Self-care is crucially important anytime and even more so while pregnant. Creating a new human and a brand new organ is exhausting but these are the seven Japanese things that have been instrumental in getting the job done:
1. MegRhythm Carbonated Leg Patches
These are crucial. I still spend a lot of my time on my feet and anyone who's been to Japan knows you walk a LOT here. I've been walking a good 10,000-15,000 steps every day on average going to work and I'm on my feet moving around a lot too. Add the brutal summer heat and it's no wonder slapping these on my legs (and feet!) at the end of the day is a game changer. They are cooling, a little bit fizzy and make my legs feel like new again.
2. MegRhythm Steam Warm Eye Masks
These may not be as critical as the leg patches but these are extremely helpful come nap or bedtime. My husband often stays up later than me and these are a very comfortable way to block out the light. I don't use them all the time because they can be a bit wasteful compared to just wearing my regular reusable eye mask - but I'm totally hooked on the lavender ones. They smell heavenly (but not overpowering) and the warm steam lulls me into a blissful sleep. I've been tempted to carry these for long train rides when I need to take a nap on the train and by the time this baby comes I'll be surprised if I haven't caved and done it.
3. MegRhythm Steam Thermo Patches
We're going 3 for 3 with MegRhythm products (I know who I'm gonna be gunning for a sponsorship from) but they just WORK SO WELL. I can't take pain medication while pregnant so these have been a lifesaver for my achy back - especially when my uterus started pressing on my sciatic nerve making it difficult to walk, sleep, and exist. Ultimately - only acupuncture could totally fix that but until I caved and was brave enough to finally try acupuncture these got me through. They are essential for the more minor aches and pains though, with or without pregnancy.
4. Tabinoyado Medicinal Bath Salts
5. Saborino Morning Mask Sheets
Ahhhh of course a good face mask. I use plenty of different ones especially in the long baths I take but these have been a good morning game changer. Everyone keeps telling me to enjoy getting all the sleep I can now because once the baby comes... yada yada yada. I know, but truth be told I still don't always have the best sleeps now. From being so nauseous in the first trimester to the aches and pains hitting me in the second, I'm not always as well rested in the morning as I want to be. These aren't a total cure for that but they at least make me look refreshed. I throw one on right after I wash my face and only have to wear it for a minute (though it smells so good I usually leave it on for 5-10 minutes). It's fresh, citrusy and a little bit minty so it takes away any morning fatigue or puffiness. Between this and my morning coffee (I gave up the other 3-4 daily coffees but even pregnancy won't make me give up my AM java) I can tackle the day.
6. 280 Days Pregnancy Tracking App
There are so many pregnancy tracking apps but this one is the GOAT. It's a Japanese specific app so it is a little more detailed in terms of what to expect by being pregnant in Japan and is culturally a little more geared to life here. What makes it really cool, though is that you can set the language you want (including Japanese and English) and link the app to other people like your partner. My husband and I can both use it to monitor my pregnancy and he has his set in Japanese while mine is English. It shows the weekly growth, counts down to your estimated due date and tracks any upcoming appointments. It also lets you upload pictures and make notes of your feelings and symptoms. What I really like is the section that also explains what's going on for the pregnant person, advice to the pregnant person but also advice for the non pregnant partner. This has definitely been helpful for my husband to get to understand what's going on with me and how he can best support me so for that reason alone, I can't rave about this app enough. What else is awesome? It's completely and totally free.
7. Extra Spicy Ginger Ale
I'm sure extra spicy Ginger Ale isn't just a Japanese thing although this is a Japanese product. Admittedly, it was so spicy it really didn't taste very good but when I was sick with morning sickness and constantly feeling sea sick, this was a stomach soothing lifesaver. Now that the nausea has subsided I'll happily go back to my Canada Dry but I will always think fondly of this potent elixir.
That all said - there is one thing I thought was going to be so important and helpful during my pregnancy but it turned out to be a dud:
1. Japanese Maternity Marker
This is a badge you're supposed to wear on your bag that says "baby in belly" and is supposed to grant you VIP access to things like the priority train seats. It's really helpful in theory because you can use this before you're visibly pregnant and when you're feeling the brutal effects of morning sickness. That said - as someone who takes busy trains everyday and I begin my 6th month of pregnancy - I've only been offered a seat twice. Two times. That's it. So in practice, it doesn't really do much because people don't give a damn that you're pregnant. I've even heard stories of women who are scared to wear this because people may try to purposely hit their stomachs or try to trip them. I guess in a country with immense pressure to procreate despite rapidly falling marriage and childbirth rates, seeing a pregnant woman can be triggering to many. Which is sad. I would have thought women would be a little bit more sympathetic but if anything, they are worse. I do use the badge to occasionally justify my *asking* for a seat when people are too busy pretending not to see me and usually that works but I did once have a woman look at me, roll her eyes and shrug as she glanced back at her phone and ignored my request. So much for Japan being the most polite country in the world, eh?
At least I have those sacred carbonated leg and foot patches for the end of a long day when I've been standing way too much!
*None of these products or companies have sponsored or are otherwise paying me for this post but I'd love it if any wanted to!
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