There are so many products available to help during pregnancy but how do you know what you actually need? I know for me, I didn’t want to spend too much money on things but I also wanted to be comfortable. Here are my top pregnancy essentials that I think you actually need!
Water bottle- Drinking enough water is super important in pregnancy. Having a water bottle that you like can make it a little easier to stay on track with your water intake each day. I got this gallon size bottle from amazon because I am at work all day and it helped me stay on track even if we got super busy.
Maternity clothes- Having actual maternity clothes can make you so much more comfortable. Especially if you have to dress up for work. Regular clothes just don’t fit the same at a certain point. They don’t have to be super expensive. Most of my clothes came from Target, Old Navy, and Walmart. My favorite jeans that didn’t break the bank were these from Target. I also loved having these t-shirts handy to just throw on.
Comfortable bras and undies- Everything grows during pregnancy so having comfortable bras and undies will make you feel way better. In the first trimester, my boobs were so sore that I had to have on some sort of bra at all times. My favorite was this one from Target. I sized up and am still wearing it at 38 weeks! As the belly grows, having stretchy undies was the best. My favorite were these from Target. As I was preparing for postpartum I ordered these nursing bras from Kindred Bravely. I so wish I would’ve found these sooner!! They are literally the best and most comfortable.
Bath salts- I didn’t take many baths in the first trimester because I was super nervous about everything but as my belly got larger it helped me relax and feel more comfortable. Bath salts contain a ton of magnesium which can help if you are experiencing any muscle cramps like I was.
Magnesium supplement- Magnesium can help with many pregnancy symptoms including constipation, muscle cramps, and sleep. It has been shown to help prevent preeclampsia and low birth weight. If you are having any trouble with these symptoms, I highly encourage you to talk to your provider to see if adding this to your prenatal vitamin is a good fit for you. I am not your provider and this is not medical advice. Always speak with your provider before adding any supplements to your regimen.
Belly butter- As your belly grows it can get really itchy! The best thing is to keep it as moisturized as possible. I tried a couple of different belly butter and oils but my absolute fave is the belly butter by bumpology. It has super clean ingredients and feels amazing! I will put this on first and then layer the earth mama belly oil over top!
Belly support band- If you have to stand or move around a lot for work, a belly band can provide a ton of relief. Being a community pharmacist, I stand at least 8 hours a day while I am at work. That puts a ton of strain on your belly and back. I love having my belly band handy if I start to get really uncomfortable. My favorite was this one from belly bandit. It was really great quality and I will be saving it for future pregnancies!
Pillows- Getting comfortable while sleeping started getting difficult in the second trimester as my body was changing so quickly. You absolutely need comfy pillows to help support your body as you sleep. It makes a huge difference. Trust me! Some people love pregnancy pillows. I personally didn’t find it as comfortable so I used a few regular pillows. Find whatever works best for you and you won’t regret it!
Birthing ball- The birthing ball is the most helpful towards your third trimester. It can be difficult to find a comfortable sitting position. Sitting on the birthing ball provided me with almost immediate relief from back and hip pain. It is also great for helping open up the hips and getting the baby into the proper birth position. You can also use it during labor. Win! I ordered the small size off amazon but my doula said I needed a bigger one so I ended up ordering the large size and it’s perfect!
An OB/GYN or midwife you trust- Out of all the pregnancy essentials, this is the one I would recommend the most!! It is SO important to have a provider you trust!! This is an important and emotional time. Having a provider who is on the same page as you can make a tremendous impact on how you feel throughout your pregnancy and going into labor/delivery.
If you want to see more about my experience with each trimester, check out my first-trimester recap and my second-trimester recap!
Let me know what pregnancy essentials you recommend in the comments below!
[…] I talk a little more about why I think it is so important to have a provider you trust in my pregnancy essentials post. You can check that out here! […]