I’ve had several newly pregnant mamas ask me about my pregnancy must-haves so I thought I would put together this quick list. Every pregnancy is so different, so what worked well for me may not be needed for you, but I’m sharing what I used below and why I found it useful, so hopefully, that will give you some good info for you to sift through.
I’ve had a relatively easy pregnancy, which I totally attribute to luck. I know every pregnancy can be so different, so I am just thankful I’ve had easy cards dealt my way. Because of that, I’ve been able to stay active and eat *relatively* the same way I did before – although trust me, there has been WAY more splurging too! If you’re feeling good enough to keep up with your pre-pregnancy lifestyle, I really encourage it! I think it helps a ton!
First Trimester:
Tummy Drops: Looking back, I probably had a relatively easier first trimester than most. I was pretty queasy from weeks 6-9 but my nausea subsided after that and I never had to spend any time hugging my toilet. These tummy drops definitely got me through on the queasy days though! Highly recommend!
Water Bottle: If you’ve never paid attention to your water consumption, it’s definitely something you’re going to need to start tracking. In my experience, the more hydrated you are, the better. I love this water bottle because it holds a ton of water so I don’t have to constantly be filling it up. Plus it’s easy to track, because for the most part, I only really need to have two of these a day (based on my weight and water consumption recommendations).
Magnesium: Constipation during pregnancy is real and it’s horrible! On top of that, restless leg syndrome will mostly likely be driving you crazy on a nightly basis. I made friends with this magnesium supplement early on to help combat both of those issues. The taste is good and it’s fast acting. I’d consume it as part of my nighttime routine to help combat RSL as we wound down on the couch.
Expecting Better: There is SO much fear around pregnancy, and a lot of the recommendations always felt so extreme to me. I loved reading this book to help decipher the pregnancy do’s and don’ts and help me make informed decisions about what’s best for me and my baby. It covers everything from caffeine, to sushi, to sleeping on your back and more.
Ritual Prenatal: I’ve been taking this prenatal for years and it really is the best. They source high quality ingredients, so you can feel good about what you’re putting in your body. Best of all, you can even take these on an empty stomach and they won’t make you feel sick!
Apps: I used the What To Expect App as well as The Bump app during pregnancy. They have similar information, but I found them both to be useful to get some basic knowledge around my body and my baby on a weekly basis.
Second Trimester:
Mae Band: As my belly grew more and my pants became more snug, I really loved using these belly band extenders on my existing jeans. There’s kind of this awkward in-between stage in pregnancy where you are too big for your normal jeans but not big enough for maternity wear, so these really fit the bill for the interim.
Sheeps 8 Organic: I’ve struggled with HORRIBLE hip at night all throughout my pregnancy. I get massage every 3 weeks, and have been seeing a chiropractic 1-2x a week but there is just no relief. I bought this lotion in hopes that it would help, because so many women swear by it. Although it did not give me any hip relief, it did help my RLS at night so I’m including it for that reason. It’s a magnesium product that almost instantly helped to keep my restless legs at bay. Read the reviews and decide if this is something that might be good for you.
Protein Shakes: You definitely need to be mindful of your protein consumption during pregnancy, because it’s essential for a growing baby. Keeping these protein shakes on hand has been super helpful for me when I’ve had more of a carb-heavy day and need to up my protein intake.
Compression Socks: Nothing says I’m either 80 or I’m pregnant quite like compression socks, am I right? I got these to wear on the plane during our babymoon to help with circulation and prevent blood clots. I didn’t really need them other than that, but I’ve seen other preggos swear by them to help with RLS.
Blanqi Leggings: Finding a good pair of maternity leggings is HARD. I’ve had companies send me some to try and I never shared them because they would sag or give me camel toe. I was told by a few gals that Blanqi leggings were the jam so I invested in a pair early on and guys…they are a dream! I know a lot of pregnant women will buy the Lululemon aligns and try to wear those throughout pregnancy, but these blanqi leggings have built-in belly support so I would definitely recommend going with these. I wear a small, size 4 in almost everything pre-pregnancy, but since my thighs grew first in pregnancy, I sized up to a medium in these and they were perfect. A lot of the reviews say they attract lint, but I never really had that problem. I usually wash them on their own (because I wear them so much) or wash with delicate materials and hang dry. They have been great for me overall.
Belly Oil: A friend had recommended MamaMio oil to me early on, and that has proven to be my favorite throughout pregnancy. I did try Hatch Oil because I saw so many others promoting it, and while it was nice, I didn’t find it to be as rich/nourishing as the MamaMio oil. (Plus it’s almost double the cost of the MamaMio oil!) I use a combo of the two (since I have both) but I would just stick to the MamaMio in the future. 35 weeks today and not a stretch mark in sight!
Bras: Spoiler alert: your boobs grow during pregnancy! You also get more back fat, so your width can change pretty quickly (at least it did for me). I bought these early on and they are so comfortable. If I want something with a little lift, I’ll go for a regular bra but these have been by far my most worn bras.
Seemless Underwear: Seriously lace underwear is the bane of a pregnant woman’s existence! Go to Target and buy all the seamless underwear you can. Trust me. Also, I’m a die hard thong girl but pregnancy will teach you that you need to invest in some full coverage undies, and they have great options in that department too. I was able to keep my normal size in these and they have grown with me and been ultra comfortable. Highly recommend.
Third Trimester:
Hydration Mix: My body CRAVES electrolytes right now, and while so many swear by LiquidIV I just can’t get over how much sugar is in them. I mean, sugar dehydrates you so how can that be a good hydration product? I have my doubts. My functional medicine doctor introduced me to this sugar-free electrolyte mix and I LOVE it. They have a ton of flavors too.
Belly Bandit: The best thing for my back and hips has been using a belly band for support. I started wearing this from time to time in the 2nd trimester but have found I need it much more frequently in the third, since baby is growing at a rapid rate. I find it most useful when I’m cleaning the house and constantly bending over. It’s slim enough to fit under a lot of clothes too (depending on what you’re wearing).
Pregnancy Pillow: I bought this pregnancy pillow early on in pregnancy and had a love-hate relationship with it until my third trimester. Now, I use it every single night! It definitely helps somewhat with my hip pain, and I’m able to prop my back up against it which helps me from laying on my back in the middle of the night.
I love this dress! You look so gorgeous in it, and I love how you styled it.
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Thank you!