• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Press
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Shop

Honey, Whats Cooking logo

November 10, 2020 Leave a Comment

Pregnancy Must Haves

Before I got pregnant, I seriously had no clue what women needed besides maternity clothes. Thankfully, my best friend became pregnant with her second child around the same time I was and she guided me every step of the way. Today I’m sharing my Pregnancy Must Haves – I wish I knew this before I became pregnant.

If you’ve been following me, I’ve already shared my Pregnancy Journey: Diets and Workouts here. Hope this helps you during your pregnancy journey.
Pregnancy Must Haves

What do I need during Pregnancy?

Stretch Mark Oils/Creams

Stretch marks are inevitable, but hopefully, they’re preventative during pregnancy. I know a lot of this is based on genetics, diet, exercise, and how fast you put on weight. One tip: don’t be stingy on how much product you slather on. I use a good amount to make sure my belly and other areas are nicely moisturized.

Here are the products that I’ve tried – some I recommend and some I don’t recommend.

Bio-Oil: NOT RECOMMENDED. I invested in BioOil by the time I was 8 weeks pregnant based on the rave reviews on Amazon, over 40,000. Also, many of my followers swore by BioOil so I got influenced. Unfortunately, this product does contain mineral oil and vitamin A – both are not pregnancy safe. I did eventually stop using this product even though it came highly rated, smelled great, and was very moisturizing. I truly regret using BioOil for as long as I did, but I got influenced. 

Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter: NOT RECOMMENDED. Another product with rave reviews, the ingredient to avoid here is Phenoxyethanol. As much as I wanted to try this product, I had to stay away.

Earth Mama Belly Oil: NOT RECOMMENDED. Although this oil is clean, it was lightweight and barely felt moisturizing. Additionally, I felt it became rancid over a couple of weeks so I ended up throwing it 0ut. 

Earth Mama Belly Butter: $12. I love this belly butter, it’s organic, no mineral oils, no parabens, and no artificial fragrance. It smells really good and is very moisturizing. I love using this once a day, but not after a shower. This product isn’t as moisturizing as an oil, but it is for a lotion. RECOMMENDED.

Honest Glow On Body Oil: $18. After Boi-Oil, I was in need of a product that was clean and safe, and so I started researching Honest products. I really like this Glow on Body Oil – it has a nice scent and it’s organic. I like using this oil straight out of the shower and I use a generous amount. RECOMMENDED.

Glow Organics Belly Butter: $25. I want to try this product once I’m done with my Earth Mama Belly Butter. It’s organic, no parabens, and has great reviews. If anyone has tried this, please let me know.

Pregnancy Pillow

My best friend urged me to get a pregnancy pillow for weeks, but I waited until I completed 12 weeks to invest in one. You may start experiencing backache as your belly starts to grow. The pregnancy pillow has been the best investment for me and one that I would use even after pregnancy. 

Pregnancy Pillow U Shape: $40. I love this pregnancy pillow, especially because it detaches on one side. I sleep on my left side as much as possible and keep the right side detached. The detached portion is used as back support when I’m sitting on the couch, or use it as belly support when I fall asleep on the couch. It’s great! As soon as this product arrives, make sure you remove the cloth and wash it. You can easily put the pillow cover back on.

Belly Band for Pregnancy Back Support

Pregnancy Belt Support: $16. Another great investment as your belly continues to grow. This product is velcro and so easy to use. Since I stand around cooking in my kitchen, this belly band helped me tremendously during all three trimesters. A must-have!

Foot Massager

Many of you already invested in this foot massager I’ve discussed numerous times on Instastories. As my belly was growing, my feet were beginning to hurt, especially in the beginning when your body is going through some serious changes. The funny thing is, my husband uses this a lot more than me now. Lol. 

Foot Massager Machine with Heat, Deep Kneading: $120. 3 heat settings and 3 intensity levels. Love this product, your feet will be happy.

Maternity Bras – skip this and get Bra Extenders!

