Pregnancy Must-Haves! Let’s talk about those perfect finds that will save your sanity during the pregnancy journey of your growing baby bump. What items do you need to simplify your pregnancy?
Let me share all the must-have pregnancy items I recommend adding to your shopping cart.
Pregnancy Must-Haves
1. Prenatal Vitamins
When you find out you are pregnant, the first thing to reach for is a quality prenatal vitamin. Now, some of you who have been trying to conceive might already be taking vitamins, if so, kudos to you.
Find a prenatal that works for you. You will find there are a ton of brands, so find what works for you. Some prenatal vitamins tend to exacerbate nausea so you might go through a couple to find one that works with your body.
- Best Chewable Prenatal Vitamin (tastes sooo good!)
- Best Value Prenatal Vitamin (what I’ve taken with all four pregnancies!)
- Best Organic Prenatal Vitamin with whole foods and probiotics
2. Pregnancy Pillow or Wedge
I know they can be pricey, but trust me, it will soothe your sleeping needs. I finally made the investment with my fourth pregnancy and asked myself WHY didn’t I do this before?? As your bump grows you can tuck the pillow and shape to support your tummy and even your achy back! This is an incredible item to invest in early on. I even used it after delivery of our bundle of joy.
Or look into a pillow wedge to help you sleep sitting up more to calm indigestion. If you have heartburn or indigestion a lot, this is a lifesaver.
- Best whole body pregnancy pillow
- Best pregnancy pillow/ wedge (this is what I bought)
- NEW Best adjustable pregnancy pillow–can be used after pregnancy too!
3. Belly Cream or Coconut Oil
You might find that your stomach skin is itchy when you are pregnant–this is your skin stretching. Whether you prefer butter or thick lotion reach for a high-quality belly cream. Reach for a shea butter that will help to soothe your itchy dry skin and help nourish your skin to hopefully lessen stretch marks.
4. Maternity Shirts
No matter how hard you try, eventually, you will need to order maternity clothes. I suggest buying quality items that you can piece together to create multiple looks. Good maternity jeans, a dress, etc. You will get to have the versatility and comfort. Then if you find other items that you can buy in a larger size that can transform into maternity for less money that works great too.
5. Exercise Ball
I love a good exercise ball for all stages of pregnancy, especially in the end. It is a great way to help get baby in the position for birth, can relieve aches and pains, and is a win overall. Just gently roll around on the ball to help stretch your muscles. Also, this is great to have to sit with your baby and gently bounce while you hold them.
6. Nausea Relief
You will find tons of ways to relieve morning sickness. Some will work and others won’t. But they are worth trying. Sucking on sour candies, eating ginger chews, Unisom and b6 (consult a doctor) and more. Find what works with you and try them out and aim to get rid of that pesky sickness you are experiencing.
Related: Ways to Battle Morning Sickness (that Actually Work)
7. Belly Support Band
A great item to buy for later in pregnancy to help offer support. Belly bands can help you breathe easier, relieve back pain, vaginal pressure and more. It is hard for your belly to support all the added weight so it is totally worth investing in a band.
I found these tank-tops to be fantastic support and more versatile than a belly support band–they occasionally go on sale for 40% off so grab one then!
8. Stretchy Bras or Bra Extender
You will find that stretchy bra is great as your breast is quickly growing during pregnancy. I even found using a nursing bra, in the end, felt comforting to wear. You want a bra that offers stretch so you don’t have to buy new bras as often during pregnancy.
9. Water Bottle
Whether you buy a tumbler, water bottle, or any other type of container, use one. This is a great way to always have cold water at your fingertips. It takes a lot of water to keep you hydrated, so find one that is dishwasher safe and use each day for fresh chilled water.
10. Slip-on Supportive Shoes
Make sure you buy shoes that offer support for your tender feet. You will find that your feet can grow as you are pregnant. You also can end up with achy hurting feet. So buy shoes that will fit your expanding feet, and offer support.
11. Natural Cleaners
It is a great idea to check out your cleaners to make sure they are safe to use while pregnant. You don’t want to worry about chemicals being harmful to you or the baby. You might find switching to all-natural cleaners to be a good idea.
12. Comfy Underwear
Consider buying no ride underwear to help you feel more comfortable. You might even find higher waisted underwear will help to bring a comfy feeling to your baby bump! I always preferred these
13. Stretchy Jeans
By 20 weeks, I often found that my normal jeans weren’t very comfortable! Plan to invest in one pair of pregnancy jeans. I found that my one pair lasted 3 pregnancies and even though they were pricey to begin with, I certainly got my money out of them!
