I actually can’t believe that I’m already in my third trimester of pregnancy! Somehow, it has simultaneously flown by and crawled along. I think being at home for most of my pregnancy certainly contributes to this odd time warp, but it has allowed me to take the time to figure out a few key products that make my life easier while growing a couple humans (NBD!). From my daily vitamin regimen to my trusty ice roller, here are my maternity must-haves that I just couldn’t do pregnancy without. Keep in mind I’m no expert (quite the opposite, actually!), but these are the things that have worked for me. We did lots of research in the beginning to find a pregnancy routine that works for us, and I definitely recommend that you do the same.
Undaria Algae Body Oil
This oil, like all of the best things I’ve discovered during pregnancy, was a recommendation from a friend who recently had her second baby. I’ve been lathering myself in this every night, and so far, I haven’t seen any stretch marks pop up. Fingers crossed this lasts through the third trimester, but, either way, this oil smells great and is rich in Vitamin E, which is key for preventing stretch marks. Try it out for spa vibes at home.
Water Bottle
I am extra thirsty during pregnancy and want to make sure I’m getting in plenty of water every day to keep these babies healthy. At the beginning of pregnancy, I was using a smaller water bottle and refilling it a few times a day. Then, I upgraded to this one. There’s something about having one, visible drinking goal for the day that was a total game-changer for me. I get through this almost every day, and I think I can attribute this to the minimal swelling I’ve experienced so far.
Maternity Overalls
I just feel cute in these, and I love that they are made to last from the first trimester all the way through the fourth. I have styled them with everything from sneakers and a t-shirt to an organza top and heels. Highly recommend!
My Vitamin Regimen
At the very beginning of our pregnancy, we met with a nutritionist who helped us develop the right vitamin plan for our babies. I was overwhelmed with all of the options and wanted to make sure we got this right. We landed on a low dose aspirin to help prevent preeclampsia, and the Olly Prenatal Gummies in the morning. For the first two trimesters, I would take one of these iron supplements a day, but I found out my iron is still a bit low at a recent doctor’s visit. I’ve ramped it up to twice a day to try to solve that issue. I also take three of these calcium supplements a day, making sure that all of these vitamins are taken at least two hours apart from each other, so they can absorb properly.
Bath Pillow
Pre-pregnancy there was no better luxury than sitting in the bath for an hour with some lavender bubbles, a Diptyque candle, and a good podcast or book. Now that I have a couple babies brewing, I have to be much more careful about the temperature of the water. Since I’m not one for lukewarm baths, I got this pillow on Amazon to sit at the back of the tub with a hot shower running on my legs. It’s almost the same as a good bath and keeps me comfortable while the babies are safely out of the hot water. Win, win.
Elastic-Waist Pieces
It didn’t take me long to figure out that, with the exception of a few brands like Hatch and Blanqi, maternity clothes are such an underserved and quite frankly, poorly designed, category. Once I gave up on them, I found sanity in simply sizing up in regular brands with comfortable, chic pieces. One of my favorite discoveries during pregnancy has been Bella Dahl. They make lightweight linen and denim pieces, and there are lots of options that actually work really well for us pregnant ladies. Think: elastic-waist pants and shorts, oversized tops and chic little dresses. For reference, I’m wearing size medium in their shorts and dresses and size large in their tops these days.
Renew Skincare Set
While some moms get a beautiful glow while pregnant, I have had hormonal acne (especially on my chin) the entire time. They say it’s part of having a girl, but who knows? I was grappling to get control of it by trying lots of different skincare products, but it finally started to subside when I stuck to all-natural skincare brand, True Botanicals. I think all of the product testing was probably a contributing factor to my skin issues, so when I stuck to one routine for a couple of weeks my skin stopped freaking out. I love this bundle set, because it comes with everything you need—a cleanser, a facial mist, an oil and a serum. I use these products morning and night and am absolutely loving the results.
Iron-Rich Smoothie
Like I mentioned, I have been taking an iron supplement throughout my pregnancy, but my most recent lab results came back a little bit anemic. I’m trying to step up my daily iron intake, and love how this smoothie tastes. I start with 2 cups of spinach, then add a frozen banana, two dates, a clementine, 1/4 cup of greek yogurt, a cup of fresh orange juice, and ice. Blend and enjoy the extra iron from all that spinach!
Bike Shorts
Let’s just say I am so happy that bike shorts are trending at the moment. They have truly been a style lifesaver, especially with being most pregnant at the height of the summer. I have tried a few different brands throughout my pregnancy—from Alo and Terez pairs for working out to The Range and Amazon cheapies for dressing up. I just got these by Onzie in the M/L size, and am loving the fit of the waistband. They are very comfortable and can be worn for fitness, dressing up or dressing down.
Ice Roller
This is the best beauty tool I’ve ever owned. There, I said it. There’s a lot of hype in the beauty space right now about the benefits of cold facial treatments and cold showers. While I’m not ready to give up my warm showers, I am loving getting a pore tightening ice rolling session in while I drink my coffee in the morning. It’s shocking at first but once you get used to it you’ll love it too. I have even conned Chris into rolling my feet and calves to prevent swelling in the evenings. And, don’t worry, it’s super easy to clean with rubbing alcohol between uses!
Pregnancy Pillow
It wouldn’t be a list of maternity must-haves without this pillow! This is probably the one thing I actually couldn’t live without. I’m starting to get some rib pain in the evenings and in the middle of the night from all of the expanding that’s happening. Propping this giant pregnancy pillow up on additional pillows is helping me find relief and get a good night’s rest in the third trimester. I have used it from the very beginning of pregnancy to make sleeping on my side more comfortable. I used to be a stomach sleeper, so this has definitely helped me make the transition. Highly, highly recommend!
