There are a lot of items out there that are marketed to pregnant women. Things that are meant to combat a variety of pregnancy related symptoms or make pregnancy more enjoyable, comfortable or healthier. A lot of these tend to be things you use and then have to repurchase or refill if you want to continue using them like your prenatal vitamins, ginger candy for morning sickness or your favorite muscle relaxing bubble bath.
But it’s nice to have a few things that will last you through your whole pregnancy and can even be used again in future pregnancies. I’m sharing a few of my favorite pregnancy items that are reusable, making them worth the purchase.
1. Birth Ball
You’ll see this item under a variety of names like birth ball, yoga ball or exercise ball but in reality they’re all pretty much the same thing and it has been one of my most used pregnancy items! We all know pregnancy comes with its fair share of aches and pains, particularly in your back, hips and pelvis. Sitting on a birth ball can help relieve some of the pressure you feel in these areas.
It also helps with encouraging good posture which is great for making sure your baby is in a good position and doing some simple exercises on your birth ball can even help to open up your hips and pelvis in preparation for a smoother birth.
These are all great reasons to have one during pregnancy but it’s use doesn’t stop there! The ball can be used during labor to help manage discomfort and even postpartum once you’re ready to get back to exercising or to bounce on to soothe a fussy baby.
While the name of the ball isn’t super important, there are a few things to keep in mind when selecting one. Make sure you get one made of non-slip material. The last thing you want is to be slipping and sliding off your ball and injuring yourself. You’ll also want to take your height into consideration. Most balls are either 65 or 75 cm and which size you get depends on how tall you are.
Using the incorrect size may actually increase your discomfort so just check the specifications for the ball you buy to be sure it will work for you! The ball linked above is great because it can be blown up to more than one size AND it comes with a book full of great exercises to do with your ball during all three trimesters of pregnancy and postpartum as well.
2. Pregnancy Pillow
Sleeping can be a challenge when you’re pregnant. Not only can the aches and pains keep you tossing and turning, other symptoms like heartburn, frequent urination and insomnia can make it hard to get a good night’s sleep as well. Many pregnant women also find they have to start sleeping in a position that isn’t their usual choice which can be its own challenge.
Enter the pregnancy pillow.
There are hundreds on the market and they come in various sizes and shapes but the goal is to help you be more comfortable when you sleep. Most are designed to give you some extra support under your heavy belly, against your sore back and often between your legs for hip support. This item can be used throughout your pregnancy and saved for future pregnancies as well. Or you may decide it’s so comfy it becomes a regular fixture in your bed!
You’ll want to find one that is a good fit for you based on the support you need, the space available in your bed and your preference in material but I’ve linked a few suggestions for you below. And if you’re looking for more ideas on getting better sleep be sure check out our post on sleeping better during pregnancy.
Side Sleeper Pregnancy Wedge Pillow
3. A Good Water Bottle
Staying hydrated while pregnant is so important! And I don’t know about you but it was actually something I had a hard time with, particularly at the start of my pregnancy. As someone who was used to drinking multiple diet cokes a day but not so many glasses of water, staying well hydrated became a big goal of mine.
Having a large reusable water bottle was definitely helpful for me! Most reusable bottles often hold way more than just a drinking glass, and are more transportable making it easier to stay on top of your hydration throughout the day. Take a look at a few of my suggestions and get hydrating!
HydroMate 32 oz. Straw Water Bottle
4. Maternity Leggings
I’m not sure I would have made it through a large chunk of my pregnancy without a good pair of maternity leggings. Until it got too warm for them I lived in my leggings. Yes, I bought maternity jeans but the maternity leggings were the best and most comfortable thing to wear as my belly began growing.
I personally loved these from Old Navy because they aren’t at all see through, they’re plenty long, not too pricey and had loads of stretch. I wore them starting around 12 weeks and can still fit comfortably in them at 39 weeks, if it weren’t 100 degrees out that is. This option from Motherhood Maternity is also a great choice! And for all of you summer pregnant gals who think the idea of leggings or pants at all is horrible, try some pregnancy biker shorts!
Old Navy Maternity Biker Shorts
5. Compression Socks
This is not the most glamorous reusable item but I assure you it will come in handy for a lot of you. You’ll notice as you get further along in your pregnancy you may begin to have some swelling in your feet and ankles. This can definitely be uncomfortable. So compression socks to the rescue!
The compression the socks provide can help keep your swelling down by improving your circulation which eases that discomfort. Even if you’re not having much swelling these are also a must have for traveling. Being on an airplane or even seated in a car for a long road trip can increase swelling for anyone but especially for pregnant mamas. So I’d definitely grab a pair of these to have for any upcoming travel as well as for later in pregnancy when you start to wonder if your feet will be this swollen forever (if you can see your feet that is).
What are some other must have items you would recommend to our pregnant mamas? I’d love to hear in the comments!