Five important things you need during your pregnancy

[su_note note_color=”#ffffff”]// This is a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received Viactiv Calcium Soft Chews for my own personal use. //[/su_note]

Oh, man. Pregnancy is… a special time. Your body will go through so many changes and have so many new needs that it can feel overwhelming to deal with it all. Hey, I know – I've been there twice. And each time, I'd have to remind myself that my body needed some extra love so it could continue to make that tiny human. It still amazes me how run down I would feel if I was careful and looked after a few simple things. In my opinion, here's five important things you need during your pregnancy!

Calories. You are making another person and that takes calories. Not a ton of them but enough that you need to be conscious of eating an extra protein-filled snack or having an extra helping of fish at dinner to get enough of them. Personally, I have never had a problem eating more calories during my pregnancies (quite the opposite actually) but that first, miserable trimester was always a rough time. Just find something that you can keep down that will help you meet your caloric goals. For me, that was hard boiled eggs. I could eat them any time and they were filled with great nutrients for me and the baby.

Water. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, y'all. Seriously. Not only does water help with the dry skin and itchiness that happens during pregnancy but it also improves your health from the inside out. Basically, your body need water to function properly. And, if you're body is functioning properly, you will feel better (I mean, not great – you'll still be stuck with all those pregnancy symptoms but better is still pretty awesome). I kept a huge water glass next to at all times and would suck on it all day long.

Calcium. Many pregnant women lose calcium during pregnancy and have no idea that's happening. This can create problems later in life with your health so be sure to bulk up on that calcium now. For me, the easiest way to do it was to take a Viactiv Calcium Soft Chews once a day while I had my morning meal. Since most prenatal vitamins contain just 20-30% of the calcium you require daily, adding a Viactiv Calcium Soft Chews (500 mg of calcium in each soft chew) up to twice daily provides most pregnant women with the calcium they need daily (1000 mg total), plus vitamins D and K. They are individually wrapped so you can just toss them in your purse and take them whenever works best for your schedule.

Rest. Sleeeeep. Oh, how I loved to sleep while pregnant and that's great because your body needs it. Making a person is hard work and, like a solid work out, makes you tired. Your body needs to relax and rest so it can continue to develop. Sometimes, you'll need to increase the hours you sleep and sometimes, you'll just need to add some downtime to your days. Time to just sit on the couch and rest your body and brain. I always tried to have a mid-day break where I would relax on the couch and read book to recharge my pregnant body.

Forgiveness. This one goes hand in hand with self-care. You need to forgive yourself when you can't do everything that you did before. You need to accept that this is the time to stop and rest and let other people do things for you. Sure, you CAN do it all but why not instead let your body do what it needs to and just chill? This was a hard one for me to deal with during my pregnancy and in postpartum but forgiveness for yourself and others is really important during this time.

Just remember, it's so important to #BumpUpYourCalcium both during your pregnancy and postpartum. Your body is an amazing thing but it does need care to help it perform at it's best. And did you know that approximately 68% of women are calcium deficient? Meeting your recommended 1000 mg of daily calcium during pregnancy is especially important because baby's bones, teeth, heart, nerves and muscles depend on calcium for growth. It’s so essential, in fact, that if you don’t include enough calcium in your daily diet, your baby will start drawing this nutrient from your own bones, putting your bone health at risk. Adding Viactiv Calcium Soft Chews is an easy (and tasty) way to make sure that you’re getting the calcium you need. Viactiv Calcium Soft Chews are available in milk chocolate or caramel flavors at major retailers including CVS, Rite Aid, Target, and Walmart, as well as supermarkets nationwide (find them here). Be sure to check out #Viactiv on Facebook and Instagram for more information about ramping up your calcium intake during pregnancy and postpartum. Learn more about Viactiv and pregnancy .

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to become pregnant, speak with your healthcare provider before taking any supplements.

Disclaimer: If you are currently pregnant, please talk with your doctor regarding any concerns before taking dietary supplements. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation on behalf of Viactiv that contains affiliate links. I received Viactiv Calcium Soft Chews for my own personal use. This post is not intended to address or diagnose any medical conditions. All opinions, text and experiences are my own. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing or planning on becoming pregnant, speak with your healthcare provider if you have any specific health questions or prior to taking any dietary supplements.