I saved myself some money and skipped getting maternity bras altogether, instead, I invested in bra extenders which are under $6 on amazon. During this time, I did stop wearing my “nicer” bras and just wore older ones I no longer cared for. 

6 Piece Elastic Bra Extenders: $6. Super affordable and a great option as your boobs get bigger during pregnancy. Save money on buying new bras and invest in extenders. 

Underwear

I had absolutely no clue I would need bigger underwear. By the 5th month, you’ll need new underwear. Again, I didn’t spend too much and just got affordable underwear such as Hanes Cotton. Size up one.

Hanes Cotton Bikini Underwear: $19. These are cotton, soft, and sit below the belly making them super comfortable.

Pajamas & Gowns (not maternity)

These pajamas and gowns from Target came in super handy as my belly grew. They’re so comfortable and are button-down making them perfect for nursing as well. I invested in 1 set of pajamas and gown so far and purchased x-small in both – they’re quite roomy so stick to your true size. I do plan on getting another pair.

Target Shorts Pajamas: $22. Soooo incredibly soft and comfortable. I purchased these in x-small and comfortably wore them till I was 28 weeks pregnant. 

Target T-Shirt Gown: $20. Super comfortable and roomy. Additionally, I love the button down gowns which are great for nursing (postpartum). For these gowns, stick with your true size – I purchased x-small. I’ll be taking these to the hospital and using them postpartum as well. Also comes in grey.

Maternity Pants

I waited way too long searching for the right pair of pants/leggings. Target to the rescue. I invested in 2 pairs of maternity pants – sharing my favorite.

Target Maternity Leggings (favorite): $35. I highly recommend these pants and make sure you size up. I purchased a small in these and they’re super comfortable.

Maternity Tops & Dresses

I wore my regular clothes (not jeans) comfortably until I was about 28 weeks pregnant. After that, I wore bigger sized clothes that I already owned.

Due to Covid and the lack of date nights, I didn’t bother investing in tops or dresses. I’m currently 32 weeks pregnant and I’m making do with really large tops that I’ve had from the past that are comfy. Also, I plan on wearing some of my husband’s t-shirts in the 9th month of my pregnancy.

Panty Liners

Last but not least, you will need lots of panty liners. Without sharing too much TMI, things just happen while you’re pregnant. I just used Kotex, but there is an organic option if you prefer.

Kotex Panty Liners: $22 for 516 liners. These are great and comfortable.

Cora Ultra Thin Liners: $9 for 42 liners. A good organic option if you want one, I didn’t use these.

Supplements I’m Taking

Please talk to your physician regarding supplements you should be taking while pregnant – I’m simply sharing my experience. These are what I am currently taking – pre-natal, DHA, vitamin D, and iron. 

  • Garden of Life Organic Pre-Natal Multivitamin: offers 600 mg of Folate (not folic acid), I took this before pregnancy as well.
  • Pink Stork DHA: offers 225 mg of DHA, enhances the baby’s brain and nervous system. I started taking this after pregnancy, but I should have started while trying to conceive.
  • Naturewise Vitamin D3: 5000 IU, I took this before pregnancy.
  • Pink Stork Iron Supplement: 18 mg, I started this after pregnancy as I am low on iron.

Pregnancy Apps

The one app that helped me tremendously is the What to Expect app. It’s so helpful and they have discussion groups so you can ask questions anonymously. It also gives you weekly updates of what’s coming, the symptoms, etc. I love this app. They also have an online version so I use both.

And that’s it! 

Hope my Pregnancy Must Haves post was helpful and you know what to expect while pregnant! 

 

Recipes You Will Love:

Filed Under: Lifestyle, Pregnancy Tagged With: Lifestyle

Previous Post: « Ras Malai Mousse (eggless, 7 ingredients, gluten-free)
Next Post: Malai Kofta (no fry, no butter, no cream, GF) »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar





About

A foodie who is passionate about living a healthy-ish lifestyle, cooking, and traveling. I moved from Jersey City leaving behind my family & friends to beautiful Southern California for love. I'm adjusting to the laid-back SoCal lifestyle and learning a lot about myself along the way. Come join me on a soul searching journey and I'll tell YOU "what's cooking" through my love for food, fashion, and travel.

