15 Pregnancy Essentials Every New Mom Must Have

If you’re a first-time mom, you don’t know what to expect when it comes to your pregnancy symptoms. This list of pregnancy essentials will tell you everything you need to be comfortable, from a mom who was so not comfortable during pregnancy and tried so many things!

Since your needs will change as your belly grows, I have divided this list into two sections. The first section is what you need right away, and the second section is what you will need later on in your pregnancy.

If you are on a budget, it’s especially great to plan your purchases out over time like this. No need to buy a belly support band in the first trimester when your belly is just starting to grow, am I right? 😉

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Pregnancy Essentials You Will Need Right Away:

These first pregnancy essentials are items that you will use a lot throughout the next nine months. Because they get so much use, it’s best to get them at the beginning of your pregnancy.

1. Belly Butter

When it comes to stretch marks, you want to start applying lotion/butter early on.

I used this brand, and I had gotten barely any stretch marks! I liked this brand because it wasn’t greasy, and the smell wasn’t overpowering.

You will want to remember to apply the cream all over, not only on your belly. Stretch marks are known to pop up on areas like your thighs, hips, and breasts too.

2. Prenatal Vitamins

Prenatal vitamins are one of the pregnancy essentials that are great not only during pregnancy but also before you get pregnant. If you are planning on breastfeeding, then they are also necessary after you deliver.

I have used this brand throughout my whole pregnancy and also for 14+ months of breastfeeding. I highly recommend them because they have never made me feel nauseous.

Another reason I like this brand is that they have folic acid and DHA which are important for your baby’s development.

3. Pregnancy Journal

Writing in a pregnancy journal is something I regret not doing.

I wish I had documented my pregnancy so I could look back at how everything was going. Your pregnancy flies by in the scheme of things, and you might forget little details.

If I have another baby, I am definitely getting this pregnancy journal. It’s cute and it has a spot to document every aspect of your pregnancy.

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4. Sea-Bands

If you struggle with morning sickness, Sea-Bands are something that you should try out!

If you don’t know what Sea-Bands are, they are wristbands that stimulate an acupressure point to help reduce nausea and motion sickness.

Sea-Bands aren’t too expensive, and when there is a possibility that your morning sickness could last throughout your whole pregnancy as it did for me, they are worth the purchase.

5. What To Expect When You’re Expecting

This book is a must-have when you are a first-time mom! It will answer so many of your questions, and it’s a good reference for what is happening in each month of your pregnancy.

You will read about things like what symptoms you might have and when, and what to expect at your doctor’s appointments.

Also, it will go into detail about not-so-obvious things like the different tests you might need during pregnancy.

In addition to What To Expect When You’re Expecting, they have another book that goes into detail about your baby’s first year. I also recommend that book for the same reasons; it’s a great reference!

6. Flat Shoes

Wearing different shoes is something that often gets overlooked during pregnancy. I didn’t give it a second thought until I rolled my ankle and fell when I was 6 months pregnant. (Everything was ok, thank goodness)

After I fell, I immediately bought these flats, and they are so comfortable. I wore them every day to work until I had my baby, and I still use them very often!

Whatever shoe you choose to wear, make sure it is comfortable and you feel very secure walking in them.

You don’t want to risk your shoes causing an accident, especially when you are a little more clumsy while pregnant.

7. Large Water Bottle

Staying hydrated is another pregnancy essential! I found it was a lot easier for me to stay hydrated, especially at work, when I didn’t have to worry about filling my water bottle as often.

I bought this water bottle, and it’s perfect. It holds 48 ounces, so I aimed to finish two of them a day.

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Pregnancy Essentials You Will Need After Your First Trimester:

These next pregnancy essentials are items that you will use more as you get farther along in your pregnancy. A great time to get these items is after you are done with your first trimester.

8. Maternity Clothes

Everyone is different, so you may need to buy some maternity clothes in your first trimester if you start to get uncomfortable. I was able to hold off on buying maternity clothing until about 16 weeks into my pregnancy.

When it comes to what you will need, that depends on your day-to-day life. If you are working and need dressier clothes, then you can’t get away with only buying tee shirts.

I know you might not want to buy too much because you only wear these clothes for a little while, but make sure you buy enough so you aren’t doing laundry every three days. 😉

Some good staples that I enjoyed were these tee shirts and these dresses. You will also want to get some pajama bottoms like these ones so you can sleep more comfortably.

9. Pant Extender

I was able to hold off on buying maternity pants for quite a while by using pant extenders.

Pant extenders attach to the button and buttonhole of your regular pants to give you a little extra room. They work really well!

10. Nursing Bras

Skip buying bras labeled as “maternity bras” and just get nursing bras. Also, if you choose to breastfeed, it will be great that you already have bras ready.

When looking for nursing bras, don’t get ones that are too tight, or ones with underwire.

Bras with underwire, or bras that are too tight can lead to clogged milk ducts (which can lead to mastitis) and you don’t want that.

I used these ones and these ones the most, and they are both comfortable.

11. Belly Support Band

As your belly starts to get bigger, you may experience lower back pain if you are pretty active or have a job that requires a lot of standing. That’s where a belly support band comes in!

By wearing a belly band, it will offer support for your growing belly by gently alleviating the pressure it puts on your back.

Just remember that they shouldn’t be worn all day long, only for shorter periods of activity.

12. Maternity Pillow

Using a maternity pillow is a great way to help you get comfortable enough to sleep. If you are interested in using a maternity pillow, there are a lot of different options out there.

I used this pillow and it really helped me. It offers support for basically any part of your body, which is great as you get farther along and struggle to sleep well.

13. Seat Cushion

Many women suffer from hemorrhoids while pregnant. A seat cushion or donut cushion can help with that discomfort.

If you don’t have a need for a seat cushion while you are pregnant, I suggest you still get a cushion before you deliver your baby. This is something that I wish I had ready when I got home.

After you deliver your baby, it’s going to be sore to sit for a while and if you are planning on breastfeeding, you will be sitting a lot.

I used this cushion after I had my baby, and it was nice for those long nursing sessions.

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14. Heating Pad

Heating pads are so nice to have around when you have muscle aches. I used one a lot during my pregnancy.

You will want to make sure you don’t use anything too hot on your belly, and also use it for no more than 20 minutes at a time.

15. Breastfeeding And Birthing Classes

About four weeks before your due date, go take a birthing and a breastfeeding class! These are great things to do with your partner so they can be informed as well.

The hospital where you will be delivering your baby should offer free classes to go to. That’s what I did, and I thought it was great to be able to ask questions as you had them.

If you would rather not physically go to a class, I know there are also a lot of options online. Just make sure whatever class you choose is highly rated.

I know being pregnant for the first time can be a lot to handle sometimes, and I hope that these pregnancy essentials help you!

And just remember, if one of your pregnancy symptoms is really bothering you, talk to your doctor about it! They will be the best person to help you out.

Before you go, check out these related posts:

• When To Start Buying Baby Stuff
• How To Make The Best New Mom Care Package
• The Best Tips For Having A Baby On A Budget
• What NOT To Put On Your Baby Registry
• How To Have A Baby Shower On A Budget

Do you have any pregnancy essentials that I have left off of this list? I would love to know in the comments below!

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