This CEO and Sexologist Shares Her Nighttime Routine During Pregnancy

It's no secret that we love a good morning routine. We've come to learn, however, that the rituals we do to wind down before bed are just as important. Whether you take 10 minutes or a few hours, it's precious time that you have set aside at the end of the day to take care of yourself. Our series Weekend Wind-Down highlights the nightly routines of the people we admire.

A few years ago, my partner gifted me with this vibrator from Dame Products, and while I thought it looked more like a newfangled tech gadget than a sex toy, I'm not kidding when I tell you that this little device has been a complete game changer for me, both for self-intimacy and our time as a couple. 

The co-founder and CEO behind this modern sexual-wellness company is sexologist Alex Fine, who is currently navigating her sexual health and pleasure during a pandemic and her first pregnancy. (Spoiler: It's not always easy, but it's especially important for Fine to make space for this daily act of self-care.) 

Keep scrolling to see the rest of this entrepreneur's wind-down routine. 

I make a concerted effort to try to wrap up my days by starting tomorrow's to-do list and figuring out that one thing I really need to do tomorrow. When I'm smart and feeling on top of my day, I start my evenings by burning something like copal or palo santo, which are great for moving energy.

However, if I don't have those on hand or am feeling in a slightly different mood, I'll opt for a candle. (My favorites are by Boy Smells.) I find it really helps me to intentionally calm myself down by separating the evening from the hecticness of the day. 

Most nights, my husband and I will then cook together. We are currently making our way through Every Grain of Rice: Simple Chinese Home Cooking, and I'm particularly in love with the black bean clam recipe.

Sometimes we'll put on music and dance together too. (He is pretty cute.) We dance to a range of tunes, but recently we've been into some '80s pop. I'm also a big fan of imported disco tunes. He'll pour wine (I'll just smell the wine), and we'll enjoy each other's company as we eat. Okay, that's not always necessarily true. We also sometimes watch TV while we eat. But we can pretend we have deep meaningful conversations during dinner!

When dinner is all wrapped up, we'll sit down to meditate… kidding. We'll watch Love Island! I can't even pretend that I'm ashamed. The show is so incredibly addicting, and it's the perfect way for me to shut my brain off at the end of the day. My husband and I get to discuss relationships, communication, and how we think each contestant could have handled the situation. But let's be real: We love it even more when the contestants act poorly. 😞

I care less about going to sleep at 8 p.m. or at any specific time. If that's when I'm tired, then that's bedtime for me. I also don't smoke weed these days, and honestly, I miss it. Now, I just dream about it.

At some point, I'll usually get a bit bored and do my nighttime skincare routine, lotion up, and get in bed. I'm currently using CeraVe's Hydrating Cleanser, The Ordinary's Hyaluronic Acid and Niacinamide, and Éminence Organic's Coconut Age Corrective Moisturizer. 

Also, now that I'm pregnant, I use way more lotion for the growing belly. I'm a big fan of Hanahana Beauty's Shea Body Butter, which is ethically sourced and whipped into a cloud of goodness.

Most nights, I'll take some time to listen to an audiobook. I'm currently listening to Assata: An Autobiography, which can be a little intense before bedtime, so sometimes I'll switch to a high-fantasy epic novel. (I'm currently on book three of the Mistborn series, and I give it a B+.)

Depending on our moods (and, of course, how much drama is on the Island that evening), I might get a little nighttime action. If not, I'll masturbate, either with a hand or with one of our awesome Dame Products vibrators. I do find it harder to masturbate while pregnant, but it helps me nod off to a dreamy sleep.

Up next: Peloton's Kendall Toole Breaks Down Her Entire Self-Care-Focused Night Routine