Hardly any of these items are explicitly intended for pregnancy, but I found them all really useful and wanted to share them with you! If you have kids, I really hope you’ll comment and let me know about products or things that you loved during your pregnancies. (I’m going to post about my “baby essentials” sometime in the next couple weeks).
In no particular order…
During each of my pregnancies, I had a really hard time hydrating my skin (especially my belly, lower back, and hips.) With Simone I used Lunabalm, but it was extra sticky. When I ran out during this pregnancy, I ordered Lusa Organics Belly Balm
2. Cardigans and Solid-Colored Tanks
Our clothing budget is really limited, so I despised the thought of buying maternity clothing that I would only wear for a few months. I still had some stuff left over from my pregnancy with Simone, and in the end I went with a pregnancy “uniform” of jeans or a skirt, solid-colored tanks (in happy jewel tones!) and cardigans. This allowed me to purchase just a couple new tank tops and some cardigans. I have enough that I’ve been able to mix and match without getting bored, and I’ve looked great without having to give much thought to getting dressed. (Never fun when pregnant). I plan to wear the tanks during the postpartum period and as pajama tops, and the cardigans will be useful long after James is born.
3. Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Tea
I suffer from anxiety at the best of times, and for me it’s heightened during pregnancy. I’ve often had to force myself to just relax! Bubble baths are great for that, but my favorite thing is drinking a hot cup of sleepytime tea from a favorite mug. There are many incarnations of relaxing teas, but I like sleepytime’s taste the best. And who can resist that adorable bear?
4. Nivea Milk & Honey Lip Balm
I just recently discovered Nivea lip balm and I feel like I’ve been missing out! Rosebud Salve is typically my go-to lip balm, but I don’t like wearing it to bed or when I’m dealing with morning sickness (and honestly, I use it less now that I have a kid because I’m always kissing her, and Rosebud Salve is pretty sticky). Nivea’s Milk & Honey lip balm is moisturizing and non-waxy, with a nice yummy smell, not too strong or honey-like. I also have their cherry lip balm and it’s similarly moisturizing but with a glossy red tint.
5. Your Baby and Child
I don’t know about you, but even some of the least alarmist books about pregnancy and birth really freaked me out. (Though I read plenty of them anyway). I much preferred reading Your Baby and Child
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I absolutely loved belly bands when I was pregnant. They helped me get through the awkward stage in the beginning when I was too big for regular clothes and too small for maternity, and again postpartum when I was too big for my regular clothes and too small for my maternity clothes. I also wore a lot of tank tops and regular, non-maternity cardigans. I actually found that my tank tops were so stretchy and really retained their shape so I actually ended up keeping them long term and wearing them well after I was back to my pre-pregnancy size.
I always wanted a belly band but never took the plunge and invested in one! I think they would have been great, though, especially at the end of this pregnancy when I had a hard time keeping my belly covered. With Simone a lot of my stretchy tanks still fit afterward, too, and I was thrilled.