My Pregnancy Must-Haves
I’ve gotten lots of questions about my favorite items and resources during pregnancy, so I wanted to collect them in one place. Overall, I’ve tried to keep purchases pretty minimal throughout pregnancy because I didn’t want to spend a lot of money for a temporary season or accumulate a lot of new stuff! A lot of these items aren’t pregnancy specific, but made my experience so much better! I also included some wellness investments like chiropractic care in my final weeks.
Wellness
These electrolyte packets have been lifegiving throughout my pregnancy! They help me to stay hydrated and keep my mineral levels in good shape. Salt is actually really important during pregnancy too! I like these ones because they’re not packed with sneaky sugar like others (I purchase them on Thrive Market). I’ll be adding them to my water during labor and postpartum recovery too! I’ve heard these are great too.
I’ve been very diligent with my supplement routine during pregnancy, just as I am normally! Here’s what I took (please remember this is not medical advice):
Prenatal (I took both the Thorne and Ritual (linked $15 off) prenatals)
Synbiotic (probiotic + prebiotic)
Magnesium (something I always take)
Zinc (something I always take)
Unisom + B6 (for nausea and sleep quality)
Raspberry leaf tea was highly recommended by my doctor and my doula starting at around 32-34 weeks. It’s been used for centuries in the third trimester to soften and prepare your cervix. I love it both hot and cold!
Pregnancy chiropractic care has also been a life-saver at the end of my pregnancy. I meant to start going early on in my third trimester, but have ended up going in my final few weeks of pregnancy. Be sure to ask for recommendations in your area, ideally for a Webster-certified chiropractor. Mine has helped alleviate discomfort in my ribcage and pelvic floor toward the end, and our main goal is optimal alignment going into labor and delivery. I also have a postpartum treatment plan that we’ll start when I feel ready for abdominal and pelvic floor rehab.
I’ve loved Wishgarden Herbs’ pregnancy tinctures. They have quite a few that address various pregnancy discomforts and needs. I’ll also be incorporating a couple of their postpartum tinctures.
Epsom salt baths have been heavenly throughout pregnancy for alleviating pressure, discomfort and swelling. These epsom salts are my favorite!
Movement/workout-wise I primarily went for walks and did my own gentle workouts, but also mixed in prenatal-friendly workouts on Melissa Wood Health and Obe Fitness (use code JACY30 for 30% off your first month).
Attire
I finally splurged on a Mason Gray robe during pregnancy after wanting one for years, and honestly would live in it 24/7 if I could! Their fabric is so incredibly soft (and stretchy) and my robe has been incredibly comfortable for me, while helping me to feel chic too. It will be amazing in the postpartum/breastfeeding days too. I will definitely be adding more to my collection in the future! Make sure to keep an eye out for their drops as they go fast.
I finally bought maternity bike shorts and leggings at around 35 weeks and found a great budget-friendly brand through a friend! I really like the fabric and fit and absolutely recommend!
Overall, I found stretchy, ribbed dresses were my best friend once I started showing! Not only were they flattering (and I’m not usually a fitted dress type of gal), but they were comfortable, versatile and grew with the bump! I loved that I could wear them casually but also dress them up for the office with items like a blazer and dressier shoes. I got mine from a variety of stores including Petal & Pup, Zara, Dissh, Abercrombie and Maude Boutique. I also found some really cute bump-friendly dresses and outfits on Free People, Petal & Pup, Zara and Mango.
I was recently gifted a few items from Bumpsuit (discount code JACY20) and they are AMAZING. The fabric is so soft and supportive, and everything I have is crazy flattering.
Resources
I discovered the My Essential Birth podcast when searching the podcast app for episodes about unmedicated births, and ended up listening to nearly every episode! If you want to be informed about your options for birth (and pregnancy and postpartum) and just better prepared and more confident overall, this podcast is amazing! The hosts are doulas and moms, and share unbiased information about all kinds of births and scenarios. I’ve learned so much from listening to their podcast, and it’s helped me to feel so much more confident and prepared.
I didn’t read as many books during pregnancy as I planned to (schedule was insane), but I did read a few I enjoyed a learned a lot from:
Expecting Better - shares lots of great data so you can make informed decisions for your pregnancy (including a lot of foods we don’t need to be afraid to eat when pregnant)
Real Food for Pregnancy - outlines optimal nutrition to prioritize during pregnancy
The Natural Mama - I would say this book isn’t for everyone, but the week-by-week chapters are a nice format and let you know what’s going on with both baby and you. I also loved the birth affirmations in each chapter.
Bringing up Bebe - I haven’t actually finished this one yet, but so far I absolutely love it!
I used a few different apps throughout pregnancy, but my favorite by far was Pregnancy +. I felt the information was always spot on, and presented in a non-cheesy way. I looked forward to reading the new information every Tuesday morning as I rolled over to a new week!
Other Products & Care
I’m so grateful Summer Fridays released their Babymoon Belly Balm during my pregnancy, because it’s ended up being a holy grail for me! I started using this nightly on my belly, boobs and butt at 12 weeks, and it’s kept my skin in amazing shape throughout my pregnancy. My doctor has even commented on my skin looking good. This is a must in my book!
I was late to buying an exercise/birth ball, but it is clutch! Sitting on it relieves pressure in my pelvic floor, and also helps with hip alignment going into birth! It will also be a great tool to have at home for the first stage of labor for sitting on, laying/stretching over, etc.
Compression socks have been one of my favorite pregnancy tools! I have a few pairs from Comrad, and they’re fantastic. I see a noticeable difference in swelling and circulation from wearing them, and they help my feet and legs feel lighter too! This is my favorite pair.
I also couldn’t have lived without my heating pad in my first 16-18 weeks of pregnancy! I had lots of cramping in my first trimester, and the heating pad provided so much relief.
Regarding pregnancy pillows -- I never bought one! They looked wonderful, but with cuddly dogs I knew there just wasn’t room in our bed (haha). Starting in my second trimester, I slept on my side with a king-sized pillow between my knees/legs to help with hip comfort. I sometimes slept with a pillow behind my back as well!
For those in the Springfield, Missouri area…
Chiropractic care (and other wellness support) - Loehr Health Center (I see Dr. Clements)
Prenatal massage - Exhale Massage