14. Dresses
Maternity dresses are the bomb! You’ll get to your third trimester and feel like you can’t possibly get any bigger, but you can! Flowy dresses are a great way to feel comfortable in summer heat and they are easier to wear than tight shirts and shorts!
13. Yoga pants and loungewear
What did women do before yoga pants? Seriously! I feel like mom life= yoga pants 4 life and it all starts when you are pregnant! These yoga pants have nearly perfect ratings–and over 2,000 of them!
14. Eco-friendly Nail Polish
There are lots of chemicals in nail polish that are an absolute no no for pregnant ladies! This is my favorite all-natural nail polish! Also make sure to pamper yourself when you are pregnant–you likely won’t get as many chances once your baby has arrived! No joke, it’s been four years since I had a pedicure.
15. Compression Socks
I have never worn compression socks; but, I know lots of women find them really helpful. These are inexpensive compression socks that come in multiple different colors. They are great for days when you know you’ll be on your feet a lot or when you are traveling.
16. Stretching and Yoga Videos
Staying in shape while you are pregnant is so important–not only for an easier delivery and an easier rebound; but, for the health and wellness of yourself and your baby! While I’m typically a runner when I am not pregnant; I couldn’t continue running during any of my pregnancies. Between morning sickness and pre-tern labor, I was a mess! Instead, I took to doing lots of yoga (including prenatal yoga in my third trimester) and spinning classes (while monitoring my heart rate.)
17. Maternity Swimsuit
Think you need to wear a one-piece swimsuit to cover that bump? HECK NO! Do what makes you comfortable! I sported a bikini during each of my pregnancies–including my last pregnancy. I was 38 weeks pregnant here and I ended up having my baby that night!
18. Supportive Tank
I mentioned above my favorite supportive tank–I used it instead of a pregnancy support band. It was pricey but so worth it! It helped reduce my back pain and helped me feel “supported and lifted” even when I was on my feet all day chasing my three children (ages 2, 4, and 6)!
19. Nausea Relief
Morning sickness is NO JOKE! I had horrible morning sickness with each one of my pregnancies from weeks 6-12. I shared all my morning sickness cures here–these helped me navigate it (but none was a cure-all.)
20. Clean Makeup
I am NOT a consultant but I do love Beauty Counter make up. I’ve also tried Honest Co. make up (by Jessica Alba) but wasn’t as big of a fan. When you are looking for clean makeup, the EWG is your best guide. You can also download the app Skin Deep for free!
21. Slippers or Non-skid Socks
Slipping is scary when you are pregnant (and you might pee yourself if you’re on your second, third, or fourth pregnancy!) True story. If you have hardwood floors, you’ll want to snag some of these inexpensive non-skid socks. They make great barre socks if you do that type of exercise as well!
22. Sleep Mask
This is another one of those–“why did I wait so long?” Pick up two of these–one for you and one for your husband (because he will want it when he sees how soundly you sleep!) These are top-reviewed and cheap–we’ve had ours for over a year and laundered them regularly with zero issues.
23. Sound Machine
When I am pregnant, I need a LOT of sleep! Get uninterrupted sleep with a sound machine. Plus, if you don’t like it (you’ll love it) you can always use it in your nursery!
24. Epsom Salts
Hot baths are heavenly for a sore back when you are pregnant! I love this epsom salt soak (it’s lavender-scented) which makes it super relaxing. But you can get any old one!
25. Hat and Sunscreen
Guess what’s not fun about being pregnant–melasma! Melasma, aka “pregnancy mask” is an hyper-pigmentation. It often occurs during pregnancy or post-partum. Some women (myself included) even experience it when they are on birth control. The best way to deal with melasma is to prevent it–so grab your hat and some clean sunscreen!
26. Healthy Snacks
Keeping your blood sugar stable when you’re pregnant is especially important–and it helps stave off morning sickness! My favorite healthy snacks are chopped up veggies, fruit, or a handful of almonds. But I won’t lie. I much prefer the non-healthy snacks!
27. Magnesium
I experienced lots of hormone-induced headaches when I was pregnant (each time) and my doctor recommended I take magnesium. You can take it in a variety of forms, but I found the pill the easiest to incorporate into my daily routine. It helps with aches and pains, and lots of women find they are naturally deficient in Magnesium, so it’s a good supplement to take.