15 Pregnancy Must-Haves For The Comfort You So Need

Why read: This list of pregnancy must-haves will help alleviate pregnancy discomforts for you so that you can enjoy your pregnant life more.  

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Isn’t it interesting how different women have different pregnancy experiences? 

Some get nauseous or crave a certain food. While others hardly see any difference in their eating habits.

Some feel tired and exhausted. While others become over-energized and active.

But whether it’s an easy or difficult pregnancy, at some point or another we all go through certain types of discomfort.

I’m a rather petite girl and weigh 105 pounds. Toward the end of my first pregnancy, I gained 45 pounds – almost half of my original weight!!! No wonder my feet looked like pig trotters. If only they could, my poor feet would definitely rebel against this injustice.

And my back pain made sleeping so uncomfortable that every time I went to bed I’d praise the person who invented the body pillow. What a genius and a woman admirer! Whoever you are, I am sure every pregnant woman thinks of You with great gratitude.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably also starting to experience pregnancy discomforts and entering survival mode.

But if you’re a total newbie you might have no idea what’s actually helpful vs what’s good marketing. So I know you need recommendations for tried and true support gear for holding what seems to be a ginormous baby belly up.

That’s where I come in to share all the pregnancy must-haves that I’m myself reusing the second time around.

To be honest, I wouldn’t give up any single one of those. Moreover, I’m adding to the list some others that I hadn’t used before due to inexperience. And I regret I didn’t. I now have to deal with some bad consequences. More on that, as I go through the list.

If you need help with finding a gift for your pregnant friend check out Gift Ideas and Must Have Products For Your Pregnant Friend. 

1. Maternity Belly Band

A soon as your belly starts to grow at the end of first trimester, you’ll need to have some support for your lower back and pelvic floor. This is one of the absolute pregnancy must-haves which you’ll wear well into postpartum.

Depending on the way you’re carrying, it might even become hard for you to walk or go from sitting to standing position. Not to mention, if you need to walk or stand for an extended period of time.

There are a lot of options but I myself like AZMED Maternity Belt. It’s very lightweight, made of breathable material and goes almost unnoticeable under the clothes. And because it’s so basic and small I like it more than other belts. I don’t even have to take it off to go to the bathroom.

 Another great option that provides even bigger support for the back is NEOtech Care Maternity Belt. I used this one with my first pregnancy and loved it.

Related: Just Found Out You’re Pregnant? Do These 9 Things Right Away!

 

2. Body Pillow

This is by far the most popular can’t-live-without pregnancy essential for expectant moms. Sleeping becomes especially uncomfortable during 3rd trimester. But I started to use this magic body pillow as early as 10 weeks. And it’s not just about the comfort there are other benefits of using a pregnancy pillow that make having one so worth it. 

There is a huge variety of these on Amazon that can fit any budget and I’m sure most of them serve their purpose well. The only downside is that this pillow is ginormous. This wasn’t an issue for us with our king bed but I’m sure it wouldn’t have worked if our bed was queen. When pregnant I needed all the space, I’d turn and toss all night, changing positions countless times. And my husband would probably lose his space in our bed and find himself on the floor most of the time if we did own a smaller bed.

If squeezing a giant body pillow in your bed seems something out of the ordinary this pregnancy wedge is the perfect alternative. One way or another, you’ll need something to support your growing belly and take the weight off your back as you sleep.

3. Seat Cushion 

If you’re having a bad hip/back and sciatica pain with your pregnancy and sitting gets uncomfortable – especially the first few steps after standing – try this seat cushion. It can make a huge difference. You can carry it around in your bag and bust it out everywhere – your workplace, restaurants, playgrounds, wherever.

4. Birthing Ball

Birthing balls or exercise balls are widely used by pregnant women for an overall better pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum experience. Early on, it can alleviate pain in your spine, hips and lower back and are great for mild exercises. Sitting and bouncing on a birthing ball is also a great natural way to induce labor. Just use a birthing ball or a yoga ball as a chair so you could swap in and out throughout the day.

When choosing a birthing ball, make sure your knees are about 4 inches lower than your hips when you sit on it. So if you’re up to  5ft 8in (1.73m) in height, it’s best to get a 65cm ball. If you’re taller than that then it’s best to get a 75cm ball.

If you work at an office and sitting becomes especially uncomfortable, ask HR if the company has a balance chair. If not, check if they would buy one for you. It can be used for future pregnancies too, so a win-win for both you and the company.

5. Compression Socks

It’s very common to have swelling in your feet and ankles to the end of the pregnancy. Some women also experience varicose veins.

Plus, if your work involves a lot of standing or you plan to travel far distance, compression socks are a must-have that’ll bring comfort to your feet and ankles. 

6. Foot Bath

You can take your foot care to another level by investing in a foot bath massager. Nothing can be more relaxing than soaking your tired swollen feet in a hot bubbly bath with a massager.

Add some lavender Epsom Salt for the calming scent and soothing effect and you don’t need to go to a salon. You can have a spa day at home any time you want.

Related: The Only Baby Registry List You’ll Need

7. Epsom Salt 

On some days you’ll feel like not just your feet but your whole body aches. Your head, your back, your legs, and feet – everything will just feel tense. A warm magnesium bath with Epsom salt is a surefire way for me to release tension and feel relaxed. Plus a bath with Epsom salt is detoxifying, boosts immunity and helps you stay healthy which is also important for when you’re an expectant mom. 

