Pregnancy Must-Haves: Essentials For Under $25

What if I told you that being pregnant doesn’t have to be so hard? Introducing, the top Pregnancy Must-Haves for all of the stages that pregnancy has to offer! They always say the first and third trimesters are the hardest to conquer, and I can attest to this! Sometimes pregnancy can be dreadful, sometimes it can be a breeze, but fear not! You don’t need to break the bank to ensure a comfortable and prepared pregnancy.

In fact, I’ve scouted the shelves to bring you a list of pregnancy must-haves—all for under $25! No matter how easy/difficult your pregnancy is, you will always need to reach for some—if not all—items on this list. From health to comfort, I have everything you could possibly need to handle your pregnancy with ease.

Quick heads-up: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. But don’t worry, it doesn’t cost you anything extra! My recommendations have all been thoroughly tested. I would never recommend anything I don’t absolutely love and haven’t tried myself. This is an image/statement that’s really important for me to maintain. I have tried and wasted way too many things that didn’t work. With that being said, my goal is that you save money and time so you can find your must-haves immediately!

Now, let’s dive into these budget-friendly pregnancy must-haves and essentials!

General (All Trimesters)

Prenatal Vitamins

Think about this being your baby’s food to grow strong in all areas of development inside the womb! These are the vitamins I take and includes great ingredients.

Prenatal vitamins are the foundation of a healthy pregnancy journey. That’s why they should be the first item on your shopping list when you find out you’re expecting. Here’s why:

1. Critical Nutrients: Prenatal vitamins contain key nutrients like folic acid, iron, and calcium. This is essential for your baby’s development and especially important in the early stages when vital organs are forming.
2. Preventing Defects: Folic acid, particularly, helps prevent neural tube defects, making early supplementation crucial.
3. Nutritional Safety Net: Even with a healthy diet, it’s hard to get all the nutrients you and your baby need. Prenatal vitamins fill in these gaps, ensuring optimal nutrition for both of you.
4. Supporting Maternal Health: They also help maintain your health during pregnancy, preventing issues like anemia and supporting bone health

Pregnancy Tracking App

Finding a good Pregnancy App helps you stay on top of your pregnancy. There are so many good apps on the market, my personal favorite is the Premom App. I’m not affiliated in any way but I just really felt like this app checked all the boxes for me.

Not only is it a great pregnancy tracking app, it is also a conception and period tracking app as well. You can buy their Ovulation Strips on Amazon for super cheap. It gives you an app to track your ovulation and eventually, pregnancy! It also shows you week by week what developments your baby is having. This helps you stay prepared for any symptoms to suspect in the future! All around, just a great app and offers anything you can think of.

Humidifier

With pregnancy you may experience nasal congestion, dry sinuses and nosebleeds. Pregnancy hormones, particularly estrogen, can cause an increase in blood flow to the mucous membranes throughout the body, including those in the nose. This increased blood flow can make the blood vessels in the nasal passages more prone to swelling and rupture, leading to nosebleeds.

A good humidifier can greatly reduce this from happening and allow you to breathe much better especially throughout seasonal changes. Any humidifier can work great, however, if you’re looking for one thats under $25, this one is great.

Mom Hack: Use this humidifier in your baby’s nursery when you are done with it. Newborns benefit greatly from humidifiers which is another reason why it’s with my pregnancy must-haves!

Greens

During my first pregnancy, I never considered greens. However, this time, I’ve been obsessed! Not only do I feel a huge difference in my well-being, but I genuinely love the taste. I kept seeing this one all over Instagram due to sponsorships and didn’t think it lived up to the hype until I tried it. It’s SO good! The coconut flavor seems to be the most popular, but I’m more of a berry girl, so that’s been my flavor of choice.

So, Here’s a link to the best greens I’ve tried yet! There’s something about drinking this in a glass with ice that’s incredibly refreshing. This one is just slightly over $25, so I kinda broke the rules on this one but it felt necessary.

Bloom is not only women-owned which is a huge plus. But it also supports gut health and digestion, working to reduce bloating, and promotes energy levels all-in-one. Plus, it’s dairy free, gluten free, keto friendly, non GMO, sugar free, and plant based to support the dietary needs of all lifestyles. You’d think I would be sponsored by the way that i’m hyping this up, but i’m actually not!

