Pregnancy Essentials & Must haves

Pregnancy is an exciting moment in a woman's life but also the hardest as we are dealing with so many body and hormonal changes that can makes us moody and fragile, not to mention all the muscle and body pain.

As a mother of four I have been down this road a few times and what I found out is that there are great products in the market that can help alleviate some of the pregnancy pains and make our lives a little bit easier throughout this beautiful maternity journey.

In this article, I share with you some of my pregnancy essentials and must have products that make pregnancy a little bit smoother and that I believe it can help you as well.

12 Pregnancy Essentials and Must haves

1 - Belly band

Belly bands offer a great support throughout pregnancy and here are some of the reasons why I highly recommend investing in one for your pregnancy as well:

• PREMIUM SUPPORT - Maternity belt gives great support and offers relief from hip, pelvic, and back pain during your entire pregnancy

• POSTURE CORRECTING - Supports the excess pregnancy weight to prevent straining your back and Ideal for correcting poor posture and supporting weak abdominal muscles during pregnancy

• PAIN RELIEF - It helps with relief from common pregnancy aches and pains

2 - Maternity/Pregnancy Pillow

A maternity pillow may sound like a luxury item and you may want to skip it but I would recommend that you do not. Sleep is very important, especially during pregnancy, after all you are building a whole human inside of you and a maternity pillow will help you with staying comfortable throughout the night and get the rest you need at night.

Reasons why I love my maternity pillow:

• It is designed to follow the natural contours and shape of your body for full support.

• This pillow takes the place of multiple pillows saving valuable bed space. It supports your head, back, and belly all at once!

• The unique shape of maternity pillows support your head and back to prevent and relieve sciatica, heartburn, and lower back pain.

3 - Pilates/Exercise Ball

I swear that exercise balls are the reason why my labors were easy and fast. Once I get to my last days of pregnancy I spend most of my sitting down time on one of these just rocking back and forth, side to side and I even lay on them with my knees on the floor and arms around the ball.

These movements help get your baby positioned for labor and also softens your pelvis which aids in a faster and easier birth.

They are also a great addition for during labor. Many midwives recommend an exercise ball during labor for the following reasons:

• Induces labor

• Assists with cervix dilation

• Helps to soothe and comfort baby

Check out this article to see all the ways an exercise ball can assist you before and during labor.

4 - Maternity Clothes

Probably one of the items that I dislike the most spending money on is maternity clothes, mainly because you only use it while you are pregnant and then it doesn't suit you anymore.

However, they are a must especially if you want to feel comfortable and not keep trying to squeeze your growing belly into conventional clothes to only feel like you can't even breath. I would recommend to stay away from maternity specialty stores and even target as their maternity clothes tend to be very expensive, anywhere from $40 to $80 per dress!

Now, Amazon has a great variety of pregnancy clothes for cheaper than those stores. I have been able to get a full maternity wardrobe for my last pregnancy for under $150 including comfortable shoes.

You can check out my Amazon front store to see all the items I got during pregnancy so I could still look cute but on a budget. Do keep in mind that prices on Amazon change so you may spend a little more or even less than I spent.

ALSO READ : HOW TO GET OVER $2,000 WORTH OF FREE ITEMS FOR YOUR BABY

5 - Prenatals

As your body is working full time to make a baby, it is also using the vitamins that it is usually used for you to maintain your organism working for the baby so prenatals are essential in order to keep your body and organs functioning as they should.

Prenatals are designed for women who are trying to conceive, during pregnancy and while breastfeeding and they provide all the essential vitamins a woman need during those times in order to ensure she stays healthy and support her baby needs as well.

I always look for prenatals that are organic and certified whole foods. There are many cheap products in the market but a lot of them contain synthetic ingredients that end up not being absorbed by your body, hence not doing the work that is suppose to.

6 - Pregnancy Swimsuit

Living in Southwest Florida gives me the ability to enjoy the beach or pool pretty much all year long so investing in a comfortable bathing suit that is going to fit my growing breasts and belly is highly important to me.

Unlike other bathing suits. maternity swimsuits will fit right over or under your belly so you won't feel like you are trying to squeeze a whole watermelon inside a ziplock bag.

