9 Pregnancy Must Haves

So, as I near the end (and I mean “END”) of my 2nd pregnancy, I thought it would be a good idea to think back and compile a list of pregnancy “must-haves,” to share with all of you “Momma-To-Be’s,” and even those of you that may be looking for something to get a “Momma-To-Be.”

9 Pregnancy Must Haves

If you’re also wondering what items you may need to include in your hospital bag, for when you go in to labor, check out my post of my “Hospital Bag Must-Haves.”  This would also be a good list to checkout, if you’re looking for a gift idea for a baby shower, or Momma To Be. I asked my friends, and Facebook followers, what their “Pregnancy Must Haves” were, so you could get a pretty good idea, because every pregnant gal is different, right? Here ya go:

•   Bella Band–

  This little sucker has saved me so much money, because I don’t have to buy tons and tons of maternity bottoms! I’m able to wear my regular, everyday pants and shorts, long in to my pregnancy. The band stays in place, and doesn’t fold up on me, when I bend down. It also holds up my pants and shorts, while they’re unbuttoned and unzipped!

• Basq Advanced Stretch Mark Butter- from Destination Maternity

  I’m still unsure of why some women get stretch marks, and other’s don’t. Is it genetic? Is it because of the expensive creams that you make sure to apply every morning? Or is it plain “luckiness?” I’m not sure. BUT… I have used Basq Advanced Stretch Mark Butter with both of my pregnancies, and I haven’t gotten ONE stretch mark. The first time I ever bought this {with my first pregnancy} I remember the sales clerk telling me that it’s what all the celebs use. Well I was “sold!” It does range on the more expensive side, but I’ve only had to buy 3 containers for 2 pregnancies. It goes a long way, and lasts a long time!

• Maternity Pillow– from Destination Maternity.

  Almost all of my friends owned a maternity or pregnancy pillow during their pregnancy, and considered it a life saver. We’re all told to sleep on our side, and let’s face it… sleeping in one position all night isn’t the best feeling in the world. So pillows like these help make that position more bearable. I however, am a tightwad, and I just use 3 pillows to sleep with at night. One under my head, one between my legs, and I wrap my arms around the other. However, when I “flip” in the middle of the night, I have to rearrange all 3 pillows. I do believe a maternity pillow would be much better! {Thanks for the tip Heather!}

• Leggings

  

  I had a girlfriend say that she thinks these are the best during pregnancy. Stretchy, comfy, and totally cute with a lose maternity top to go with them. I have to say, she looks adorable in them. {Thanks for the tip Amanda!}  I also have a good stash of maternity yoga pants to wear at home. Comfort is KEY! I’d check Old Navy , because they usually have a great selection at reasonable prices!

• Fruity/Minty Lozenges

  

  A friend of mine said that sucking on these jewels helped her with her morning sickness! I’d also recommend Preggie Pops from Destination Maternity, as those are made for morning sickness too. I unfortunately had to be on a prescription to help with my morning sickness, but my babies are both healthy, and without it… I wouldn’t have been able to provide any nutrition for them. (Thanks for the tip Melisa!)

• Maternity Swim Suit

   (I bought mine from Destination Maternity) I always made sure I had one of these on hand, because you never know when you’ll need it. Granted, when you’re pregnant, you may not be as willing to slip in to a suit, but if something comes up and you don’t have a maternity suit… you’ll wish that you did, because you may not want to squeeze in to that pre-pregnancy, “itsy bitsy teeny weeny, yellow polka dot bikini.” 😉  }  I mainly used mine for the spa, when I couldn’t sit in the hot tub, so I sat on the outside of it with just my legs in.}

• “What to Expect” Phone App 

  I have this app, and I check it ALL OF THE TIME. I love opening it up every week to see what fruit my little guy resembles in weight that week. It also gives great tips of how to deal with different pregnancy symptoms and questions.

• Self-Timing Camera 

  To document the size of your growing belly. With my first, I took a picture of myself every 2 weeks, and I’m so glad that I did. It is STILL so fun to go back and look at, to see how I grew. With my second pregnancy, I didn’t get as many snapshots as with my first. Let’s face it… chasing a toddler every day tends to make your mind go “Whew! What was I supposed to do today again?” I also hired a photographer to do a maternity shoot for both pregnancies, and having someone capture that brief moment in your life, is such a fun thing to have and look back on! Thanks to Roussin Photography for capturing the photos above, in this post! She is fantastic at what she does!

• Tennis Ball  

  Unfortunately, I learned about this late in my 2nd pregnancy. I suffer from horrible lower back pain and sciatic nerve pain in my pregnancies. A friend of mine suggested I use a tennis ball to rub my lower back, and let me tell you… what a world of difference! I don’t wake up at night as much with leg pain, and I feel better overall throughout the day when those muscles have been massaged. (Check before doing this, as some say massaging some pressure points can cause pre-term labor.)

What are your pregnancy must haves?  I’d love to add them for others to see! Comment below and let me know!