Congratulations!!! If you are reading this post, you are most likely pregnant which is why you are here and that's exciting news.
As I sit here awaiting the arrival of my little one, I started thinking about my top pregnancy must-haves. I am currently pregnant with baby #4 and these items have stayed pretty consistent through all four of my pregnancies. I wouldn't say that they are necessities because let's face it, you can live without some or most of these items during your pregnancy but these items helped me out through all of my pregnancies.
Everyone's pregnancy is different and you may not relate to these items at all which is perfectly fine but just in case, here are my Top 11 pregnancy must-haves that helped get me through my pregnancy:
1. Tums
I don't know about you, but so far heartburn has been a normal, almost daily, sometimes multiple times a day thing for me. I have had heartburn with all four of my pregnancies. If you are big into wives' tales, heartburn means your little one will be born with hair. It can also mean you ate acidity food or your baby is actively kicking your stomach. So far all of my little ones were born with hair thanks to their father... I was a bald baby... hence some of the heartburn.
Tums are my go-to for heartburn relief. I personally prefer Walmart's off-brand Equate Tums to others I have tried and so far they get the job done. If you are popping Tums like candy, make sure to read the dosage on the back of the bottle so you don't overdo it.
2. Cocoa Butter Lotion
As your tummy stretches to make room for baby, stretch marks can appear. Why not help your skin out and hopefully avoid some stretch marks by using cocoa butter. I buy Palmer's Cocoa Butter and apply it every night after I shower. They make a Pregnancy Cocoa Butter specifically for stretch marks but I'm not huge on the scent and if you read the ingredients, it's pretty much the same thing just more expensive.
I was luckily able to avoid stretch marks with my first two pregnancies but unfortunately, my third one did me over and I got stretch marks on the side/back of my hips my last few weeks of pregnancy. Years later, they are still there but that's one of the joys of growing a baby.
3. Stretchy Pants
Yoga pants, Maternity Pants, sweat pants, leggings, my husband's gym shorts because mine no longer fit... anything stretchy that fits and is comfortable is perfect in my opinion. Your belly will grow no matter how little or how much you eat and I hate to break it to you but your jeans will start to get tight sometime between 12 and 20 weeks of pregnancy.
If you want to keep wearing your jeans you can invest in a Belly Band or use hair ties to hold them together but I suggest investing in some maternity jeans or shorts and a few pairs of yoga pants/leggings if you don't have them already.
Maternity clothes are expensive and you only wear them for a few months then box it up so I recommend NOT paying full price for it. See if a friend has any you can borrow, shop clearance, use coupons, check yard sale groups or mom groups on Facebook, check out second-hand stores like Kid to Kid and consignment sales, or just wear your husband's pants to lounge around in.
4. Hair Ties
For the first 18 to 27 weeks of my pregnancies, I stayed close to the toilet. For some reason, food never settled. I would get a few puke free weeks and then it always came back right before the baby was born. There is a difference in being nauseous and actually puking one to five times a day, trust me. Needless to say, my hair was almost always up in a ponytail or a bun.
I have long hair so Hair Ties are a must-have for me. They come in handy during the nauseous stage of pregnancy. They also come in handy if you are pregnant during the summer months and they come in handy after you have a baby, especially if you are breastfeeding. Hair ties help keep your hair out of your face, your baby's face and they can help hold your jeans together if they are a little snug!
5. Mints - Life Saver Mints to be specific
This is random, but I ate a lot of mints during my pregnancies for several reasons. They kept my mouth from drying out, they helped with nausea and helped my breath smell better after I did puke. They helped mask some smells that made me nauseous. With my fourth pregnancy, I had a weird metallic taste in my mouth at the beginning, and mints were a temporary relief from it. Mints also helped keep me from snacking all the time. Instead of eating a ton of junk food, I'd eat a mint; most foods don't taste good after eating a mint.
I didn't purposely eat a bunch of mints when I was pregnant but looking back on all of my pregnancies, mints were a must-have for me. Plus mints also have a lot of health benefits such as improving brain functions and they are easy to carry in your purse or pocket.
