You get a positive pregnancy test, and immediately, your mind starts reeling. How? What? Why? A tiny human is going to exit my body?! (OK maybe not “how” — that part is usually pretty self-explanatory.) But topping the question list is likely, “How on Earth am I going to get through the next nine months?” Because those 40-ish weeks before Baby makes a grand appearance are going to be long and tiring and come with a whole lot of changes for you and your body.
But remember: It’s a marathon, not a sprint. And the best way to get through a marathon? One foot in front of the other. That and drinking water. And comfortable shoes. And trying not to vomit. Actually, there’s a lot running a marathon and being pregnant have in common. But if your head is spinning, not to fear. We’ve gathered all your maternity must-haves so you can rest easy and not worry about what you need to survive all three trimesters. All you have to worry about is picking a cute name and applying to preschools. Kidding. Kind of.
Smarty Pants Prenatal Gummy Vitamins
Keep you (and Baby) healthy with these tasty prenatal vitamins — because if you're going to take a vitamin every day, shouldn't it be gummy?
Smarty Pants prenatal gummy vitamins, $20.24 at Amazon
Hydro Flask Waterbottle
Staying hydrated is especially important when you're expecting, so make sure you have a snazzy water bottle like this big guy from Hydro Flask.
Hydro Flask water bottle, $44.95 at Amazon
Wood Grain Humidifier & Diffuser
So often during early pregnancy, you feel like you have a cold that just won't quit. Help yourself get some rest with this humidifier that has the added benefit of being a diffuser, so you can add some sinus-clearing essential oils like eucalyptus or peppermint.
Wood grain humidifier and diffuser, $27.99 at Amazon
Peppermint Essential Oil
Speaking of essential oils, you might want to keep a bottle in your bag for emergency olfactory relief. Smells that never used to bug you can suddenly become really offensive when you're pregnant, so keep a pleasant-smelling essential oil on hand to help.
Peppermint essential oil, $7.95 at Amazon
TummyDrops in Ginger Flavor
Morning sickness can strike anytime, day or night, so keep some of these ginger TummyDrops close by to help with nausea.
TummyDrops in ginger flavor, $10.44 at Amazon
Sea-Band Mama
Sea-Band is a drug-free solution to most types of nausea. You may have seen them used for seasickness or carsickness, but they can also be used for morning sickness. They're comfortable, reusable and can be used with essential oils.
Sea-Band Mama, $10.48 at Amazon
Boppy Wedge Pillow
Sleeping comfortably is perhaps one of the greatest challenges while pregnant; the bigger your stomach grows, the harder it is. This pillow, when wedged under your burgeoning bump, helps support it and makes bedtime a whole lot more bearable. It won't stop you from getting up every five seconds to pee, though. Sorry about that.
Boppy wedge pillow, $15.99 at Amazon
Earth Mama Morning Wellness Tea
This Morning Wellness Tea is organic, GMO- and caffeine-free and helps soothe your morning sickness with peppermint, ginger, chamomile and lemon balm. The perfect addition to your first trimester morning routine.
Earth Mama Morning Wellness Tea, $11.98 at Amazon
Maternity Bras
Sore boobs is just one of the many perks of pregnancy, but with these adjustable cotton bras, you will finally find the perfect balance of support and comfort. And bonus: They're nursing-friendly when the little one finally makes their appearance into the world.
Maternity bras (pack of five), $26.99 at Amazon
Palmers Stretch Mark Lotion
The instant you get a positive pregnancy test, you'll want to start rubbing on some of this delicious-smelling lotion that keeps stretch marks at bay.
Palmers stretch mark lotion, $5.36 at Amazon
Mommee Coffee
For those moms not quite willing to let go of their morning coffee, this organic guilt-free coffee for all stages of motherhood is a quarter caff, which is juuuuust enough to make you feel almost human in the morning.
Mommee Coffee, $15.99 at Amazon
Chia Suede Moccasins
Swollen feet and ankles are an unfortunate side effect of pregnancy for some, so around your second or third trimester, you're going to want a pair of comfy shoes. These moccasins are adorable, so you can go out in public but feel like you're wearing your favorite bunny slippers.
Chia suede moccasins, $19.99 at Target
NatureBox Snack Subscription
Eating healthily is so important with a baby on the way, and it's often easier when you're not feeling that great to have several small snacks throughout the day instead of three big meals. You can avoid the temptation to grab a not-so-healthy snack with a subscription to NatureBox, which comes with a variety of healthy snacks delivered right to your door.
Snack subscription, $20 – $50 at NatureBox
Über-Comfy Leggings
When the hair-tie-through-the-buttonhole trick doesn't work for you anymore, it's time to get a pair of über-comfy leggings that have the stretch and support your belly needs. This pair from Old Navy will be your fave pre- and post-baby, I promise.
Maternity-front low-panel leggings, $14 at Old Navy
‘Smitten Kitchen Every Day’ Cookbook
When the thought of eating, well, anything, makes you gag, sometimes the best choice is to flip through a cookbook. Recipes that might not have piqued your interest last month could be the only thing that sounds appealing this month. This book from Deb Perelman, the genius behind Smitten Kitchen, is chock-full of delicious recipes that are totally doable for everyone — and she's witty to boot.
Smitten Kitchen Every Day cookbook, $25.05 at Amazon
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