Subscribe

Don't miss a single post!


Trending

  • Chili Tofu (no-fry, vegan, lightened up, GF option...
  • Rava Dhokla | Suji Dhokla (vegetarian, 10 ingredie...
  • Gajar Ka Halwa | Indian Carrot Pudding (gluten-fre...
  • Mexican Pizza Taco Bell (vegetarian, 10 ingredient...
  • World’s BEST Spaghetti RAO’s Homemade Marina...
  • Cranberry Orange Bundt with White Chocolate Glaze
  • Green Moong Dal Khichdi (healthy, gluten-free, veg...
  • Honey Glazed Ginger Garlic Salmon (gluten-free, da...

Footer

💫 CHILI TOFU NO FRY 💫 I'm all about quick an 💫 CHILI TOFU NO FRY 💫 I'm all about quick and easy meals now 😊. Here's a healthier spin on Chili Paneer using tofu. This dish takes 15 minutes to prep and 10 minutes to cook. Vegan, no fry, and a gluten-free option is available.⁠
⁠
⁠Recipe on the blog. Link in bio. ❤️
⁠
⁠
⁠
#chilitofu #indochinese #indianchinese #chilipaneer #quickandeasy #veganuary #indianfusion #desiinfluencer #tofurecipes #bestofvegan @diipakhosla @buzzfeedindia
"Just when you think you know love, someone little "Just when you think you know love, someone little comes along to remind you just how big it really is." - Unknown⁠
⁠
How can I love someone this tiny so much? He tests my patience every day, but also brings me so much joy! ⁠
⁠
For all you moms who said, “I have no time”, I finally get it. Now, I can’t even spare 5 minutes to shower. Yes, Nisha - Welcome to the Club! I can’t tell you how many people sent me this EXACT message 😂.⁠
⁠
Before I became a mom, the idea of changing diapers and spit-up grossed me out. Now, no biggie. I can’t even count on one hand how many times I’ve put my baby to sleep and I get so excited to have some “me time”. To my disappointment, he wakes up 1/2 hour later and I have to start the process all over again… is he burped, is he wet, is he hungry? The days are long!
⁠
Despite the hardships of motherhood, one of the greatest joys has been watching and holding my baby while he sleeps, and knowing I provide comfort to him like no other. I’m sure he will get used to it and I’ll probably regret it later on, but for now, I am just soaking up these precious moments while he’s still little and innocent. ☺️⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
#motherhood #krishandnish #babyhoneywhatscooking #loveofmylife #mamasboy #3weekspostpartum
💫 MY BIRTH STORY 💫 Sharing my last post of 2 💫 MY BIRTH STORY 💫 Sharing my last post of 2020. I know it's been a rough year for many, including myself. On the other hand, it's also been an amazing year for me because I was given the greatest gift of all... my baby boy! ❤️⁠
⁠
I never shared that as of week 26 my baby was breached. I was scheduled for a C-Section on December 29, however Baby Krish decided he wanted to come 2 weeks sooner. Sharing my Birth Story in this very detailed post... how it happened, C-Section, Walking after a C, the pain, the recovery, and more.⁠
⁠
Thanks for reading and allowing me to share my journey with you guys. I hope and pray 2021 brings us all lots of good luck and happiness. 🙏 for the world!!!⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
#welcomebaby #birthstory #38weeks #pandemicbaby #newborn #pregnancy #desiinfluencer #babyhoneywhatscooking
Just in time for a New Years Day Brunch that won't Just in time for a New Years Day Brunch that won't have you slaving in from of the stove. 💫 BAKED STRAWBERRY FRENCH TOAST 💫 using @stpierrebakeryus NON-GMO brioche bread that's so buttery soft delicious. Simply cube brioche bread slices, whisk the egg batter, add the bread to the batter, and bake it in the oven. Finish with a dusting of powdered sugar and top with maple syrup. So good. Recipe below! #HolidaysWithStPierre #BriocheBrunch #StPierreBrioche #StPierre #Ad 
