My Top 10 Maternity Must-Haves

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Maternity must-haves might sound crazy but sometimes there are some things a mama needs to survive! I’m 36 weeks pregnant as of yesterday, or 9 months, if you will. Overall, this pregnancy has been super easy and mostly uneventful and we can’t wait to meet our new daughter, Avaleigh Joy! I’ve found a few things that have been helpful for me throughout this pregnancy and wanted to share them in hopes that they could help other mamas too! Here are my top ten maternity must-haves. Enjoy!

1. Good Girl Moonshine

My first maternity must-have is a nausea alleviating drink known as Good Girl Moonshine (GGMS). During my first pregnancy, I was thrilled to learn about Preggie Pops and found them to be super helpful with keeping morning sickness at bay. This pregnancy, however, I was deterred by the price and the fact that each pop has 4 grams of sugar. Four grams may not seem like much but I know for me it would quickly add up. Once I had my first baby, I began researching the Trim Healthy Mama (THM) way of eating and have personally experienced the benefits of applying the THM principles to my diet. With that in mind, I wanted an option that would alleviate morning sickness and contain no sugar. Although there are many recipes for GGMS, the basic ingredients are water, ice, ginger, apple cider vinegar, and stevia. I really enjoy GGMS and am thankful that I’ve found a healthy way to avoid morning sickness.

2. Rice and Lavender Heating Pad

My sweet mother in law sent me a heating pad (similar to one of these) for my first pregnancy and it is one of my favorite things! The heating pad goes in the microwave for 1-3 minutes depending on how hot you want it and smells wonderful due to the lavender it contains. Because of the relaxing properties of lavender, there have been times I’ve heated the pad up a bit and had it next to me while I sleep. I love how the heat combined with the lavender works to gently soothe sore muscles/aches. I’ve enjoyed using my heating pad on my neck, back, and feet, and even used it for comfort during contractions. This is one of my top maternity must-haves because it has also been really helpful in alleviating sciatic nerve pain.

3. Fitbit Fitness Wristband

For the longest time, I was super skeptical about fitness watches. I didn’t see the point in paying over a hundred dollars for a bracelet that would track my steps when I could easily go walking and use my phone as a pedometer at no additional cost. Once I found out I was pregnant though, I wanted some accountability. I selected the Fitbit Luxe because I really loved the color combination and the variety of features it includes. Per my doctor, my heart rate should stay under 140 during pregnancy in order to keep my baby safe. I like that my Fitbit conveniently provides me with the option of swiping to see my heart rate. This has helped me gauge how intensely I can exercise. While the general guideline for fitness watches/pedometers is to aim for 10,000 steps per day, I set a personal goal of 5,000 because it’s simply more realistic for me. At this stage of pregnancy, I’ve found it more challenging to reach that goal but the accountability provided by my Fitbit pushes me to try. I can proudly say that at 36 weeks pregnant, I have no swelling in my hands or feet and my wedding ring still fits! This is a huge improvement compared to my first pregnancy and I believe it is due in part to maintaining an active lifestyle.

4. Magnesium Spray

For me, magnesium spray has been a huge game changer when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep. I first discovered magnesium spray when Jessica of Jessica Ash Wellness posted about it on her Instagram stories. Shortly after viewing her story I purchased my own spray from a local vitamin store and have enjoyed using it each night. While magnesium spray was a new concept to me, I had taken magnesium supplements in the past. I like the option of having the spray though because I actually remember to use it. Magnesium spray has helped me sleep like a baby and has prevented me from having charlie horses which I painfully endured during my first pregnancy. When not pregnant, I usually spray 1-2 pumps of the magnesium on my feet. At this point in pregnancy, I spray 3 pumps on each foot before going to sleep and it has helped tremendously!

5. Back and Neck Massager

I don’t remember how I first found out about this product but I’m truly thankful for having discovered it. This massager has been great for getting knots out of my back and shoulders. I love that it can be used with or without heat. Sometimes the massager is too tough so I wish it included a way to adjust the pressure but overall, this has helped tremendously.

6. Deep Blue Rub

My mom gave this to me at some point and it’s a product I’d love to always keep on hand. Similar to Icy Hot, Deep Blue uses essential oils to relieve aches and pains. I recommend using it by squeezing the product onto a cotton ball and then applying it to the affected area. Since the product contains what are referred to as “hot oils” it is best to wash your hands quickly after applying it and avoid any contact with your eyes. Deep Blue has been so helpful for me in so many ways – I’ve even dabbed some on my temples for headache relief and it worked! Although Deep Blue is pricier than traditional competing products, it lasts a long time and is well worth the price.

7. Lily’s Chocolate

Lily’s Chocolate is one of my favorite maternity must-haves. This brand of chocolate is sweetened with erythritol rather than sugar so it won’t spike blood sugar levels. Erythritol can cause digestive issues if too much is consumed, but I count this as a plus because it causes me to enjoy the chocolate with self-control. My favorite flavor is the salted caramel one. This brand/type of chocolate is more expensive than traditional bars so I typically buy it only when it’s on sale or on occasion as a special treat. I haven’t had too many cravings for sweets this pregnancy, but when I do crave chocolate, I indulge by enjoying Lily’s.

8. Homemade Lotion & Chapstick

When I was pregnant with my first child, I really began to consider what I put on and in my body. I’ve been aware of lotions available for pregnant women to use for stretch mark prevention but was displeased with the unhealthy ingredients these products generally contain. I began making my own chapstick a while ago using this recipe and decided to try making my own lotion too. The lotion turned out smooth and provide long-lasting moisture. I found that when I used my homemade lotion compared to traditional, store bought versions I was reapplying much less often. My favorite ingredient in both the chapstick and lotion is the unrefined shea butter. It can be used alone as chapstick and lotion and since it has a rating of 0 on the comedogenic scale (i.e. it won’t clog pores), I’ve even used it as a face moisturizer. Shea butter is thick and a bit greasy but this is a plus since you only need to use a little bit at a time.

9. Non-Maternity Clothes & Comfy Shoes

I’m not sure why, but it appears that most apparel designed for pregnant women is simply unflattering and hideous. During my first pregnancy, I mostly wore maternity clothes because they fit. I didn’t necessarily like what I wore but it was what was made for my pregnant body. This pregnancy, however, I’ve avoided maternity clothes for as long as possible and looked for pieces that are cute, comfy, and practical. Some of my favorite pieces have included loose fitting cotton dresses, joggers I found at Aldi, and soft cotton tees. I also decided to invest in a couple pairs of comfy shoes to see me through this pregnancy. I recently purchased my first pair of Nike’s and I’m pretty much living in my cheap knock off Birkenstocks when the weather permits.

10. Prenatal Yoga Videos

I’ve heard varying opinions about Christians doing yoga but I personally have no conviction regarding the practice so long as it is for the sake of physical health. With that in mind, I’ve enjoyed the Pregnancy Yoga series from Katie Appleton which is available for free on YouTube. This pregnancy, I’ve mostly done the first episode but it has helped tremendously with tightness and soreness.

So, there you have it! My 10 maternity must-haves. What are your maternity must-haves?