It seems there might be “something in the water” with all the babies that are expected in my world. As I prepared for our little one, I found myself sharing links back and forth with other new mamas, so I decided to compile a list of things I loved/needed during pregnancy and right after. These are just a few things that were suggested to me or I’ve searched high and low for to make pregnancy and postpartum go a little more smoothly. Some are affiliate links. Some are not. All are things that I’ve used and personally recommend.
Apparel
These under the belly underwear were recommended to me and I was so thankful to have them towards the end of pregnancy. They’re 100% basic and you can get more attractive versions. Either way, I highly recommend under the belly for those later months. Just do it.
I had the hardest time finding comfortable bras during this pregnancy. My boobs grew at a much faster rate than my belly and I tried everything. I wore my favorite bras for as long as possible and when I was forced into something else, I tried everything. My biggest problem was finding something with a narrow enough band since I had so little room for my growing belly. These nursing bras were suggested to me, even if you’re not nursing, and I wore them everyday for months.
This dress from Gap was a favorite. It was so comfy and it’s designed for nursing if you’re doing that!
These bike shorts from Old Navy. The most supportive and comfortable.
This shirt from Walmart was the main thing I wore for those last, very large weeks. It’s so soft!
These black shorts were a good option for dressing up or down and were great quality!
Compression socks are a must for when you start to swell, especially for long hours in the car or on your feet.
The dry shampoo that changed my life. This isn’t a pregnancy-specific thing, but it is one of the things that got me through those first awful months. Not even kidding.
These nightgowns are a total dream! These aren’t maternity-specific either. I just sized up and was able to wear them all the way to the end. The navy stripe is my most favorite. (I also just bought these from Walmart and love them too!)
I ordered this robe for the hospital. I love the softness and the little lace detail around the bottom. There’s a ¾ sleeve option that I liked too but it was a little long for me (5’ tall here!)
And last but not least — I LOVED getting a Stitch Fix maternity box. Cute maternity clothes are so hard to find and it was simply a dream to have five options arrive at my house for me to try. I set my boxes to come every other month and you can do more or less. You can pick a price point and even request specific items for each delivery. I started this right away and some of my favorite maternity pieces came from these boxes. I highly, highly recommend it! (Use this link for a free $25!)
Feel Good Stuff
If you’re nauseous, these hard candies were actually more helpful than I expected them to be.
If you have heartburn, the chewy Tums are WAY better than the regular.
And of course — half caffeine coffee so that you can have more than one cup if you’re tracking that sort of thing!
I used this cream at bedtime for stretch marks and this as a daily use lotion. Pro tip: don’t forget to apply it to your boobs and thighs!
I coveted a long bath while pregnant. I used these epsom salts or this bubble bath at bedtime!
Random/Post Partum
The baby journal I ordered because it was more about jotting things down than scrapbooking.
I still use this daily journal to write a line a day.
This book with essays on motherhood. I’ve wanted it forever and ever. (Also, the book my friend contributed to that’s similar in format.)
After delivery, wear these diapers. Seriously. Skip the giant pads and just buy these. I bought the 40 pack and wore them for way longer than I should have probably. It’s the new me. (Kidding, husband.)
Say hello to your Mammaw’s underwear! When I could ditch the diapers, I switched to these. I wasted money on several packs that didn’t work. If you have a c-section, these are the most comfortable/affordable I found for your incision. Be sure to size up because if they’re too tight, you’ll regret it! Speaking from experience…
Whether you’re breastfeeding or not, these heat/ice packs will come in handy! You can heat them if you’re breastfeeding or freeze them if you’re not. This was one of those things I sent someone to the store for in those early days. Made a big difference for me. I definitely recommend!
All in all, what you need for your own pregnancy will vary depending upon your unique situation. I thought I’d share some of my favorite things because I was so appreciative when someone helped me out with a link or a suggestion that took some pressure off of the process. Hopefully, you’ll find something helpful here too!
Feel free to share this with any of your pregnant friends or mamas with new babies. It takes a village, remember!
