Pregnancy Essentials You Must Buy

1. Maternity Clothes and Pants

The belly will become bigger and bigger, so maternity clothings are must to invest! Some of the valuable purchase styles and essentials are:

-A pair of maternity jeans shorts that you can pair with any t-shirts for outing:

- Maternity Underwear 

because your belly is growing bigger and bigger! I prefer a very low cut underwear at the front with curve shape, because towards the end of the pregnancy that curve shape will allow room for your belly to grow. Refer Amazon link below:

-Dresses that are loose and comfy for a pregnant belly

nevertheless you can still wear them even after pregnancy. For example:

2. Pregnancy Supplements

-Folic Acid

Starting from before pregnancy, mom who is preparing for pregnancy should consume standalone folic acid up to at least 3 months pregnant. You can read more about the benefits of Folic Acid here.

-Multivitamins for Pregnancy (to be consumed during pregnancy & breastfeeding)

Multivitamins contain the basic essential vitamins that you will need and for your growing baby. 

-Fish Oil with DHA

Fishoil can help with baby’s healthy cognitive and visual function, and overall brain development. But advice from doctor is to be careful to consume only fishoil for pregnancy/ breastfeeding, because the fishoil needs to be pure enough to be beneficial to the baby. Fishoil made from deep sea big fishes might contain heavy metals (such as mercury) that can cause damage to the baby.

-Antacids for Gastric Reflux

One of the common symptoms during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester, is the terrible heartburn and gastric an expecting mom can get. It will cause you to have difficulty sleeping at night, or morning/evening sickness. As much as possible, I avoid taking medication during pregnancy, but when acid reflux really gets into me at night, i will take one teaspoon of Gaviscon and the symptom will subside immediately (safe for pregnancy).

-Milk for pregnant/breastfeed mom, or Calcium pills

Milk is essential to provide the nutrients for the mother and growing baby's needs, especially in terms of calcium needs. I am lactose intolerant and unable to consume milk, hence the doctor prescribed calcium pills for my consumption. Lacking of calcium will cause pregnant mom to have legs cramps in the middle of the night. So make sure you get sufficient calcium intake!

3. Pregnancy Pillow

Pregnant moms are adviced to sleep on your left for maximum blood flow and nutrients to your placenta. Truthfully as the belly becomes bigger, you will need a pillow to support the belly. I highly recommend using a pregnancy u-shape pillow and this will greatly increase your comfort to sleep throughout the night.

4. Stretchmarks Oil

It is recommended to start applying stretchmarks oil, once during the day and once during the night to your belly starting the second trimester of your pregnancy until delivery. Bio Oil is the brand that I've used, and so far so good with no stretchmarks 29 weeks into pregnancy (with fingers crossed). The application method - - starting with your hands forming a heart shape from the belly button, apply the oil in an outward motion to other parts of the belly. Be careful not to apply pressure or massage, as it may cause contractions.

5. Consumer Products free of harmful chemicals

-Shampoo for Pregnancy

After pregnancy I have since replaced my shampoo to minimize harmful ingredients with 0% silicones, parabens or dyes- Pantene Micellar series.

-Skincare for Pregnancy

Skincare products that I've been using are the Laroche Posay line, and you can check out my review of the products here. The products are gentle on even sensitive skin, and will be a good choice during pregnancy.

6. Have a good mood, eat a balanced diet, and enjoy your pregnancy!

Maintain a healthy mood, as having sad or angry emotions will generate hormones in your body that's harmful for your baby's brain and body development. According to a medical doctor, it is not uncommon to hear about a wife who quarreled with her husband and experienced contraction afterwards. Other than emotional health, eat as healthily as possible, with proteins, vegetables, and fruits everyday (one word of caution is to consume fruit in moderate amount, as fruits are high in sugar content and will cause gestational diabetes!)

I wish you a happy and healthy pregnancy!