As a mother of 5, soon to be 6, I’ve pent the majority of the last 8 years pregnant. I have found some items that have been so helpful in pregnancy. Most of these are items that I have used for most if not every pregnancy. Some of them are consumables that I buy for every pregnancy. I do not recommend items that I don’t personally use and enjoy. These are definitely my pregnancy favorites.
These items cover a wide range of pregnancy pain points. I hope it is helpful.
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Resources
-Ovia App
I love this app. I have had it for at least my last 4 pregnancies and it has been very helpful and informative. It has a Food Safety Lookup list, Medication Safety During Pregnancy List, and a Symptom Lookup. All of these lists I have used many times.
This app also has a kick counter which I find invaluable, especially when in those few last weeks when I’m getting anxiety. I have also used their contraction counter as well when I went into spontaneous labor for the first time with my 4th baby.
Some other parts of the app that I like to look at are the Baby Size compared to fruits and vegetables, the size of the baby’s hand and foot at this time. I really like to show these to my kids, which they get really excited to see.
You can also look at the fetal growth week-by-week. It goes through what is going on in your body based on how far along you are.
This app has everything.
–Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth
This book was eye opening. It also is very long at least when I borrow it from my library as an audiobook. It is 14h27min long. It was so informative though and I will say at some points very cringy. I do 100% believe that some of the breathing techniques and relaxation techniques helped me go into my first natural spontaneous labor with my 4th baby.
My first baby was a traumatic 3-day induction, vaginal delivery. My second was a c-section due to placental insufficiency, gestational diabetes, hypertension, and a breech presentation. My third was a 21 hour induction, successful VBAC, with a “Sunny side up” presentation (which btw is painful). So my fourth baby was a spontaneous, vaginal delivery. It was 7 hours long and 100% pain-free, with an epidural.
I started listening to this book at 32 weeks and practiced the breathing and relaxation techniques with each Braxton Hicks contraction. I also listened to this while stretching and hanging out on my birthing ball.
Seriously, though, I definitely recommend you read this book. I plan to start listening to it again in 7weeks when I’m 32 weeks. I hope and pray that I will be able to have another spontaneous labor, with induction with Pitocin are not fun… I would know… I’ve had 3.
Pregnancy Favorites for Daily Aches and Pains
Nausea
–Sea bands
These saved my life in my 2nd pregnancy when my nausea was rampant. They especially saved me when it came to my motion sickness related morning sickness. I couldn’t ride in the car for any amount of time with out these.
They use acupressure and they really did work for me. The only thing that makes it difficult is when you lose them like I did, but tbh I’m ready to buy them again because they were so effective and I’m 25 weeks and still have off days.
-Diclegis
Now this one is one of the only antinausea medications that is a Class A, safe for pregnancy, medication. My OB did tell me that she doesn’t prescribe it for all of her patients because it is very expensive if not covered by insurance. When I went to pick it up this pregnancy, I was so nervous to find out the price. Thank Goodness it only cost me $11 the first time I picked it up, it cost $50 the second time… but the retail price is $319 for a 30day supply. So gross.
It is a miracle drug for my nausea though and we were thankfully able to afford it. I am going to tell you a secret though…
You can make it yourself. All Diclegis is is Vitamin B6 and Doxylamine succinate (aka Unisom).
*Always talk to your doctor/OB before taking any medications*
-Ginger Ale
I find Ginger Ale very helpful for my nausea, but as a gestational diabetic it isn’t something that I can have every time nausea hits and I do not find Diet Ginger Ale as effective or as tasty.
–Tums
I take Tums like candy when heartburn hits. I enjoy the Smoothies the most, they are less chalky and quite delightful.
–Belly band
I find this belly band especially helpful when in my third pregnancy. I suffer from Symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD) which is when the ligaments in the pubic symphysis joint relaxes and becomes unstable. This belly band has been optimal in helping with pain and discomfort that comes with this condition.
It gives great support and thoroughly recommend it.
–Earthley Magnesium Lotion
I find this magnesium lotion helps with my insomnia and my restless leg syndrome that I can also get in pregnancy. I have extremely sensitive skin and have never found it to be irritating. It is also all natural and I find it very effective.
–Heating pad
I use this heating pad almost every night. It helps with aches and pains, especially when my sciatica pain is flaring. This one is nice too because it is weighted, which adds an extra level comfort.
–Cooling eye mask for headaches
I’ve read recently that even Tylenol isn’t recommended in pregnancy, so I try and use natural remedies if I can. This mask is aweome for headaches when cold. I like to put it in the fridge so it’s always ready for when I need it.
