My Pregnancy Must Haves That Transition Perfectly For Postpartum

One of the things that annoyed me greatly when I was in my first trimester was how overpriced and expensive maternity-specific products can be. Like most pregnant women, desperate for relief or comfort, I fell for some of the marketing.

If you’re currently expecting, I know you don’t have the time or patience to read through a massive recipe-like blog post where I tell you my entire infertility story leading up to this pregnancy and how each trimester felt for me. You just want the goods.

So, let me quickly share with you the products that I couldn’t have lived without. These are all, in my opinion, well worth their cost and are things I used literally every single day and most importantly will continue to use postpartum! The last thing you want is to buy something that you just have to pack away weeks later.

I’m thrilled to share why I love these products and how I use them!

None of the products in this post are sponsored and I am not receiving compensation for sharing them with you.

BBHUGME Pregnancy Pillow

This pillow is worth every single penny. It is designed by chiropractors, doesn’t overheat or make me warm at all, is washable and has replacement covers, allows you to safely lay on your belly if you want, it is made with materials with natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and it doesn’t take up a ton of room in your bed like some of the U shaped pillows.

I ordered a second cover so that when I take the pillow with me to the hospital and come home, I can immediately put on a new cover and not be without it while our hospital laundry gets washed.

I also use this pillow for lounging in bed (behind me or under my knees) and postpartum I plan to use it for in-bed nursing as well (though they do sell a smaller version for nursing as well). I started using my BBHUGME at about 12 weeks pregnant because I had a lot of back pain and I have loved everything about it.

Allbirds Tree Runners

I am not ashamed to admit that I have several pairs of these and I love everything Allbirds. I honestly don’t know how I lived before them… and they have been on my feet nearly every day this pregnancy. They are washable, nearly unbranded (no really bold, distracting, annoying, ugly logos) and breathable. Most importantly for me though, they’re lightweight and supportive.

Early on, when I didn’t really feel like getting out of bed, tying these up made me feel like I could actually accomplish something. Now, with my swollen feet and 25 extra pounds of weight, they can carry me through a day without making my legs and feet feel heavy or overtired.

I also deeply appreciate that they are made with renewable materials. I actually plan to get another pair soon and I also love their Tree Breezer slip-ons for when I just don’t feel like bending over to attempt to tie my shoes.

Aerie OFFLINE Real Me High Waisted Leggings

When I started having a bump, I purchased a few pairs of maternity leggings… the ones you see on Instagram, get targeted ads for, read on all the blogs, etc. and I hated every single pair. I have a very short torso so some of these would literally come up to my armpits and the compression at the top band would cause horrific heartburn and reflux. I never found a single pair of maternity leggings that were comfortable and presentable.

BUT THESE. THESE LEGGINGS ARE MAGIC. Somehow, someway they fit me without sizing up throughout my entire pregnancy. I’m not even kidding. They’re like the sisterhood of traveling pants pants but I’M NOT SHARING. I love them. They’re soft, they are moisture wicking, they dry super fast and they’re squat proof.

I’ll be living in these postpartum because they look great but they don’t squeeze you uncomfortably and I know in those first few days and weeks, they’ll fit no matter what happens with this postpartum belly.

Aerie Real Me Underwear

While we’re talking about magical Aerie products, just go ahead and replace all of your underwear with their Real Me undies. An unpleasant part of pregnancy that no one really talks about is the fact that you might (likely) outgrow your underwear. Even if you don’t really need to size up, your hips get wider and what was once comfortable just isn’t cutting it anymore. I have the thong and the boybrief styles and love them both. I know that I’ll be reaching for those boybriefs a lot during the first weeks postpartum.

I didn’t have to size up - just like with the leggings. The stretch is marvelous and doesn’t squeeze or irritate you. They wash perfectly, don’t bunch and are silky soft. It’s about as close to not wearing underwear as you can get. What is it with this magical Real Me collection!?!

Compression Socks

I know some pregnant women discover compression socks when the third trimester swelling hits them but I decided to start wearing them really early on. During the fall, in my first trimester, I was photographing a lot of long wedding days and I would make an effort to wear the compression socks for the entirety of the next day and I think it helped a lot with my physical recovery.

Compression socks can help with pain and fatigue in your legs and feet, improve circulation and reduce swelling. I did end up receiving two pairs from my insurance company as well thanks to Aeroflow alerting me (make sure you check your benefits through a company like Aeroflow!) but I purchased my first pair from Comrad and I love them! I have thankfully not dealt with an abundance of swelling and I credit my dedication to looking silly while rocking these socks!

I have them packed in my labor bag so that I can put them on at the hospital to help with postpartum swelling which can be common and have many causes.

Side note: I cannot recommend Aeroflow enough. They alerted me to benefits on top of just a breast pump I never would have discovered on my own like a maternity support belt, compression socks and replacement parts for my pump. Plus, their customer service is amazing!

Palmer’s Coconut Oil Body Oil

This is the moisturizer I’ve used religiously throughout pregnancy. Listen, if you will or will not get stretch marks is more about genetics than moisturizing but staying hydrated and oiling or applying lotion to your skin can help! I didn’t love the thickness of most belly butters and learned that I preferred an oil. I love the smell of this one and that there are no phthalates, parabens, sulfates, gluten, mineral oil and more. It is also cruelty free and not tested on animals.

I did end up with plenty of stretch marks on my breasts (I’m not upset… they will fade) and a tiny few on the tops of my upper thighs but my belly and hips are free of them! Plus, I just love how easy this is to apply and how well it moisturizes.

I plan to continue to use to help my skin’s elasticity postpartum.

8 Sheep Organics Sleepy Body Lotion

Listen, I was skeptical about this one but one really late night, after weeks of intense, unbearable hip pain, I added it to my cart and I am so glad that I did. Using magnesium, which is a natural muscle relaxer, and organic ingredients like organic mango butter, it helps with pain and restlessness!

I rub this on my hips and legs at night before bed and it helps me get comfortable and stay asleep. Don’t ask me how but IT WORKS. My desperate, late-night purchase was a good one!

Postpartum, I have heard that shoulder, neck and wrist pain can be common with breastfeeding and I know this lotion will be very helpful with that as well! The lavender scent is super calming too so when I’m sleep deprived, I anticipate using this will help me fall asleep faster and make the most out of the sleep windows I have.