With that being said, if you are frequently at the pool or the beach, definitely get a pregnancy swimsuit so you can feel comfortable while swimming or tanning.

7 - Pregnancy Underwear

"Okay, but why can't I just wear my regular underwear, Juju?" You may ask and the truth is, you totally can but as I have mentioned before, I like to feel comfortable and really dislike anything pressing over or under my belly so pregnancy underwear become an essential for me.

The reason why I love pregnancy underwear and honestly I continue to wear them even after I am done being pregnant, is because they are smoothing and have a low waist design that sits just below the belly without digging into the skin.

8 - Pregnancy Water Bottle

Staying hydrated is very important during pregnancy, it helps prevent kidney issues as well as UTI and so forth. So a pregnancy water bottle that is going to help you stay hydrated and encourage you take in all the water you need on a daily basis is super helpful.

I love these motivational bottles because not only they come with a time on it but they also come with motivational sayings to inspire you to stay on track of your daily water intake goals.

They are also great for traveling and taking it with you on the go.

8 - Postpartum Waist Trainer

This one is not so much to be used during pregnancy but rather right after you have the baby. In order to get my uterus back to its normal size and help bring my abdominal muscles back into place, I wear a postpartum waist trainer literally right after I give birth.

I give credit to this method for helping me get right back into shape after having my babies.

9 - Maternity Float

This maternity float has to be one of the coolest pregnancy products out there, especially if you want to go to the beach or enjoy the pool.

I personally love tanning but getting my back tanned while pregnant used to be impossible until I found this float. It can be used on land and on water as well so you are not just limited to using at the beach or pool but you can even use it at home.

Reasons why I love this product:

• SUPPORT: The specialized rim provides support for your hips and back, while allowing you to lie on your tummy or side for short spans of time to rest

• ACHES & PAINS: It is specially designed with pregnancy comfort in mind, and has been known to help alleviate those pesky pregnancy pains (round ligament, sore ribs, lower back, and even heart burn).

• RELAXING: Great for when you just need to relax and want to lie on your tummy to get some much needed rest, or read a book, watch TV, get a massage, or even go to the beach!

• PORTABLE: Easily fits in the back of your car by deflating the head section. You can easily take it with you to the chiropractor, yoga, a prenatal massage, or the beach! Can be inflated by mouth or pump.

10 - Stretch mark prevention oil

Many women experience stretch marks during pregnancy, after all, the body is stretching at such a rapid rate but there are great products out there that can help with preventing and even improving the appearance of stretch marks.

The one you choose will depend on how much your budget is and the ingredients you are comfortable with using on you skin.

I specifically look for products that:

• Uses only 100% natural ingredients

• It is safe for me and baby

• It is multi purpose

I like to make my own stretch mark oil using essential oils and honestly it has worked wonders for me. For the full recipe, check out my DIY stretch mark oil using only natural ingredients article so you too can make your own.

11 - Foot massager

Yes, your partner can give you a massage but he may not always be around or be great at it so having a foot massager that is going to help alleviate the pain and provide you with some comfort during your pregnancy can be a huge plus.

Reasons why you should consider getting a foot massager :

• Improves blood flow

• Reduces inflammation

• Stimulates muscle recovery

• Provide pain relief

• Offer pure and thorough relaxation after a long day

12 - Massage Gun

Just as I recommend a foot massager to alleviate tension on your feet and calfs, a massage gun can provide the same benefits but throughout your entire body.

As your body is working on making a baby, muscles tend to get tense and blood circulation may decrease. However, a massage can help soften the muscles and improve the blood flow which is necessary to keep the oxygen levels stable for you and baby.

Here are the benefits of using a massage gun during pregnancy:

• Improves blood flow

• Provides muscle relief

• Helps ease muscle tension

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I hope you have enjoyed this list of pregnancy essentials that can make your maternity journey a little bit smoother. Do keep in mind that everyone is different and what may have worked for me may not work for you. Not to mention that your doctor/midwife may also add other vitamins, herbals and even food that you may need throughout pregnancy.

Just remember that a healthy you and baby is the most important thing during your pregnancy and don't forget to enjoy the process because even though it may feel like it is taking forever for you to meet you new babe, once you look back you will realize how fast it went by.

Happy pregnancy!