8. Neck and Shoulder Massager 

Another great way to relieve tension in your body is by investing in neck and shoulder massager. You can use it in your car, in your office or at home to relax and relieve stress after a long day. So it’s a cool thing to have even when not pregnant. 

9. Sleep Headphones

Is falling asleep and actually staying asleep becomes a big challenge for you? Whether it’s your husband’s snoring, neighbor’s loud music or even moonlight being too bright now, I have a great solution for you.

Check out these Sleep Headphones. This is a comfortable eye mask (for blocking light day or night), noise-canceling headband and music player in one. It’s no secret the best sleeping position in pregnancy is on the side, and this won’t hurt your ears like regular headphones. Plus, you can connect it to your phone and listen to your favorite audiobook, or relaxing tune, or meditation routine when in bed. Your sleep quality will be greatly improved. Trust me! 

10. Sunscreen

This is not so much to bring you comfort but I couldn’t skip including sunscreen on my list of pregnancy must-haves. You need protection for your skin as never before. One (of some) unpleasant side effects of being pregnant is that our skin becomes more sensitive to the sun. 

I myself wasn’t experienced enough to wear sunscreen every day during my pregnancy. As a result, I now have to deal with pigmentation on my face.

Look for mineral or physical sunscreens (with zinc oxide as an active ingredient) as opposed to chemical ones. Physical sunscreens stay on the skin and are not absorbed.

Check out EltaMD’s Mineral-Based Sunscreens and lip balms here and choose the one that suits the best for your skin type. They have both tinted and untinted options.

I recommend this EltaMD Physical Tinted Sunscreen for pregnant women as it is perfect for extra-sensitive skin.

Comfortable Maternity Clothing As Part of Pregnancy Must-Haves

 

11. Shoes

It’s so important to take care of your feet when pregnant. I learned this the hard way. With my first pregnancy, I worked till the end until I was 9 months pregnant and wore heels all that time. What was I thinking?! The result – I got calluses all over my feet that I have to deal with up until now.

So take my advice and ditch all your uncomfortable tight shoes. Wear flats, sneakers, sandals, wide feet shoes, comfortable flat boots if it’s winter – just go up a size from your normal size and give your feet some room and comfort. They deserve being treated nicely when carrying all that extra weight. 

Even if you work and need to look classy and professional, still try wearing flats as much as possible. Tieks look great with casual and professional attire alike. They are very soft and comfy. But yes they’re expensive.

If you’re looking for more affordable flats, Skechers is a great alternative. I own these flats and love them. 

You’ll also need a pair of good sneakers or walking shoes designed for a woman’s foot. I try to walk at least half an hour every day as part of my mild exercise routine. Do you want to join the “30 minutes a day walk” challenge with me?

Nike is always my choice. I just went a size up and chose the wide option. But for more affordable sneakers go back to Skechers, they are great for walking too. Very light and breathable! 

12. Slippers 

Comfortable slippers are also a must-have when you’re pregnant. For wintertime, I purchased these light slippers for myself and love them. Of course, they’re not as presentable as the ones I’d normally wear but are way lighter and provide lots of room for my expanding feet.  If you aim for a nice look these Jessica Simpson slippers look quite cute. And these ones are great for summer.

13. Maternity Sleepwear

Again, I’m a big advocate for comfortable sleep. The more your body grows the more uncomfortable you’ll become so you’d want to avoid all the tight stretchy sleepwear you’d normally wear. I love these light and cute maternity and nursing pajamas. 

14. Maternity Bras

Sooner or later your ladies won’t fit in your regular bra anymore. For me, it wasn’t as much the matter of size – although my breasts did get bigger, of course – but rather how sensitive my breasts became when I was only a few weeks pregnant. I couldn’t stand to wear my regular bra right from the beginning. I knew I needed something soft and comfy so that I could hardly feel wearing any bra at all.

I ordered this pack of maternity bras and was very happy. Unlike other maternity bras which are normally very thin they are padded so your nipples won’t show through everything you wear. Plus, these are nursing bras too, so they very well served me for breastfeeding. Or check out this bamboo and silk option. 

For a more sexy look, this Le Mystery Sexy Mama bra was my choice.  As a petite girl with small breasts, I wore more décolleté dresses during my breastfeeding time than ever before.

15. Maternity Tanks and Leggings

And lastly, you’ll also need some basic maternity tanks and leggings as part of your maternity wardrobe. I live in those now since the first trimester. Nothing makes me more comfortable than a pair of good leggings and a comfy tank. 

If you’re carrying low, the Blanqi tank is way more comfortable than the belly belt. This is especially true if you work in an office and sit a lot. When seated you get too much downward pressure on your pelvic floor. While the Blanqi tank is more expensive, you get a belly band and a stylish tank in one. In hot weather, you can wear it as is and you won’t feel too hot. With my first pregnancy, I was 6 months pregnant in June and with the hot weather wearing belly band was too uncomfortable for me. I’d constantly sweat and my belly would itch like crazy. So Blanqi tank was a real lifesaver. I wore it almost every day. Try it! I’m sure you’ll love it. 

And in case you’re getting too big, you can always check plus-size clothing stores. 

One Last Thing

Pregnancy is such a magical and at the same time taxing period in a woman’s life that we owe it to ourselves to make it comfortable. 

Don’t forget to practice self-care during pregnancy.

And I hope my list of pregnancy essentials can help alleviate the downsides of pregnancy for you…

… and bring you back to the fact that it’s so worth ALL the inconvenience.

What About You

Do you have favorite pregnancy must-haves that make your life way more comfortable? Please share with us in the comments. 

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