Pregnancy Pick-Me-Ups

You know how everyone tells you you've got that gorgeous pregnancy glow? Well, sometimes—like when your back hurts, your feet are as big as Volkswagens, and your skin feels like an oil slick (thanks, hormones!), you just don't feel glowy. Moms share their tricks for how to feel not quite so sore, not quite so sluggish, not quite so large—and, dare we say it?—pretty, relaxed, and practically even normal during pregnancy.

1. Stretch it out, mama. "I was a big prenatal yoga fan. It helped to center me and make me feel less anxious about what was going to happen during labor," says Eva Glettner, a mom of three in Los Angeles who blogs at Minivan Blues. "Plus, I made a ton of friends because we were all going through the same thing together. I'm a music lover, so great music put me in the right mood, even if my body was achy."

2. Remember your feet? You know, those things down below you can barely see? Ask your guy to give you a foot rub, complete with lotion. Heck, ask him to polish those toes for you, too. You're carrying his baby—it's the least the man can do.

3. "I am getting verrrry sleepy…." "For me, the best way to chill has been to turn on the Positive Pregnancy with Andrew Johnson meditation iPhone app and ask my husband to give me a rubdown with lavender oil," says Elena, a mom-to-be in Miami, Florida, who blogs at The Art of Making a Baby. "The smell is incredibly relaxing, and the app—and my husband's hands!—help relax my body. It works like a charm."

4. Believe in the power of cookies. "Inevitably, I would have an energy lull in the late afternoon during my pregnancies. It was like every last bit of my energy evaporated," says Sarah W. Caron, a mom of two in Fairfield County, Connecticut, who blogs at Sarah's Cucina Bella. Munching on a carb-protein combo like peanut butter on a cracker or yogurt with fruit can revitalize you, but there's nothing wrong with satisfying your sweet tooth on occasion. "I'd have one of those little 100-calorie package of cookies," says Caron. "Milanos were my favorite!"

5. Keep up the workouts. "I was always athletic throughout my life, whether in sports or at the gym, so that didn't stop when I was pregnant with either of my boys," says Natasha Olivera, a mother of two who blogs at Me, My Guys, and My Stumbles Through Parenthood. "Exercising gave me energy so I didn't feel so sluggish, helped me feel good about my body, and it kept me in shape—it's why I think my body bounced back pretty quickly after pregnancy."

6. Have a glamour photo shoot. Sure, your husband's been snapping random photos of you throughout your pregnancy, but why not make a big deal out of it? Dress up in a form-fitting top that shows off your belly, put on makeup, do your hair, and then vamp for the camera. Your bump's never looked sexier!

7. Hit the street. "Walks did it for me," says Melissa Schweiger, a mom of two in Brooklyn, New York, who blogs at Baby, Beauty & Baubles. "No matter how late in the day or what the weather, a nice long walk always made me feel—and still makes me feel—a little bit better about my butt, and life in general."

8. Try retail therapy (for real!). "When I'm pregnant, I get really big and can't sleep well. Given that my husband doesn't have to deal with that, I like to spend his money—ha!" jokes Meredith Roberts Quill, a mother of two in Los Angeles who blogs at Baby Bump Talk. "Seriously, I liked buying myself to new shoes. I was lucky that my feet didn't swell up like some women's do and I found these orthopedic shoes I loved and got them in a couple of styles." Of course, treating yourself to a new lipstick or pair of earrings can be similarly uplifting. But, hey, if the shoe fits….

9. Show off that glorious hair. Hair often reaches new heights of thickness and lushness during pregnancy. Play yours up even more: Head to the salon for a shine treatment or highlights. Go on a day when you have a date night planned, and ask your stylist to put up your hair; hairdressers usually do it as part of your visit, no extra charge (just ask first).

10. Get your rub on. "Regular massages were my favorite, of course!" says Cristi Comes, a mother of two in Seattle who blogs at Motherhood Unadorned. "They weren't a total indulgence—they really do help keep your pregnant body feel more comfortable, which in turn helped me sleep better. And pregnant women sure do love their sleep."

11. Do absolutely nothing. "During pregnancy, there would be these quiet moments where I would just sit and try and enjoy the moment of being so completely connected to my child," says Beth Bader, a mother of two in Kansas City, Missouri, who blogs at Expatriate's Kitchen. "At times, I could swear I feel her nice warm glow of happiness. Take time to connect to that moment. Life will speed up soon enough."