6. Comfy Pillow
A lot of expectant mothers swear by a Pregnancy Body Pillow. I tried it out and it just wasn't for me. Every pregnancy is different and I have found myself sleeping in different positions with all four of my pregnancies. This pregnancy, I have preferred a Memory Foam Pillow for my head, a pillow between my legs, and occasionally one of those smaller Microbead Pillows to prop up my belly. I usually fall asleep on my side and wake up on my back. This baby wakes up and kicks the bed every time I lay on my side making it hard to get comfortable.
Find what works best for you whether it's a body pillow, a pregnancy pillow, just a pillow between your legs or no pillow at all.
A lot of expectant mothers swear by a Pregnancy Body Pillow. I tried it out and it just wasn't for me. Every pregnancy is different and I have found myself sleeping in different positions with all four of my pregnancies. This pregnancy, I have preferred a Memory Foam Pillow for my head, a pillow between my legs, and occasionally one of those smaller Microbead Pillows to prop up my belly. I usually fall asleep on my side and wake up on my back. This baby wakes up and kicks the bed every time I lay on my side making it hard to get comfortable.
Find what works best for you whether it's a body pillow, a pregnancy pillow, just a pillow between your legs or no pillow at all.
7. Large Cup
If you ask my husband and the doctors on my last few visits, I fail at this part. Lately, I have been told on repeat "Drink, drink, drink; Drink plenty of water". I'm not a huge water person - I know I'm weird but it gives me heartburn and sometimes makes me feel nauseous or have a headache - If I drink water, it has to be ice cold.
I have a large Stainless Steel Ozark Trail cup from Walmart (around $8 in-store) that keeps your drink cold for hours that I try to use more often than not. I recommend always keeping something to drink close by to try to stay hydrated the best you can.
I have a large Stainless Steel Ozark Trail cup from Walmart (around $8 in-store) that keeps your drink cold for hours that I try to use more often than not. I recommend always keeping something to drink close by to try to stay hydrated the best you can.
8. Pregnancy App
I have tried a few different pregnancy apps over the years. I don't have a favorite so I'm not going to recommend one because they have all had things I liked and didn't like on them. I mainly use the pregnancy app to keep track of how many weeks pregnant I am and the size of the baby. I like it when it compares the baby's size to fruits and vegetables.
All you have to do is lookup free pregnancy apps on your phone and download one or two that catch your eye. Test it out, find another one if you don't like it. Keep trying until you find one you like because it can come in handy, especially if you are a first-time mom. One I used in the past had videos of the baby's growth and milestones that it should be accomplishing that week that was pretty cool to watch.
All you have to do is lookup free pregnancy apps on your phone and download one or two that catch your eye. Test it out, find another one if you don't like it. Keep trying until you find one you like because it can come in handy, especially if you are a first-time mom. One I used in the past had videos of the baby's growth and milestones that it should be accomplishing that week that was pretty cool to watch.
9. Prenatal Vitamins
To be honest I only take prenatal vitamins because that is what you are supposed to do when you are pregnant and breastfeeding. I can tell you that I don't always eat the healthiest of foods so I hope the prenatal vitamins will help my baby get the extra vitamins it needs to grow.
I have tried several sample packs of prenatal vitamins over the years. Some were okay. Some made me sick. Some smelled horrible. Some looked like huge horse pills that were hard to swallow. Some had a horrible taste to them. Most were super expensive.
My go-to prenatal vitamin with all four of my pregnancies is Spring Valley Prenatal Multivitamin & Folic Acid. It is affordable (around $3.96 in stores) and works. It use to come in a larger bottle with more in it but this pregnancy I have only been able to find the small bottle. It doesn't have a scent or after-taste which is good and it is affordable.
Last I checked, Meijer has FREE prenatal vitamins if you get a prescription from your doctor. I have not personally tried their prenatal vitamins but it is worth looking into!
10. Weekly Belly Pictures
Okay, maybe not weekly but take the picture. Even if you don't like the way you look, have stretch marks, feel like a big balloon, take the picture. Pregnancy is a journey that you are on. This may be the only time you go on this journey so take the picture. Trust me, you will want a few pictures of your pregnant belly when it's all said and done.
