During pregnancy you may get suggestions from others on items that are necessary while pregnant. Each pregnancy is different and you will have to figure out what is needed to keep you and baby happy and healthy. This is a list of things that I found helpful and used while being pregnant:
- Mints
- Peppermint tea
- Lemon candy
- Ginger Ale
- Ginger candy
- Vitamin B6
- Pregnancy belt
- Baby safe face and body lotion
- Nursing bras
- Motion sickness/acupressure bands
- Baby safe skin cleanser
- Pregnancy safe sleeping pills
- Body pillow
- Witch hazel
- Jacket that fits
- Compression socks
- Seat cushion
- Exercise ball
- Maternity swim suit
- Maternity or baggy tops
- Maternity leggings or pants
- Acid reducer pills/chewables
- Acetaminophen
- Stretch mark lotion or oil
- Layering tank
- Prenatal Massage
- Supportive shoes
- Water bottle to help stay hydrated
- Babymoon
- Prenatal Vitamins
- Fiber supplement
- ALL the SNACKS
- Date nights
- N/A Alcohol
- Baby Book
- Chiropractor
*Below is the same list but with more detail on what each item is or can be used for.
Nausea
The following items can help if you have bouts of nausea or morning sickness:
- Mints– they say peppermint is the best for nausea
- Peppermint tea
- Lemon candy
- Ginger Ale
- Ginger candy
- Motion sickness/acupressure bands
- Pregnancy safe sleeping pills– these can also help with nausea
- Vitamin B6
Body/Sleep
These items will be helpful in allowing your body to be more comfortable and hopefully allow you to get some sleep:
- Stretch mark lotion or oil- this will help keep your belly hydrated and reduce your chances of stretch marks
- Pregnancy belt– great for back pain, wraps around the belly to help support lower pelvis, hips, pelvis, and abdomen
- Body pillow– there are many different types to choose from, pick one that you think will work best for you to help you feel more comfortable and hopefully get more rest
- Exercise ball– also called a birth ball can help relieve pressure from your spine and distribute your weight evenly which helps with back pain
- Seat cushion- I used one for my desk chair to relieve pressure and pain
- Prenatal massage– this is great to help you relax and get some of the aches and pains because it increases blood flow that is brought on naturally while pregnant
- Chiropractor– reduce spinal nerve stress and promote health throughout the body
- Pregnancy safe sleeping pills
**Always check with your doctor about prenatal massage and chiropractor
Skin
The following items help reduce stretch marks and keep your skin and baby health:
- Stretch mark lotion or oil
- Witch hazel– great for cleansing the face or treating hemorrhoids
- Baby safe skin cleanser
- Baby safe face lotion
- Baby safe body lotion
Clothes/Shoes
These items are great to have available during your pregnancy:
- Maternity swim suit– may not be necessary but a great option to feel comfortable, I still wear mine post pregnancy
- Maternity or baggy tops– comfort was pretty important for me and not having my belly hang out the bottom of my shirts
- Maternity leggings or pants
- Layering tank
- Comfortable shoes (tennis shoes and sandals)
- Compression socks– wearing these will help with swelling in your ankles and calves which in turn will help with varicose veins and reduce that aching feeling
- Jacket that fits– depending on where you live and the time of year you may need a different jacket that will fit over your baby bump, there are also jacket extenders but they can be spendy
- Nursing bras– these are more comfortable than wearing wired bras with that baby bump, also called maternity bras
Pills/Supplements
The list of pills and supplements can be helpful for you while pregnant and may be necessary for the health of your baby:
- Prenatal Vitamins– so important for the growth and development of baby, buy ones with folic acid
- Fiber supplement– helps with digestive issues like regular bowel movements which reduces chances of hemorrhoids
- Acid reducer pills/chewables– help with acid reflux and indigestion
- Acetaminophen – for headaches
- Pregnancy safe sleeping pills– can be taken for sleep or nausea
- Vitamin B6– helps with nausea
***Always check with your healthcare professional before taking anything to be sure it is safe for your pregnancy
Other
These are some other things to have available during your pregnancy:
- Baby Book– to track your pregnancy and delivery stories
- Water bottle– to help keep you hydrated, you don’t need to buy new if you already have some at home
- Babymoon– not necessary but may be a fun thing to do before baby is here
- Date nights– it’s great to get out of the house with a significant other or friends whenever possible before baby comes
- ALL the Snacks– always have snacks handy, especially by your night stand and steer clear from red dyes if possible
- N/A alcohol– not necessary but sometimes you just need the flavor of beer or wine without the alcohol
