Are you currently expecting? If so, congrats! With all the stuff you’ll be thinking about registering for and buying for baby (and there is a lot of stuff!), don’t forget to take care of you during this amazing time! Your body is doing something incredible, and whether this is your first or fifth pregnancy, take time to appreciate the miracle you’re creating!
Since I’m currently pregnant with my second baby, I figured now would be a good time to share my pregnancy must-haves, as they are all fresh in my mind!
1. Cute & Functional Water Bottle
Hydration is super important whether you’re pregnant or not, but it’s especially important for pregnant women. It’s sometimes difficult for me to drink the recommended amount, particularly when I’m battling constant nausea (hello, first trimester!), but it’s easier when I have a water bottle that is chic and keeps my water cold for hours! I love the Swell bottle—a stainless steel bottle that is BPA-free, condensation-free, and keeps beverages cold for up to 24 hours and hot for up to 12!
They also now have a Sports Cap you can purchase that has a convenient pop top, which makes it easier for you to use while working out (also super important when pregnant!).
2. Prenatal Vitamin
This wouldn’t be a pregnancy must-have list if it didn’t include a prenatal vitamin, which is good for both you and baby! If the prenatals you’re taking are making you sick, you can try taking them at night right before you go to bed, or if that doesn’t help, you can try a gummy vitamin. I haven’t tried the Olly Essential Prenatal Multivitamin Gummies, but I’ve heard good things about them and they look yummy! I have used the Nature Made Prenatal Multi + DHA Softgels for both of my pregnancies and have never had any issues.
3. Comfy Lounge Pants
Comfortable maternity clothes are a given during pregnancy, but I personally love a good pair of lounge pants, especially during cooler months. Pants that can be worn for running errands and lounging around on the couch are a win-win in my book. My current favorite pair of lounge pants (which I may or may not be wearing while typing this post!) also sit below the belly, which means I can wear them throughout my entire pregnancy and after baby arrives—score! These maternity jogger pants by Isabel Maternity by Ingrid & Isabel™ are super soft, ridiculously comfy, and have front pockets. I currently have them in black but will probably be purchasing the gray as well!
4. Healthy Snacks
Having healthy snacks on hand during pregnancy can help curb nausea, keep blood sugar levels stable, and prevent you from eating too many unhealthy foods! My current faves include: Honeycrisp apples, whole grain peanut butter crackers, string cheese, hard-boiled eggs, and applesauce.
5. Pregnancy-Friendly Cookie Dough
While healthy eating is particularly important during pregnancy, it’s okay to indulge in an unhealthy craving every now and then! If you miss being able to dig into the cookie dough tub in your fridge or dipping into the batter when making cookies since raw eggs are off-limits, you will love The Cookie Dough Cafe’s gourmet edible cookie dough! This product is pregnancy-friendly because it doesn’t contain eggs—it’s actually made to be eaten unbaked. The chocolate chip cookie dough is the only flavor I’ve had and it is delicious. They also have a handful of other flavors that sound just as yummy, including OREO®, monster (natural peanut butter, oats, chocolate chips, & M&M® candies), confetti (birthday cake meets sugar cookie!), gluten-free oatmeal chocolate chip, and vegan brownie batter.
When the craving strikes, you can purchase this online or in many popular retail stores.
6. Lip Balm
Having dry, chapped lips is common during pregnancy. Oftentimes, it can be a sign that you aren’t getting enough fluids, or it could just be that you are breathing through your mouth more due to extra blood flow in the nasal passages, especially during late pregnancy. I like to keep lip balm accessible at all times (even when I’m not pregnant!). My current favorite is Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 in Natural Mint & Shea Butter. I keep one in my purse and one on my nightstand. I like it because it’s soothing, cooling, has SPF, isn’t sticky, and also leaves a nice sheen on my lips. They have a few other scents, including Lemon & Shea Butter, which I also like—it reminds me of lemon cake!
7. Hand Sanitizer
While I like to stay clear of germs when I’m not pregnant, I’m extra cautious when I’m expecting! I keep an Honest Hand Sanitizer Spray in my purse and use it all the time. It is a plant-based sanitizer that dries quickly, isn’t sticky, smells really good, and leaves my hands feeling soft.
8. Pregnancy Pillow
During my first pregnancy, I assumed pregnancy pillows were overrated and likely a product I wouldn’t need. Until I did. Once my bump started growing and I started putting on extra weight, I began to have really bad hip pain, which was especially frustrating at night since it was hindering my sleep. I finally caved and purchased a Snoogle, and boy what a difference it made! This time around, the same thing happened, except my hips started hurting sooner in the pregnancy. Now, well into my third trimester, my Snoogle helps support my hips, back, and ever-growing bump while I sleep!
You can also use the Snoogle in multiple positions depending on where you need the most support.
9. Easy Parenting Read
When I was pregnant with my first son, my favorite parenting book that I read was Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman. This isn’t your typical parenting book, but reads more like a novel about an American woman’s perspective on French parenting while living in Paris. I found this book to be engaging, funny, and less about adopting a particular parenting style, but more about getting a glimpse into the world of other moms. It’s interesting to learn how other mothers handle parenting, especially in another culture.
10. Heartburn Relief
I didn’t even know what heartburn was until I was pregnant with my first son. I had heartburn with him for about half of my pregnancy, and with this pregnancy it started even sooner. You’re super lucky if you don’t have to deal with this, but if you do, make sure you keep something on hand to keep heartburn at bay. For both pregnancies, my doctors have recommended Zantac 150mg, which typically helps me (be sure to check with your doctor first!).
11. Netflix
Okay, let’s be honest, pregnant or not—Netflix is a must! I’ve found, however, that it is even more of a necessity when I’m dealing with morning sickness or sheer exhaustion from an ever-growing bump! When I need some extra relaxation and don’t feel like reading, you can find me curled on the couch with a blanket watching Netflix!
