Published on January 2nd 2022, By: Nicole A.
This Page Includes Affiliate links.
When I became pregnant, I slowly began to find products that helped me and made the days easier. It was also nice to hear from other mommies what their favorite things were, and try out recommendations from them. So here, I decided to curate a list of things I loved and would definitely use again.
1. Pharmedoc Pregnancy Pillow
This was one of the first things I got when I found out I was pregnant, my mom actually got me it as a gift and I loved it from the start. I still use it after pregnancy, would definitely recommend even if you aren’t pregnant. I love that you could unzip the side so that you could use it as a separate pillow or just get support for one specific side. It works perfect for me for sleeping, or even reading and doing computer work in bed. Now, I use it for sleep and to help me when I breastfeed and when I hold my baby. The cover is also removable so you can wash whenever.
2. Burt’s Bees Mama Belly Butter
I used this butter pretty frequently not only to try to limit the amount of stretch marks I got, but to also hydrate my belly. One thing I will say is that if you’re like me, you will get stretch marks no matter what products you use, but I definitely liked this product for the moisturizing factor and think that this set is worth trying! I also have really sensitive skin and was happy to find this didn’t irritate me.
3. Mother’s Special Blend Skin Toning Oil
My cousin actually recommended this product to me. I loved that it was all natural ingredients and it didn’t feel super greasy or slippery like you would expect an oil to feel. I would go some days using the butter, and some days using this product.
4. Maternity Shorts
If you’re gonna get any type of maternity clothes, I would highly recommend some maternity shorts. I wore these the most during my pregnancy because they were comfy, easy to wear, and I could dress it in a way where I looked like I at least tried to put myself together a little bit. If you live somewhere cold, I would definitely try maternity leggings.
5. Pregnancy Belly Support Band
At the very beginning and very end of my pregnancy, I experienced a lot of round ligament pain. As I started getting heavier and putting more strain on my back as well, I realized I needed some extra support. My doctor recommended a support band so I tried this one out. I found it did make a difference and wore it when I knew I’d be on my feet for a while. This helped me be more comfortable and made things easier for everyday things.
6. Yoga Ball
When I tell you this ball was my best friend in my last few weeks of my pregnancy I mean it. It helped me to stretch out my legs, hips, and back, and was just nice to sit on rather than being in bed or a chair. For reference, I am 5 foot 4, and I got a size large ball and it worked out perfectly.
7. Reusable Insulated Water Bottle
Especially while pregnant, it is so important to stay hydrated. It was so helpful for me to have a large water bottle that kept drinks cold, was easy to take places, and kept me drinking. This one is rated 4.9 out of 5 stars and there are so many options to choose from!
8. Red Raspberry Leaf Tea
I started drinking red raspberry tea toward the end of my pregnancy. I had seen that it could help promote a speedier labor, and I asked my doctor If it was okay to drink (which I recommend you doing If you want to try it as well). I’m honestly not super sure if this played a huge part, but I ended up being in labor for about 12 hours and pushing for only about 20 minutes. I honestly do feel like it helped to prep my body a little bit, and would drink it if I got pregnant again.
9. Pregnancy Journal
While pregnant, I quickly found out that there were so many things to plan and remember, and that I needed a place to put everything. I actually created this journal that is available on Amazon for any mamas who needed some organization and somewhere to document everything from appointments, to kick counts, to baby shower ideas. My goal was to keep it super minimal and allow you to make it what you want.
10. The Bottom Line for Baby: From Sleep Training to Screens, Thumb Sucking to Tummy Time – What the Science Says By: Tina Payne Bryson PhD
As a new parent, I felt super unprepared and not really informed. I wanted to find a book that gave me information but didn’t favor extremely different views of parenting. I love this book because it serves more as a guide for you to make a decision. It is alphabetically ordered, so it makes it super easy to find topics as you encounter them in real life, and she presents ideas, data, and allows the reader to make a conclusion based on what the science says. I think it is great for learning about topics you may not know about or be unsure of, and look more deeply into them yourself.
11. Disposable cameras
I think disposable cameras are super fun to capture moments and also so you have physical copies of moments to remember later. I love looking at old family pictures, and I wanted to start that for my family too. I feel like it’s also different than having pictures on your phone, although you can still print those out later.
12. Polaroid camera
One thing I loved that me and my fiancé did was a photoshoot for just the two of us with our polaroid. We did a mini maternity shoot and the pictures looked so cute and unique. I definitely would recommend and I am so happy we will have those pictures forever.
13. Earth Mama Nipple Butter
This is a product that I’ve been using every single day postpartum, but I think it’s a great thing to have during pregnancy. My aunt recommended to start using before I gave birth, to keep everything hydrated and prepare for what is to come, and I honestly do wish I started using it sooner. It also serves as a great lip balm too!
Hopefully you find some things you like from this list! I would love to hear what others used during their pregnancy and if I think of anything I forgot I will definitely create an updated list. I think it is super important to take care of yourself and find things that make your experience a little bit easier. My next list will be of postpartum favorites, Hope you enjoy!