I’m now in my third trimester of my second pregnancy, which means I’ve had the opportunity to try out a lot of different maternity products. Many things I invested in during my first pregnancy I didn’t really use, but some items have become true pregnancy essentials. Most of these items helped me feel more comfortable during an incredibly uncomfortable time, but some also helped me feel confident and added a little luxury to my pregnancy. I strongly believe it’s important to feel both comfortable and beautiful in your body while pregnant. Every expecting mama is unique and every pregnancy is unique so you may not need everything on this list. But I hope my 10 favorite and most used pregnancy essentials will help you enjoy this phase of life.
1. Water bottle
You need to drink A LOT of water while pregnant – double the normal amount of recommended water per day. Until I invested in a few different water bottle types for each situation, I personally struggled to keep up with hydration. I love this travel mug for when I’m home or driving and this water bottle with a straw lid for my purse on longer days. I also keep a few of these water bottles filled in the fridge to grab on the way out of the house. Find a water bottle system that works for you to stay hydrated.
2. Snacks for on-the-go
During both pregnancies I needed a snack in the morning and in the afternoon. I get a little shaky sometimes if I go too long without eating. I’ve found some healthy options that are easy to throw in my purse – almonds, LARABARs, and peanut butter pretzels were some of my favorites.
3. Maternity pajamas
Maternity pajamas are great for when other pajamas start getting a little tight. PACT is my absolutely favorite for maternity pajamas. PACT has a top and bottom sleep set that’s very comfortable and I also love the PACT maternity nightgowns (perfect if you run hot in pregnancy).
4. Maternity underwear
Maternity underwear isn’t a true pregnancy essential, but it’s a luxury I feel is worth it. The PACT maternity underwear is so comfortable, I ended up buying two sets during my first pregnancy. This is one of my late second trimester and third trimester favorites.
5. Comfortable wire-free bra
You can buy a specific maternity bra, but my favorite bra for pregnancy and nursing was actually one I owned pre-pregnancy. Patagonia’s Barely Bra is wire-free, supportive, stretches with pregnancy, and is easy to pull up or down while nursing. I’ve also been wanting to try out the True & Co. bralette.
6. Supportive maternity leggings
I’ve tried out so many different maternity leggings and disliked almost all of them, including some of my favorite sustainable brands (PACT, Girlfriend Collective). Most leggings felt great and looked great at first, but would not stay up if I wore them for more than 10 minutes. And it did not help my confidence to be pulling up my leggings all day.
I ended up mostly wearing non-maternity Lululemon leggings and Prana ribbed leggings that could stretch to cover my bump (my Athleta and Pact non-maternity leggings didn’t work for me while pregnant). But I also liked having a pair of maternity leggings on hand for the days I needed extra belly support. The only maternity leggings I ended up liking are these Motherhood Maternity Over the Belly Leggings. They stayed up and provided great belly support. I just wish the fabric was softer.
7. A few maternity outfits
During my first pregnancy I was determined to get by without a full wardrobe of maternity clothes. I was able to make many of my non-maternity wardrobe pieces work for most of my pregnancy (dresses, jean jacket, long sweaters), but I was far more comfortable in maternity clothes. Non-maternity shirts get too short and the rubber band trick for pants is super uncomfortable.
Maternity tops and bottoms quickly became pregnancy essentials for me because of the added support for my growing bump and it’s less fussy overall. Tighter maternity tops and pants are definitely more supportive. And it’s fun to show off your bump. But most days I preferred soft, free flowing clothes.
My favorite maternity tops and pants came from PACT’s maternity line, but I also found some items I loved from Target and H&M.
8. A statement dress or outfit that gives you confidence
Buy yourself at least one cute dress or outfit for a confidence boost while pregnant. I treated myself to the Daughters of India Kyra Midi Dress so I can continue to wear it after pregnancy. I also bought a few maternity dresses from PACT, Target, and H&M. Pairing maternity dresses with a jean jacket is my favorite combination.
9. Slip-on shoes
It’s so much easier to just slip on shoes than to bend down to tie your shoes or struggle to get boots on. The other benefit to slip-on shoes is they will usually continue to fit if your feet and ankles swell later in pregnancy. Some of my favorite slip-on options are rubber flip flops, Birkenstock sandals, ABLE Whitney Sandal, Berkinstock clogs, ON Running Cloud shoes, and UGG slippers. Slip-on shoes are also perfect for life postpartum when you have your hands full with a baby.
10. Pregnancy pillow
During pregnancy, I needed extra pillows were pregnancy essentials for support while sleeping. I use one or two body pillows (one on either side) and this wedge pillow. The wedge ended up being perfect for helping with pressure points while sleeping and at the hospital when I was in labor. But I wish I had also invested in a pregnancy pillow like this for added support.
I recommend looking into the many styles of pregnancy pillows to determine what will be the most comfortable for your pregnancy depending on the growing pains you’re experiencing.
11. Belly butter or body oil
Belly butter or body oil is great for hydrating your skin and preventing stretch marks. It also has become such a nice part of my routine each day. I’ve tried a few different types and would recommend Burt’s Bees Mama Belly Butter, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Lotion, and Osea Undaria Algae Body Oil (great after pregnancy as well).
12. Luxurious bath products
This is the time to pamper yourself. I love building in self-care time and taking baths while pregnant to connect with my baby and ease all the aches and pains from the day. Pick out a great smelling candle, a sugar scrub, and a body oil to help you relax.
13. A pregnancy book you trust
During both pregnancies, I tried to avoid Googling all the unusual symptoms and questions that came up. I found a few trusted pregnancy books to consult instead (in addition to messaging my doctor). If you’re looking for suggestions, here are my 10 favorite pregnancy books.
14. Panty liners
The least fun of all the pregnancy essentials. Leaks happen. You laugh, cough, sneeze, or baby kicks and whoops! It’s a lot easier to deal with leaks when wearing a thin panty liner, so grab a pack to have on hand just in case.
15. Journal
I am so thankful that I wrote things down during my first pregnancy. But I wish I had written more. I recommend buying a pretty journal to write down all your thoughts, weird symptoms, questions, worries, and exciting motherhood plans. You’ll love looking back on it someday.
What would you add to this list of pregnancy essentials? Share your recommendations in comments!
P.S. My 10 favorite empowering books for pregnancy and tips for building your baby registry.
Note: If you buy something through the links on this page, I may earn an affiliate commission (at no cost to you). I only share products I genuinely like and use in my own life. I try to keep the details on this page updated, but please check all information before making your plans as the information may have changed. Thank you so much for your support.
