Now that I’m inching closer to the end of my pregnancy, I figured this would be the perfect time to share with you my favorite pregnancy essentials for each trimester.
For this to be my last baby, I am so grateful this pregnancy has been pretty smooth, especially since we’re having a girl. I was shocked that I experienced very little morning sickness, weight gain, acne, and no heartburn. In fact, almost everyone tells me how much I am glowing!
I think some of that has to do with making time for self-care and prioritizing my mental health. But, a lot of it also has to do with the fact that I’m happy to finally have a daughter after having four boys!
Related: How I Knew I Was Pregnant With A Girl (After Having 4 Boys)
So, without further ado, here are all of my pregnancy faves.
First Trimester
My first trimester was probably the worst. Immediately after finding out I was pregnant, I was hit with extreme exhaustion. I probably spent the first month in bed.
Then, at around six weeks along, I had a medical scare. I woke up from taking one of my long naps to soiled panties and bright red blood — I honestly thought I was having a miscarriage. My husband rushed me to the emergency room, but they couldn’t confirm I was miscarrying, and they couldn’t find the embryo either. So I was put on bed rest until I could see my doctor.
At my follow-up appointment 3 days later, I had another ultrasound which discovered a developing fetus and a subchorionic hematoma or hemorrhage in my uterus. Apparently, SCH is quite common in pregnancies so my doctors were confident that it was the source of my bleeding, and that my uterus would heal itself by the 12th week of pregnancy.
In the meantime, I was put on pelvic rest, which meant no sex or heavy lifting until I got into my second trimester. These are the essentials that got me through that scary time:
Prenatal Vitamins. It’s not enough to intake folic acid while pregnant. You also need a vitamin that has DHA and Omega-3 ingredients because they help support baby’s brain development. These prenatals are my favorite! I only wish I took them when I was pregnant with my boys.
Nausea Relief. If exhaustion was my primary pregnancy system, nausea was definitely second. These morning sickness lozenges really worked and were a lifesaver!! I tried the mango-ginger flavor and it prevented me from vomiting my entire first trimester!
Snacks. You’ll want to stock up on crackers and sparkling water too! I actually think sparkling water is a better alternative to Ginger Ale if you’re trying to watch your soda and sugar intake.
Stainless Steel Water Bottle. Staying hydrated during pregnancy is so important. I got myself a 40 oz Stanley and absolutely love it! It doesn’t just come in handy for the first trimester. I’ve been using it my entire pregnancy!
Comfy Pajamas & Slippers. I remember feeling bloated all the time and didn’t want to wear anything tight-fitting. Plus, I spent a ton of time in the bed asleep so comfy pajamas and a pair of UGGs were a must!
Second Trimester
This was my favorite trimester of my pregnancy! I had finally got my energy back, I was healed from my first trimester bleeding, and ready to enjoy being pregnant. These were my must-haves:
Maternity Leggings. I was lucky enough to be pregnant during the fall and winter months so these maternity leggings were the only thing I wore!
Maternity Pajamas. I got to a point where my pre-pregnancy pajamas could no longer accommodate my growing belly. I absolutely love this set!
Cocoa Butter Lotion. I switched to only using this to prevent stretch marks. I love how it makes my skin feel so soft and moisturized.
Related: 5 Diaper Bags I’m Eyeing That’s Stylish AND Functional
Third Trimester
I’ve just entered month nine of my pregnancy and I’ve had to slow down a lot. I often find myself taking several breaks between activities and even using a motor cart when I go shopping. Here are my recommendations:
Wireless Bra. I’ve noticed that my breasts are changing and are extremely sensitive to pain, so wearing an underwire bra just isn’t comfortable anymore. These are perfect if you plan to breastfeed!
Body Pillow. Sleeping these days is so hard. From round ligament pain to other random aches. A body pillow helps relieve some of that pressure just enough so I can get a comfortable sleep.
Melatonin. Speaking of sleep, pregnancy insomnia is another thing I struggle with this trimester. It happens to be pretty common, so my doctor said I could take one 3mg tablet at the same time before bed each night and that has helped tremendously.
Belly Band. As the baby begins to sit head-down on my pelvis, it becomes harder to walk without experiencing some level of pain. Using a maternity belt for my back and belly helps support those weakened muscles.
Of course, each pregnancy is unique! These are just the products I used to help me get through mine. If there are any must-haves you’d like to add to this list, drop them down below!
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