Carissa’s Top Pregnancy Purchases

Hey Everyone!

I’m going to keep this short and sweet – because us momma’s / soon-to-be momma’s don’t have time to read through a bunch of nonsense.

I am 38 weeks pregnant (woohoo) and getting closer to meeting this baby boy! Yes we think we have a name and no I am not sharing it with you.

Today I am sharing my TOP PREGNANCY PURCHASES – everything from belly oil to pregnancy pillows to labor/delivery classes! Navigating pregnancy for the first time was a wild ride, and while I still have so much to learn, I hope some of these items and resources will support you in your journey.

(1 & 2) Hatch Mama Belly Oil & Mama Calm Bath Soak

Belly Oil: I started using the Belly Oil around 16 weeks and have applied at least 2x daily since then (I won’t lie, I use the oil everywhere) and it lasted until I was 36 weeks. I just resupplied so I have more for the postpartum period, but this product is a MUST HAVE in my opinion. There are lots of great oils and lotions out there, but this one is worth every penny. Pro tip: at night I would combine the Belly Oil with Earth Mama Belly Butter for a thicker lather.

Bath Soak: I started taking routine baths in the 3rd trimester, simply to ease the discomfort after a long day of activity. I purchased bath bombs and other items at Whole Foods and nothing matched Hatch’s Mama Calm Soothing Coconut Bath Soak. Pro tip: I put a small amount of the Belly Oil in my bath as well! Light a few candles, bring a book and/or some soothing music with you, and 10-15 minutes later you’ll come out feeling like a new person.

(3) PharMeDoc Pregnancy Pillow

When I asked friends for pregnancy pillow recommendations I received a ton of conflicting advice. Some said they were pointless and others swore by their purchases. This pillow was recommended to me by my friend who is a yoga teacher and physical therapist, and I went for it. I used it from approx. 16 weeks until 30 weeks and then needed to switch to a variety of pillows propped together. HOWEVER, I started using it again at 36 weeks, which has helped as I get more and more uncomfortable in bed. Pro tip: buy the ‘cooling’ material – I got mine in ‘Cooling Dark Grey’.

(4) MamasteFit Labor/Delivery Course

Based in North Carolina (but with AMPLE virtual options), this group of highly knowledgeable ladies will guide you through the ABC’s and everything in between when it comes to preparing for labor & delivery. A birth doula, labor and delivery nurse, nutritionist, prenatal physical therapist, and pre/post-natal corrective exercise specialists make up this dynamic team of women ready to support your prenatal and postpartum needs.

There are countless options available through their organization, and while we opted for the virtual, self-paced comprehensive labor & delivery prep course, I am going to list a handful of other opportunities, should you need or want them! I also highly recommend following their Instagram page.

Childbirth Education Courses — We took the virtual self-paced course, but they have in-person courses and single-day virtual courses as well
Webinars — Weekly, live webinars on a host of subjects — I took the breastfeeding education webinar, but other examples include: Pushing: Understanding the Second Stage of Labor; Labor Biomechanics: Learn How to Move to Open Your Pelvis During Birth; Leaking while Pregnancy and Postpartum; Infant & Toddler CPR; C-Section Scar Mobilization
Online Fitness Programs — Designed for prenatal, C-section specific recovery, and postpartum fitness

(5) The Fourth Trimester: A Postpartum Guide to Healing Your Body, Balancing Your Emotions, and Restoring Your Vitality

I purchased a handful of books at the start of pregnancy, and this was my favorite. I am happy to share some of the books that I did not find very useful, to save you time, so feel free to reach out.

During pregnancy we do so much to prepare our bodies for labor/delivery – we focus, at times, solely on what our bodies need right now and during labor, and thus we forget to prepare for the postpartum period. This book taught me how to truly prepare for the postpartum period, with tangible things both my partner and I can implement to ensure a smooth transition to motherhood and beyond.

I also think it is imperative that we continue to echo the sentiments shared throughout this book — that many of these things are NOT LUXURIES, they are NECESSITIES. Our culture can be so ass-backwards when it comes to the ‘bounce back’ expectation of women postpartum, and I love how this book used examples across dozens of cultures, dating back hundreds of years, supporting the notion that women NEED to nourish and care for themselves postpartum.

(6) Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

Speaking of this notion of luxury vs. necessity – I was foolishly under the impressing that working with a pelvic floor physical therapist during pregnancy was only useful if something was drastically wrong and diagnosed by my physician. Boy was I wrong, and I am so glad I recognized that ahead of time to take advantage of the expertise and wealth of knowledge of women’s health PT’s. Sidenote: My OBGYN was not supportive of giving me a referral and I had to really advocate for myself (I didn’t need a referral but got one anyway) – always stand up for what you feel your body needs.

While my specific PT clinic may not be available to you (shout out Core Wellness in Del Ray, Alexandria, VA) I genuinely recommend seeking a pelvic floor PT local to you.

Some reasons I initially engaged with a pelvic floor PT included: slight leaking during coughing / sneezing; inability to truly engage pelvic floor during at home exercises; round ligament pain during exercise; wanting to establish care prior to labor so I could seek postpartum care with someone familiar.

My PT was able to address those issues and a HOST of other discomforts I was experiencing. We have been working on my hips, IT band, back, etc., on top of continuously strengthening my pelvic floor and preparing for labor. I already plan to return to the clinic in the months immediately postpartum for an evaluation for things like prolapse and diastasis recti.

(7) BEIS Diaper Bag

While this falls more into the baby supplies/purchases category, and what will eventually be a future blog post, I wanted to share the diaper bag I got because I already have it packed for the hospital and am super happy with its functionality.

It comes with a travel changing pad, a teether, a wet/dry bag, and paci holder. It has lots and lots of storage compartments and plenty of space! I’ve used this bag to pack all of the baby’s things for the hospital.