_{*This website uses affiliate links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.}

Hello all, it’s been a minute! If you’ve kept in touch you may know that we had our first baby last year. While I’m still trying to find my footing in this new, chaotic normal, I’m finally in a place where I can reflect on what helped me most both during pregnancy and once baby was here.

With many friends just starting their pregnancy journeys, I thought it might help to put all my favorite resources in one place to make sharing easy! I’m also working on a registry guide with a few of our top choices, so keep an eye out for that soon.

Welcome, mamas to be! Pregnancy can be such a beautiful and challenging time. I hope some of these essentials will help you on your journey, wherever you happen to be on it. Please enjoy and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Ritual Prenatal Vitamins
A good prenatal vitamin is essential, and I swear up and down by these ones from Ritual. They’re easy to take and I definitely notice a difference on the rare occasion I forget to take them. They also have a nice Postnatal option which I transitioned to after giving birth, and helped give me piece of mind that I was doing what I could to take care of my body in those trying first few months.

A Pregnancy-Friendly Skincare & Make Up Routine
Since so much of what you put on your skin gets absorbed into your body, this is the perfect time to clean up your skincare and make up routine! Take the time to research and invest in products that are formulated without unnecessary chemicals so you can feel good about what you’re using for the long haul. Plus, this will be continue to be true if you decide to breastfeed, so get that great routine in place now!

A Large, Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Early on in pregnancy, it became clear that remembering to drink enough water was going to be a challenge for me. I of course already had various reusable water receptacles, but my sister convinced me to try one of the giant (40oz) Stanleys and it definitely helped. Always having water within reach was critical, especially when baby arrived since hydration is so important for breastfeeding. Even with having 40oz on hand it felt like I was running out often, but I think any larger of a size would be hard to lug around.

Ultima Replenisher Electrolyte Drink Mix
Again, staying hydrated was the name of the game, so in addition to having a big water bottle, using a good hydration powder helped too. Free from sugar, which so many others unfortunately are not, this was an easy way to make a fun drink and keep my energy up. Again, this is also true for breastfeeding, so get in the habit now! While all the flavors are tasty, I keep coming back to lemonade because it’s endlessly refreshing. I tend to only do half the recommended scoop since that tastes better to me, but find works for you.

Ginger Rescue Chewable Ginger Tablets
In addition to snacking on bland crackers constantly, these were key to getting me through some of the more nauseous first trimester moments. That being said, this is not medical advice and I encourage you to check with your doctor before trying, since they may also have other recommendations for your specific situation.

Pregnancy and Nursing Bras
Fairly early on, regular bras became uncomfortable so I purchased a few new ones intended for both pregnancy and nursing. I was looking for options as close to 100% cotton as possible, to avoid having any synthetic fabrics on my skin. My favorite was the Dream Feed Nursing And Sleep Bra from HATCH, since it offered more support than their Skin To Skin Bra. Also while not technically for pregnancy or nursing, I also found myself wearing the Cotton Tank Bra from Everlane much more often than before.

BBhugme Pregnancy Pillow
My sister gave me this for my baby shower and it was such a game-changer. I should probably have invested in one sooner, but better late than never! It made side sleeping with a bump much more comfortable, and the quality is outstanding. We continued to keep it on our bed long after baby was here for extra support as needed.

Kizick Sneakers
At some point, you will likely get so big and uncomfortable that even putting on shoes becomes a feat. This brand made getting out the door so much easier since their shoes slip on effortlessly! They were also perfect to have on hand with a new baby because getting anywhere my hands were always full. Highly recommend.

A Few Good Maternity Items
Finding maternity clothes that fit, aren’t completely synthetic and which can be worn even after baby arrives is hard. One of my favorite pieces was the Hill House Home Nap Dress, a fun, light and breathable style which didn’t make me feel like a beached whale even with a growing belly. Plus, the design is functional for breastfeeding and forgiving enough to suit you every step of the way on your postpartum journey.

As someone having a winter baby, I also loved the Tencel Jersey Maternity & Nursing Long Sleeve from Quince. It was great during the final few months as well as postpartum for easy nursing. For a dressier look, the Forest Green 2 in 1 Maternity & Nursing Sweater from Seraphine was another favorite—unbelievably comfortable yet put together enough for work or a casual gathering.

Protein-Rich Snacks
Keeping my protein levels up was another constant focus, and while a balanced meal was always the goal, having a few snacks on hands was also extremely helpful. In addition to having mixed nuts at the ready, I loved including the Aloha bars for a delicious and reliable way to calm my stomach. Again, this principle will remain true for breastfeeding, so figure out what healthy options work for you now!

If you’re a bookworm or looking for a few additional resources to have on hand, here are a few books I worked through which helped me on my journey:

What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff
The obligatory classic, but I did appreciate having this on hand to read ahead and know what to expect month by month. I found a copy from 2006 at the library book sale and even if a few references were outdated, it did the job.

Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
If you’re looking for positive birth stories that will mentally prepare you for all the things that can happen, this is a nice resource. Sure, they’re mostly natural birth stories from a rather hippie birth center in the woods, but it includes a few hospital transfers, epidurals, etc. and felt well-rounded in its approach to me. With my first birth I ended up getting an epidural which I absolutely loved, but some of the tactics mentioned here helped me labor naturally in the early stages and create a birthing space I felt really comfortable in.

All Joy and No Fun by Jennifer Senior
I read this after our baby was born but wish I’d read it during pregnancy! This sets up realistic expectations for those first few months (and years), with helpful notes on how it may change you and your partner’s relationship, plus how to balance the heavy load.

Remember to be easy on yourself during this time—your body is running a literal marathon! Listen to your medical team, get rest where you can, stay hydrated, eat well, and accept help where you can. You’ve got this, mama.

Explore the list with these and more pregnancy favorites on Amazon.

Featured photo taken by Maryssa Sousa.