, back, and pelvis. It can also help stretch some of the areas that get tight but are harder to stretch when you’re lugging a big ol’ belly around. Exercise balls can also be great for doing core and pelvic floor exercises that can make labor and recovery easier. You can even use one to prepare for labor as they help open the pelvis and encourage the baby to descend. Additionally, you can use an exercise ball once the baby is here, whether it’s to bounce and soothe the baby or to help with your recovery from diastasis recti.

Pelvic Floor Trainer

Pelvic floor exercises are crucial during pregnancy. They help strengthen your pelvic floor and core, which can help with various aches and pains that come with pregnancy. Strengthening your pelvic floor can make for easier labor, reduce tearing, and make postpartum recovery faster. Pelvic floor exercises can also help improve bladder control, which is beneficial both before and after baby comes. All that being said, getting down on the floor to do pelvic floor work isn’t necessarily an easy task when you’re sore and supporting an ever-growing belly. That’s why I love this pelvic floor trainer! It’s a device designed for dedicated pelvic floor training that can both help you prep for labor as well as help with postpartum recovery.

Wrist Buddy Yoga Blocks

Research has shown that consistent prenatal yoga can shorten labor, lower the risk of preterm labor, as well as decrease the risk of complications such as pre-eclampsia. It also helps keep you limber and stretches out all those muscles that get tight from the shifting posture and weight changes that pregnancy brings. Prenatal yoga definitely requires some adjustments though, especially as the baby grows. These Wrist Buddy yoga blocks help you keep good form in yoga poses while offering more room for baby. The special design of these wrist-friendly yoga blocks relieves the pressure on your wrists, which is great given how many pregnant women deal with wrist pain that no one seems to have a real answe for.

Staying Organized Through a Neurodivergent Pregnancy

Pregnancy Journal and Organizer

Pregnancy can often feel like it’s something happening to you and not involving you as much as you think it would, given that you’re the one growing a baby. There are so many appointments to keep track of, doctors just send you for a test without really telling you what it’s for, and it can all feel overwhelming. If you have ADHD, these feelings are probably enhanced because keeping track of appointments is definitely not our specialty. This pregnancy journal helps you keep track of your appointments, symptoms, and plan for when the baby comes. Using a pregnancy journal can help you feel more in control of your pregnancy and make sure you don’t miss any important tests or appointments.

Quick Reference Birth Planner

Making a birth plan is another way you can feel more in control of your pregnancy. Yes, I’m aware that most people’s birth plans do not go to plan. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth having one at all. This birth planner notebook is great for having all the important information you need in one, easy-to-find place. There are sections in this birth planner for contacts of healthcare providers and your birthing team, your medical information, the type of environment you want for labor and birth, and postpartum planning. This birth planner notebook also includes helpful checklists to make sure you don’t miss anything, a great feature for someone with ADHD who struggles with open-ended task planning.

Clothing to Survive a Neurodivergent Pregnancy

Maternity Tennis Skirt

This tennis skirt is one of my favorite clothing items right now. It’s super comfortable for working out in and is great for running errands without feeling like a complete slob. This maternity tennis skirt is really soft with gentle compression for your belly. It also holds up in the wash, which is obviously crucial when you already feel like you’re replacing clothes every few weeks throughout pregnancy. I also love that this tennis skirt comes in eight different colors!

Smocked Palazzo Pants

Smocked palazzo pants have truly been my go-to throughout this pregnancy. They’re cute while being super comfortable, and they buy you a lot of time before needing to cave and buy actual maternity pants. The smocked front of these palazzo pants gives you room for your growing belly (and all the bloat that comes with it) while still letting you feel fashionable instead of frumpy. This pair of smocked palazzo pants comes in 20 colors and are a linen blend, making them light and breathable.

Smocked Midi Skirt

For the same reason I’m loving smocked pants, I’m living in smocked midi skirts. They’re just so comfortable and breezy in these hot summer months while basically having an adjustable waist. I love this smocked midi skirt from Amazon because it comes in 14 color options that you can wear casually or dress up. When you’re pregnant and feel like you need new clothes constantly, it’s great to have flexible options that can be worn in a variety of situations.

Third Trimester Additions

Pregnancy Pillow #2

I know I already included a pregnancy pillow but I felt the need to update. I do love the one listed earlier in this list but ultimately, I needed something that offered some back support as well. A friend of mine recommended this style of pregnancy pillow and I’ve been hooked. I love that this pillow has a variety of configurations so you can adjust it to your needs (that can sometimes vary night by night even.) This style of pregnancy pillow offers the back support I need and doesn’t consume half of my bed which both my husband and I appreciate.

Compression Socks

I don’t know what’s wrong with me that I thought comments about swollen pregnancy feet were overblown but I was very, very wrong. It’s honestly a bit creepy to see how much fluid my feet can retain, especially after a long day at my desk. A warning to those who haven’t experienced it yet, your feet will literally look like a stress ball where you can press down on them and the indent will stay for a minute. Like I said, a bit creepy. I had resisted getting compression socks because they’re so ugly and it made me feel like such a grandma to need them but I finally caved. I was excited to find these colorful compression socks which at least bring me a little dopamine rather than making me feel 85 years old. I will say, they are not sexy to put on. Pregnancy is a very humbling experience. That being said, these compression socks have made such a difference and my feet don’t swell up like balloons after a long day when I’ve worn them. I also plan to include them in my hospital bag as I’ve been told epidurals lead to a lot of fluid retention in the legs and I’m hoping they’ll help. Other brands make some cute compression socks as well but they only come in packs of two or three and I really am not trying to do that much laundry so ordering the brand that comes in an eight pack was a great choice on my part (if I do say so myself).

Adjustable Slides

With all the random feet swelling, my trusty Nike slides have sadly been less trusty the further along I’ve gotten in pregnancy. I was already considering ordering a new set of slides when one of my friends who recently gave birth recommended packing adjustable slides since you won’t know how much your feet will swell after an epidural. That sealed the deal for me and I knew I had to stop trying to squeeze my feet into my Nikes and order some new sandals. I found this pair of adjustable slides that are super comfortable. I appreciate that the double buckle of these slides allows for a more custom adjustment than slides that just have a single adjustable velcro strap. They allow me to adjust them based on my daily needs so they’re not too loose in the toes because I already have entirely too many invasive thoughts about falling without my sandals flopping every which way.

All Things Freezer Meal Prep

I know in my exhaustion of having a newborn that cooking well-rounded meals is going to be a task that my unmedicated ADHD simply isn’t up for. Starting around week 35, I started making one meal a week to put in the freezer so I wasn’t scrambling or spending hours a day cooking while at my most pregnant. I got on Pinterest and looked up postpartum freezer meals as well as lactation boosting freezer meals and saved my favorites to a new board. I got freezer-friendly bento boxes, freezer-friendly soup containers, ordered a vacuum sealer and reusable vacuum seal bags, and labels. Why labels? Because clear labeling is always a win so you know exactly what you’re grabbing and you can include the directions from reheating and save yourself the step of needing to look it up while sleep deprived. I also got some of these silicone freezer trays to use when we have an awkward amount of leftovers. Simply put the leftovers in the sections, pop them in the freezer, and later you can make yourself a little mix-and-match meal without any cooking at all.

Surviving a Neurodivergent Pregnancy

And there you have it, all my favorite Amazon finds for surviving a neurodivergent pregnancy. I hope you found at least one item on this list that helps make your own neurodivergent pregnancy a bit more comfortable and less overwhelming. If there’s an item that wasn’t on the list that you think I should know about, please drop it in the comments!