Pregnancy Favorites for Comfort
–Birthing ball
If you are pregnant and you don’t have a birthing ball or don’t use it, you are doing pregnancy wrong… Just kidding. However, I will say that the birthing ball is amazing! It can help you with flexibility, especially your hips and pelvis. The birthing ball is amazing for stretching as well and it is so much more comfortable to sit on than a regular chair. It also helps relieve pain during labor while you’re having contractions because it allows your pelvis to be in a more open position and allows you to sway or rock with contractions.
I use it when I’m working on my laptop or when I’m folding clothes because my back doesn’t ache and I can sit on that ball for hours and feel great. This is a major feat in pregnancy when any position starts to hurt after 5 minutes.
I will recommend that you buy the right size birthing ball because if the ball is too small it isn’t actually great for your hips and pelvic alignment.
-Lots of pillows
Sleep is always difficult in pregnancy. You’re supposed to sleep on your side because sleeping on your stomach can not only be uncomfortable since you have this bowling ball in your stomach, but it can also cause neck and shoulder pain due to creating an unnatural curve in your spine.
You also aren’t supposed to sleep on your back because your uterus can constrict your vena cava which can lower your blood pressure.
I like having a larger pillow for my head, one between my legs because I hate when my knees knock together, and one behind my back as well. I did have one of those giant pregnancy J-shaped pregnancy pillows, but it wasn’t as life changing as I had hoped it would be, plus my husband absolutely hated it! I haven’t used it for the last 3 pregnancies.
Pregnancy Favorites in Clothing
–Maternity leggings
I really like wearing maternity leggings like these ones. I don’t usually have to wear maternity clothes, but leggings are definitely an article of clothing that the maternity alternative are a lot more comfortable.
–Maternity shorts
These maternity shorts are also great.
–Maternity shirts
I like wearing maternity t-shirts during pregnancy and postpartum. I find them so comfortable and really flattering as well.
Shoes
None of these are obviously pregnancy shoes, but have been so good for me and my feet.
–Dream Pairs Boots
These are so comfy, amazing for the winter and snow (I live in Central New York, where real winters happen), and they are so easy to slip on. They are pretty well priced for these boots, especially when they go on sale. I have the black ones and I wear them every day.
–New Balance Sneakers
Now I will say right off the bat, these are expensive. I have chronic tendonitis that I have struggled with for over 10 years. If I don’t use sneakers that have specific arch supports, my feet feel like they have been run over by a truck after any use.
My advice is… find good supportive shoes. They will help you stay active which has many benefits in pregnancy. You definitely don’t need to buy the shoes I linked, but I find them so helpful for me.
Pregnancy Favorite Snacks
–Fairlife Protein Shakes
These are the most delicious chocolate protein shakes I have literally ever had. They are kind of expensive, but for us and our budget, we’ve made it work because I like most of the ingredients. It isn’t totally crunchy friendly, but it is good enough for me. I love that it tastes like chocolate milk. It has 30grams of protein and only 5 carbs which is amazing for someone with Gestational Diabetes. They aren’t low calorie, but I don’t care about calories when I’m pregnant.
–Quest Dipped Protein Bars
These are tasty, 17grams of carbs, 18grams of protein, and 8grams of fiber. These are also great for someone with GD.
–Olipop Prebiotic Soda
These are so delicious. The grape flavor Olipop is by far the best. They are 16grams of carbs and 9 grams of fiber. They are so yummy and I highly recommend them.
Pregnancy Favorites for all the Rest
–Water bottle
Staying hydrated is so important in pregnancy. I really like these 40oz Thermoflask water bottles. They are the perfect size. Refilling it twice is a very respectable 80oz, which is a daily goal I have for this pregnancy.
–Raspberry Leaf Tea
I not only love the taste of Raspberry Leaf Tea, but it is also believed to help strengthen and tone the muscles in the uterus, which can in turn potentially aid in labor and reduce the risk of hemorrhage.
Anecdotally I will say that I totally believe the above. I started drinking this every night, starting at 34 weeks in my 4th pregnancy and my Braxton Hicks contractions got stronger every weak. I believe it helped me go into my first spontaneous labor at 38 weeks. My labor was also the shortest of all of my pregnancies as well.
Obviously, I don’t know that this really did help, but I personally believe it did and so I will be starting this regimen at 34 weeks with my current pregnancy as well and hope for another spontaneous labor and healthy delivery.
–Smarty Pants Prenatals
These prenatal vitamins are some of the most delicious prenatal gummies I have ever had. I can’t take pills or they make throw up and so gummy vitamins are the way to go for me. I also really like that they have a healthy dose of Omega-3s which is shown to be great for brain development in an unborn baby. It also has Methylfolate which is believed to be better than folic acid because Methylfolate is the natural form of folate, whereas folic acid is a synthetic form of folate.
I hope you find this list helpful and if you have used them or plan to try them out, that you agree at how wonderful they are to helping in pregnancy.
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