.
BAKED STRAWBERRY FRENCH TOAST
🔺INGREDIENTS
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups whole milk
2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp light brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup strawberries, sliced
8 slices @stpierrebakeryus brioche bread, 1-inch cubes
1 tbsp sugar, for topping
Powdered sugar, for garnish
Maple syrup, for garnish
.
🔺DIRECTIONS
1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the egg mixture together - eggs, milk, sugar, light brown sugar, vanilla, and salt.
2. Cube 8 slices of brioche bread - this should yield roughly 5 cups.
3. Transfer the brioche bread into the egg mixture. Make sure the bread is well-coated. 
4. Spray a 7” x 11” x 2” deep baking dish with coconut oil. 
5. Add half the brioche bread egg mixture into the baking dish.
6. Top with all the sliced strawberries.
7. Top with the remaining brioche bread egg mixture.
8. Cover with a plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 2 hours.
9. Top baking dish with 1 tbsp of sugar.
10. Place in the oven for 60 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
11. Serve hot. Top with powdered sugar and maple syrup. #brunch
🎄 MERRY KRISH-MAS EVERYONE! 🎄 It’s my firs 🎄 MERRY KRISH-MAS EVERYONE! 🎄
It’s my first Christmas! Mama and I both need our sleep, so a late photoshoot for me today! ❤️
.
Thanks for my Christmas outfit Dadiji. Thanks for my ornament Buaji! 💙
.
.
.
.
.
#myfirstchristmas #babyhoneywhatscooking #merrychristmas #christmas2020 #newbornshoot #newbornphotography #babysfirstchristmas #loveofmylife
💫 JALAPENO POPPER GARLIC BREAD 💫⁠⠀ The l 💫 JALAPENO POPPER GARLIC BREAD 💫⁠⠀
The last meal I made 2 hours before my water broke - yup! Will share that story soon, but here is a super easy and quick holiday appetizer that's creamy, cheesy, and indulgent.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
NEW Recipe on the blog. Link in bio! 💛⁠⠀
⁠⠀
⁠⠀
⁠⠀
⁠⠀
⁠⠀
#jalapenopoppers #garlicbread #appetizers #christmas2020 #holidayappetizer #cheesebread #indulgent #foodnetwork #desiinfluencer #indianfoodbloggers #christmasrecipes
💫 BAKED ZITI WITH SPINACH 💫 When it's Christ 💫 BAKED ZITI WITH SPINACH 💫 When it's Christmas 🎄, I need one Italian pasta dish on the menu. Here's a delicious Christmas entree that you can prepare ahead of time. ⁠
⁠
STEPS:⁠
1. Day Before - Prepare the marinara sauce, or use store-bought like Rao's.⁠
2. Day Before - Prepare the ricotta cheese spinach mixture.⁠
3. Same Day - Cook the pasta, coat pasta in cheese mixture with some marinara.⁠
4. An Hour Before Serving - Assemble.- Bake dish with pasta, top with marinara, and cheese. Bake for 35 minutes.⁠
⁠
Recipe on the blog. Link in bio! ❤️⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
#bakedziti #italianfood #ziti #makeaheadmeals #christmas2020 #comfortfood #leftoverfordays #desiinfluencer #bhgfood #thekitchn ⁠
Follow Me On Instagram
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Privacy

Subscribe

Don't miss a single post!

Recent Posts

  • My Birth Story
  • Jalapeno Popper Garlic Bread (vegetarian)
  • My Baby Registry
  • Rajma Masala (Healthy, Vegan, GF)
  • No-Bake Pecan Pie Cheesecake (Eggless, GF option, 8 Ingredients)

© 2020 Honey, What's Cooking.