I have caught myself looking back at my pregnancy pictures and comparing them to my other pregnancies. It's crazy how different my belly grows with all of my pregnancies. Keep in mind that just because you take a picture doesn't mean you have to share it with the world. I will say that my belly pictures aren't always great but they are mine!
11. You Time
Last but not least on my list for my must-haves during pregnancy is you time. This one is hard to come by, especially when you have three little ones running around or a full-time job with errands to run after work. You'd think as a stay-at-home mom I'd have some free time but surprisingly I always have a little one by my side.
I try to use nap time as my "me time". I will usually eat something, watch something, or try to catch up on my blog, crafts, or chores around the house. Most days I catch myself putting the dishes or toys away so it definitely isn't always "me time".
Even if it is just a few minutes I recommend trying to get a little you time, especially toward the end of your pregnancy. Go in your room and lay down or sneak outside for a few minutes of fresh air. Take an extra-long bath or go to the store to pick up some milk by yourself. If you can, plan a day out or a date night before baby comes. Sometimes a change of scenery and a little peace and quiet away from screaming toddlers can do wonders.
I have tried several sample packs of prenatal vitamins over the years. Some were okay. Some made me sick. Some smelled horrible. Some looked like huge horse pills that were hard to swallow. Some had a horrible taste to them. Most were super expensive.
My go-to prenatal vitamin with all four of my pregnancies is Spring Valley Prenatal Multivitamin & Folic Acid. It is affordable (around $3.96 in stores) and works. It use to come in a larger bottle with more in it but this pregnancy I have only been able to find the small bottle. It doesn't have a scent or after-taste which is good and it is affordable.
Last I checked, Meijer has FREE prenatal vitamins if you get a prescription from your doctor. I have not personally tried their prenatal vitamins but it is worth looking into!
10. Weekly Belly Pictures
Okay, maybe not weekly but take the picture. Even if you don't like the way you look, have stretch marks, feel like a big balloon, take the picture. Pregnancy is a journey that you are on. This may be the only time you go on this journey so take the picture. Trust me, you will want a few pictures of your pregnant belly when it's all said and done.
I have caught myself looking back at my pregnancy pictures and comparing them to my other pregnancies. It's crazy how different my belly grows with all of my pregnancies. Keep in mind that just because you take a picture doesn't mean you have to share it with the world. I will say that my belly pictures aren't always great but they are mine!
11. You Time
Last but not least on my list for my must-haves during pregnancy is you time. This one is hard to come by, especially when you have three little ones running around or a full-time job with errands to run after work. You'd think as a stay-at-home mom I'd have some free time but surprisingly I always have a little one by my side.
I try to use nap time as my "me time". I will usually eat something, watch something, or try to catch up on my blog, crafts, or chores around the house. Most days I catch myself putting the dishes or toys away so it definitely isn't always "me time".
Even if it is just a few minutes I recommend trying to get a little you time, especially toward the end of your pregnancy. Go in your room and lay down or sneak outside for a few minutes of fresh air. Take an extra-long bath or go to the store to pick up some milk by yourself. If you can, plan a day out or a date night before baby comes. Sometimes a change of scenery and a little peace and quiet away from screaming toddlers can do wonders.
There you have it, my top 11 must-haves during pregnancy. Keep in mind that everyone and every pregnancy is different so what works for me may not work for you.
From Sea-Bands to an Exercise Ball to Belly Support Bands, there are so many different products out there that fellow moms or companies will tell you you must have. If something sounds interesting to you, it won't hurt to test it out. Who knows, maybe that product will be exactly what you need to help get you through your pregnancy.
Hopefully, this list helps you get started on your journey and sheds some light on some items you may want to look into. Congratulations momma and Good Luck!
I'd love to know what your must-haves and go-to pregnancy items were. Comment below!!!
You may also like:
- 15 Things to do while Breastfeeding
- 17 Baby Items you Don't Need
- Baby on a Budget
- Breastfeeding vs. Bottle Feeding - When they told me I couldn't Breastfeed my Baby
- Pregnancy Hospital Bag Packing List
- Pros & Cons of being a Stay-at-Home Mom
- What can I do to help out financially while staying at home?
Pin for later:
0 Comments