There are parts of pregnancy where I feel cute –I’m not sure I’d go so far as to say I “glow,” but overall I feel pretty good about my pregnant self. That doesn’t mean everything is pretty and perfect – there are certain aspects of this whole process that are seriously unglamorous, especially in the third trimester. Earlier on I was focusing on chic clothes and low-fume nail polish, but my concerns are no longer the fun stuff you see on magazine covers.

Here’s my list of must haves for the less than glamorous aspects of the third trimester:

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1. Dr. Scholls Custom Fit Orthotic Inserts Man, my feet hurt! I haven’t had any swelling worth talking about, but after teaching or walking around all day, they just ache. Dr. Tricycle, my brother and a physical therapist, explained that pregnant women carry their weight differently – my center of gravity has changed with the addition of 25 pounds. Instead of distributing my weight evenly over my feet, the pressure is all concentrated in my heels. He suggested that I consciously train myself to put more weight on the balls of my feet, but when I’m focusing on corralling thirty eighth graders, I’ve got other things to worry about. So, as an alternative, I bought some Dr. Scholls. Have you seen the custom fit machines at drug stores and places like Target? According to the machine, I have high pressure and low arches (another common symptom of pregnancy). They aren’t cheap ($50.00 a pop), but totally worth it.

2. Hunter Table Fan In the past, I was always chilly. Now, I feel like the air conditioning just can’t keep up. What is it about being pregnant that always makes me so hot? I dress in layers so I can stay cool while I’m teaching, but for those times I’m sitting at my desk, nothing feels better than a fan.

3. Gilligan & O’Malley Women’s Wonderful Edge Bikini I hate wedgies. My pregnant butt continues to expand, and I need comfortable underwear that stays put. These have a silicone band around the leg openings that totally keep them in place. They’re really great for work and any time I’m wearing trim fitting pants – only a very minor VPL.

4. Pursonic Deluxe Plus Electric Toothrush Even though I thought I was doing a great job brushing, my dentist told me I needed to buy an electric toothbrush. I didn’t want to spend a ton of money, so I was able to find this one on No Better Deal for only $26.00. Score. It seems to work just fine, and I’ve been using it daily for a few weeks now.

5. Beano Potentially the least glamorous side effect of pregnancy. I need to buy poor Mr. Tricycle a gas mask – it’s a good thing it’s still warm enough to sleep with the windows open, or our bedroom would be uninhabitable at night. Lovely, right? The Beano doesn’t solve the problem completely, but it does help if I take it before meals.

6. Simple Take On Sneakers I’m not ready to have Mr. Tricycle tie my shoes, but laces are almost impossible. I love these Simple brand sneakers – the laces look real, but it’s actually stretchy elastic. They’re surprisingly supportive, and very comfy.

7. Sigg Wide Mouth Bottle Slim This is another trick to stay cool. In the past, I totally preferred room temperature water, but now that I’m in my third trimester, I can’t get enough ice – the colder the water, the better. I bought this water bottle specifically because the wide mouth allows me to cram it full of ice cubes before I top it off with water. Its slim design also means it fits in my car’s cup holders, so it’s not rolling around under the seat.

What less than cute purchases have you succumbed to during the third trimester?