13 Life-Changing Pregnancy Essentials That You Will Actually Need!
Want to know the absolute life-changing pregnancy essentials? Here are the must-have items for pregnancy that you will actually use!
Everyone experiences pregnancy differently. From growing pains to nausea to extreme fatigue – no two pregnancies are the same. During my first pregnancy, I bought everything the internet told me I needed, from a completely new pregnancy wardrobe to all the pillows and gadgets. I now realize I wasted so much money on items I never used or could have gone without.
I have compiled a list of my absolute must-have pregnancy essentials. From pregnancy support bands to the best pillows on the market- these are the only items you need for pregnancy!
This Post Is All About Pregnancy Essentials
1) A Belly Band
When I hit my third trimester of pregnancy, I felt like I was carrying around a bowling ball. The muscles in my abdomen would constantly be sore, causing pain in my back from carrying around the extra weight in my stomach. These belly bands helped tremendously during my third trimester of pregnancy to support my growing belly. They relieved tension on my back and allowed me to continue my daily long walks. I also used it when i was postpartum to help my stomach return to normal! An absolute pregnancy must-have!
2) Pregnancy Pillow
This pregnancy pillow was an absolute game-changer for me. It helps to support your back, in between your legs and feels like you are being hugged all night. I can almost guarantee you will love this pillow so much that you will use it beyond pregnancy – and maybe even catch your partner sneaking a nap with it!
3) The BEST nursing bra
Hear me out: Nursing bras are not just for nursing. If you’re like me and your boobs get ginormous and real bras become unbearable, you will love these nursing bras during pregnancy. They are so lightweight and breathable, easily one of the best items for pregnancy. This one tends to fit small, so I suggest sizing up!
4) Candy for Nausea
Candy was another pregnancy essential to help with my first trimester nausea. Eating something sweet when I couldn’t eat much helped keep my nausea at bay. When I didn’t have access to Preggie Pops, I would eat a small amount of regular sour candy – it helped tremendously!
5) A High Quality Prenatal Vitamin
Prenatal vitamins are a MUST during pregnancy to ensure you are getting quality nutrients before conception, during pregnancy and when breastfeeding help to support fetal development. These prenatal vitamins by Thorne are one of the best on the market as they are extremely high quality. Just make sure you eat them with food because they might make you feel nauseous on an empty stomach (like most vitamins can). This is somewhere you should defiantly splurge on a higher quality product. ** Always consult with your doctor to see what prenatal vitamins are right for you **
6) Prenatal Fish Oils (DHA)
Speaking of prenatal vitamins, DHA and EPA are another pregnancy essential to help with the development of the fetal brain and nervous system. I love this prenatal DHA because it’s gentle on the stomach and contains mint to help with fish burps. An absolute pregnancy must-have! ** Always consult with your doctor to see what supplements are right for you**
7) The Best Leggings
Throughout my pregnancy and postpartum, I swore by these maternity leggings from Amazon. They are the softest, most buttery fabric and pair perfectly with a growing belly. I purchased them when I was 9 weeks pregnant and used all throughout my pregnancy and postpartum. Leggings are the perfect staple in your maternity wardrobe, especially in the cooler months!
8) Soft Pajamas
You will live in these pajamas during pregnancy and postpartum! The bamboo and rayon fabric means they are not only buttery soft, they also have a natural cooling effect (perfect for the postpartum night sweats). The button-up top also makes it ideal for moms who will be breastfeeding. A pregnancy essential!
9) Belly Oil
During both my pregnancies, I applied oil religiously to prevent stretch marks on my stomach, hips and boobs because I was genetically predisposed to getting stretch marks from my mom and grandma. Thankfully, I didn’t get a single one! I used pure Rosehip oil as it contains vitamins C, E, and A. I also know a lot of other moms who love the Earth Mama Belly Butter.
10) Bath Essentials
Baths were a MUST for me during pregnancy as I was dealing with pregnancy insomnia and muscle tension. I always added a little bit of magnesium flakes to my bath, and I would come out feeling completely relaxed and rejuvenated. Just ensure the water is warm, not hot, as hot baths are a no-no during pregnancy. **As always, consult your doctor before!**
11) Pregnancy Journal
I know this isn’t completely necessary, but it is something that you will be glad you did! This pregnancy journal contains prompts to track your thoughts and feelings during pregnancy, the baby’s growth, and doctors’ appointments and also to share your birth story. You will look back and be grateful that you took the time to write down the beautiful (and hard) moments of pregnancy and birth.
12) Maternity Shirts
In my opinion, you do not need a whole new wardrobe for pregnancy,. You need a few key pieces to make your current wardrobe work for you. One of my pregnancy must-haves was this three-pack of Amazon t-shirts. With these t-shirts, I wore my leggings, my jeans with my button extenders (see next point) and my long skirts I had in my wardrobe from before pregnancy. Soft and comfortable, they were an absolute must-have for pregnancy!
13) Button Extenders
These button extenders are such a great way to get the most use out of your pre-pregnancy jeans. I wore these during my pregnancy until I was around 35 weeks. They are super affordable and a great alternative to buying pricy maternity jeans!
Overall, these are all of the must-have items for pregnancy that I purchased and would recommend to all pregnant women. There are so many products for pregnancy on the market that you do not need to spend your money on. Hopefully, this post gave you some insight into what items would be useful during your pregnancy.