1st Trimester

Anti-Nausea Supplements

Nothing is worse than that first trimester sickness! It’s really hard to completely avoid it, but there are supplements out there to help manage it so you can continue to live your everyday life as best as possible. Here are a few that I’ve notice help:

• Ginger Chews– These are great to keep in your purse or car for on-the-go nausea relief
• B6 + Unisom combination- This will for sure put you to sleep, but helps for the really bad cases so don’t take this unless you are home for a couple hours
• Small, frequent meals – Sometimes a meal was never an option for me, so I would try to at least get soup in or plain foods like turkey, saltines, rice, etc.
• Staying hydrated- A must! Sometimes nausea can make you feel like water is disgusting, but you have to get liquids in in order to stay ahead of the nausea.

Parenting/Pregnancy Books

Especially if you’re a first time mom, now is a great time to start reading your parenting books! I’ve done a lot of research on the most popular pregnancy books. So here are a few recommendations I have for you!

• Pregnancy, Childbirth, And The Newborn by Penny Simkin
• The Informed Parent by Tara Haelle & Emily Willingham
• My personal favorite is The Vaccine Book by Rob Sears. This book is particularly important for parents who are trying to make informed decisions about their children’s upcoming vaccinations. Written by a doctor who specializes in vaccine studies, he takes a balanced approach, providing thorough research and statistical analysis to support its arguments.

Comfort Bras

So, let’s chat about pregnancy boobs, shall we? Imagine this: your body’s going through all sorts of changes, and suddenly, your boobs are playing by their own rules—they’re growing, shifting, and those old bras? Total no-go. That’s where comfort bras swoop in like your new best friend. Trust me, investing in a couple of these bad boys will turn your daily discomfort into pure bliss. So, here are a few of my favorites, and a couple I’ve heard are top-notch all under $25!

• Target Seamless Maternity/Nursing Bras – 2 pack for under $25!
• Target Padded Seamless Bra- Auden

Skims and Bodily are two brands I’ve heard fantastic things about on their maternity bras, however, they are both over $25 so I didn’t include that in this! It’s Definitely worth the try though if you aren’t on a major budget!

Psst Hey! Have you checked out my First Trimester Ultimate To-Do List blog post? Be sure to check this out for a complete guide on essential tasks and preparations for the first trimester and beyond!

2nd Trimester

Pregnancy Pillow

Let’s chat about pregnancy pillows—okay, truth time: they’re not exactly the best space-savers. Sorry to all the hubbies out there, but us pregnant ladies need our sleep! Let me tell you, it’s worth it. I usually don’t break mine out until the middle of the second trimester when my belly, back, and hips are screaming for support. I’m currently 24 weeks in, and pulling out that sucker out from my closet has been a game-changer. No more tossing and turning—just stable, pain-free sleep. Trust me, it’s heaven!

At the time of writing this, This pregnancy pillow is just shy of $25. There are plenty on the market, but it’s important to take a look a the reviews to see which pillow is a favorite by all the soon-to-be mamas.

Belly Oil

Let’s dive into why investing in belly oil is a pregnancy must-have for embracing your pregnant body. While it’s incredibly important to love the changes your body goes through during pregnancy, it’s also essential to care for it in the best way possible.

Belly oil isn’t just about moisturizing your skin—it’s about nurturing and pampering yourself during this transformative time. As your belly expands to accommodate your growing baby, your skin stretching can become dry and itchy. Belly oil helps to hydrate and nourish your skin, reducing the risk of stretch marks and promoting elasticity. My ultimate two favorites are Bio-Oil brand and the Honest Belly Bundle. I have completely emptied both of these purchases and have repurchased for my second pregnancy!

Bio-Oil has gained popularity thanks to Kim Kardashian and Meghan Markle’s viral promotion showcasing their pregnancy routine. It’s also popular because of its multifunctionality—it doubles as a skincare oil! It can be used for quite literally anything.

The Honest Belly Bundle was a huge favorite of mine because there’s something about the combination of the butter and oil that really locks in moisture for my skin. Sometimes, just using an oil can feel like it absorbs too quickly, but with this bundle, I felt like the hydration lasted longer. Plus, it’s completely fragrance-free, which is a must for me during pregnancy as I can’t handle strong scents!

Maternity Leggings

As pregnancy progresses, even the high-waisted leggings you once loved can start feeling low-waisted. It’s not the best feeling, as the support they once provided to your midsection now digs into your lower belly. Grabbing a couple Maternity Leggings is an easy-to-match color should suffice for the rest of my pregnancy and postpartum period. This is definitely a staple in my pregnancy must-haves checklist.

