When you have HG, there really isn’t a whole lot out there that makes you feel better, but if you’re courageous enough, you’ll try anything. Here are some of the products that have helped me get through the past 9 months.

Hygiene and Beauty Products:

1. Electric Toothbrush- makes brushing short and sweet.
2. Ouchless Hair Bands- keeps your hair out of your face. I also use them to keep my PICC line and IV tubing close to my wrist. When the tubes dangle, it pulls on the PICC wound, which hurts.
3. Clinique Deep Comfort Body Moisture Lotion- Dry skin is not fun- this stuff isn’t perfumed. It smells clean and it isn’t greasy.
4. Clinique Moisture Surge Extra Thirsty Gel- Pregnancy hormones can destroy a peaches and cream complexion. Dehydrated skin, common to those of us with HG, is itchy and flaky. Once the body senses dry skin, it turns up the oil production through the sebacious glands. Overactive oil glands + dry skin flakes= clogged pores. This product moisturizes without oil or scent. It is lovely.
5. Venus Breeze Shaving System- I don’t have the energy to take a long bath or shower and shave. This is quick and I feel a little more human when I’m done. The Breeze Razor comes with the shave gel on the head, so all you need is a little water. Leaves legs smooth and moisturized in one step.
6. Summer’s Eve Feminine Wash for Sensitive Skin- cleans “down there” without soap or other irritants, which can cause yeast infections. Who needs that?
7. Two in One Shampoo and Condtioner- again, no stamina for long showers. Make it quick. Try to avoid those with alcohol as the top ingredient. They will dry out what might be an already dry and itchy scalp from HG.
8. Any brand’s 3 to 5 minute leave-in conditioner- if you do find yourself with a dry scalp, a super thick leave in moisturizing conditioner will get your itchiness back in line if used every few days.
9. St. Ives Apricot Scrub- the smell is clean and it leaves dry skin flake free without irritating. Helps with complexion.
10. Bath and Body Works’ “Lay it on Thick” Cream- I used it in my first pregnancy and had no stretch marks! I have them this time, but the cream has been great for my big tummy.
11. Secret’s “Flawless” Deoderant Line- uses Oust’s technology (molecules in the product absorb odor-causing molecules in the air). Odor causing molecules aren’t covered up, they are eaten up. Amazing stuff.
12. Baby Wipes- in every bathroom. Take extra gentle care down there.
13. Overnight Maxi Pads- when you barf, sneeze, cough or laugh, its best to have yourself protected from the Tinkle Fairy.
14. PICC Line Cover- Saran Wrap doesn’t keep mine dry. I invested in a commercial PICC line cover since I’d have to be waterproof for months on end. Buy it here. http://www.allegromedical.com/infusion-iv-supplies-c6448/dry-pro-picc-or-iv-line-protector-p554952.html  Kinda pricey, but I used mine for 6 months. It kept the line dry and infection free.
15. Bath and Body Works’ Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer- when you are worn down, you catch everything from everyone. Best to kill germs before they make a sick mommy even more sick.

Medicine Cabinet:

1. Ricola Honey Herb Lozenges- helped with nausea
2. Dermapore medical tape- keep dangling PICC lumens out of the way. Great for sensitive skin.
3. Extra Strength Maalox mint- heartburn hell from a damaged esophagus needs some help. If any heartburn/esophageal tears are contributing to your HG, consider daily Protonix by RX, with IV or orally, if you can swallow. You’ll need those tears to heal so that you can eventually eat.
4. Mucinex DM- I was stuffy my whole pregnancy, which made the nausea worse. This product is safe in pregnancy and helps clear a stuffy head.
5. Vicks Vapo Steam and Electric Warm Moisture Vaporizer- my nose and throat got dried out, adding to my nausea.
6. Vicks Shower Tablets- vapo steam therapy in the shower
7. Tegaderm PICC line dressing- I was allergic to any foam or latex on my PICC dressing. Tegaderm is a breathable plastic cover for those of us with sensitive skin. Got rid of my dressing rash, which was miserable.
8. Blood Pressure Monitor- good to have at home.
9. Benadryl, preferably in IV push- helped with side effects caused by anti-emetic drugs.
10. Vicodin or Fioricet for aches and pains throughout pregnancy, especially near the end
11. Kytril for Nausea- I am allergic to Zofran, Reglan, Phenergan, and most other anti-emetics. Kytril is a new cousin to Zofran and it worked for me where the others failed.
12. Ultram for RLS- near the end of the pregnancy, I suffered from restless leg syndrome, which is fairly common in late pregnancy. You can’t sleep when you’re kicking around your bed. This drug calmed my legs and allowed for peaceful rest. It is also a mild pain reliever.

Grocery Items:

• Lemon Lime or Orange Seltzer Water- refreshing way to hydrate without syrups or calories.
• Country Time Lemonade Mix- again with the citrus.
• Special K, eaten dry- offers iron and vitamins/minerals in a manageable, munchable form

Entertainment:

• iTouch or iPhone- keeps you out of the doldrums with games, music, movies- many of which are free downloads, once you get past the initial cost of the iTouch.
• Amazon Kindle, Library Card or stash of books- reading allowed me to escape from the misery of 9 months of bedrest and starvation. The Kindle was an expensive treat. A library card is just as fun, but free.
• Audiobooks- sometimes you’re too sick to open your eyes for reading or watching TV. An Audiobook will entertain you while you rest with your eyes closed to the world.
• HelpHer Forums- friends, empathy, catharsis. We all need it, and we all share it at www.forums.helpher.org
• Facebook Account- gets the word out on HG so that people will learn about it. Its always nice to open your email to a sweet note from a concerned friend. They DO want to hear how you are faring.
• Netflix Account- movies are great. Free instant viewing of movies and tv series on your computer is also great!
• DVR or TiVo- record shows you might miss. Get into a miniseries or record that ANTM marathon you’ve been missing.

Comfort Items:

• Super Plush Footies for PICC cover- soft socks with the ends cut open keep your PICC line safe, warm, and out of sight. Some people can’t stomach the sight of the PICC site. This avoids any awkwardness.
• Swedish Foam Mattress Pad- as pregnancy progresses our ravaged bodies get so sore. A swedish foam topper can make a huge difference in your quality of life during bedrest without the cost of a new mattress.
• Fan- I got really hot near the end of the 9 months.
• Stash of roomy, comfy nightgowns
• Cotton panties- natural and breathable to avoid yeast infections

What I really needed more than any of the above “things” was support and love from family and friends. Keeping in touch over email, blogging, online forums, facebook and the phone got me through this pregnancy. I deliver my little girl first thing tomorrow morning! I’m so thankful to have made it this far and I needed every bit of support I recieved along the way.

If you have any questions or ideas of your own, email me at mom@writewingmom.com. I’d love to hear what you are up to!