Epsom Salt Baths

Epsom salt baths can be quite soothing during pregnancy, especially in the second trimester when many of the early discomforts have started. It’s always best to consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new wellness routine during pregnancy. I always start to swell mid to late pregnancy, so this has been helpful to add to my pregnancy must-haves.

Epsom salt baths are generally considered safe for pregnant women, but always check to ensure that your doctor considers it pregnancy-safe. Salt baths can help alleviate muscle aches, reduce swelling, and promote relaxation. Just ensure that the water temperature is not too hot, as overheating can be harmful during pregnancy.

3rd Trimester

Exercise Ball

I started regularly sitting on an exercise ball around 35 weeks in pregnancy. This not only helped relieve my back and hip pain, but also helped prepare the body for labor and delivery. Aside from it taking up space in your house, it’s a great addition to your pregnancy must-haves. This is because they’re typically very affordable and multi-use for postpartum pelvic floor and core strengthening.

Tums

Hello, heartburn! I’m the type of person who never experienced heartburn prior to pregnancy, but boy was I in for a wake up call! This was my life saver because it was a pregnancy-safe option for heartburn relief. You always want to check with your doctor beforehand to confirm. I keep some in my car, purse, and my bedside table for those moments of desperate need.

Heating Pad

A staple in my pregnancy must-haves list!

In the third trimester of pregnancy, a heating pad can be a valuable addition to your pregnancy must-haves for several reasons:

1. Relief from Aches and Pains
2. Muscle Relaxation: Pregnancy hormones can cause muscles and ligaments to relax and stretch in preparation for childbirth. While this is a natural process, it can also lead to muscle tension and discomfort.
3. Stress Reduction
4. Labor Preparation
5. Versatility: A heating pad can be used for various purposes beyond pregnancy, making it a practical investment.

Always ensure that you use the heating pad safely by following the instructions and avoiding prolonged exposure or high temperatures. Additionally, it’s a good idea to consult with your healthcare provider before using a heating pad during pregnancy. Especially, if you have any underlying medical conditions or concerns.

Raspberry Leaf Tea

If you haven’t heard about Raspberry Leaf Tea yet, you’re about to! I tried an abundance of labor preparation tricks in hopes that it would help labor be a smooth experience for me. While I’m not sure if I can attribute my labor’s ease solely to this trick, I can definitely tell you it helped!

Around 32 weeks into pregnancy, I started drinking this tea consistently. Aside from genuinely loving a warm cup of tea, it’s full of benefits. Let me make this easy for you and list the reasons why this is included in my pregnancy must-haves!

1. Uterine Tonic: Raspberry leaf is believed to have uterine-toning properties, which may help strengthen and tone the muscles of the uterus in preparation for labor. Some people believe that this can lead to more efficient contractions during childbirth.
2. Preparation for Labor: Drinking raspberry leaf tea in the third trimester is thought to help prepare the body for labor and childbirth by supporting the uterus and promoting optimal muscle function. It may help shorten the duration of labor and reduce the likelihood of complications during delivery.
3. Rich in Nutrients: A natural source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium, and iron, which are essential for overall health and well-being during pregnancy.
4. Relief from Pregnancy Discomforts: Some women find that drinking raspberry leaf tea can help alleviate common discomforts of late pregnancy, such as backache, leg cramps, and swelling.
5. Postpartum Recovery: It may also support postpartum recovery by helping the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size more quickly and potentially reducing postpartum bleeding.

Belly Support Band

Last, but certainly not least, A belly band! A belly band in your third-trimester pregnancy essentials can offer crucial support and comfort. It helps alleviate back strain, supports the growing belly, and eases discomfort from round ligament pain. Plus, it promotes pelvic floor support, making it a versatile and valuable addition to your pregnancy must-haves.

To wrap it up, Remember, every pregnancy is unique! What works for one person may not work for another. Trust your instincts, listen to your body, and don’t hesitate to seek guidance from healthcare professionals along the way! As you embark on this incredible journey of pregnancy, it’s essential to equip yourself with the right pregnancy must-haves to ensure a smooth and comfortable experience.

I’m wishing you a happy and healthy pregnancy filled with love, joy, and countless beautiful moments, surrounded by your chosen pregnancy must-haves.