On February 24, 2016, I gave birth to my beautiful baby girl, Bella Rae Stanfield. Pregnancy was so rewarding and fulfilling for me, and I enjoyed every moment of it! Like most new moms,  I stockpiled soooo many things: Literally everything on the shelves at Target went on my registry! Being completely, honest, I didn’t use the majority of items that I thought were new mom must haves.  This post is my charitable contribution toward you, new mom, in order to help you maintain your sanity and your funds! Most of these items are pretty popular and most moms will at least be familiar with them, if they haven’t already tried them. If you haven’t heard of an item, I hope I can encourage you to try them out!

Maternity Clothing

Many people feel that maternity clothing is a waste of money, and that all you need to do is go up a size (or two), or wear comfy sweats and athleisure items. I agree, but I also feel as though you need to invest in a few well made maternity outfits to wear for special occasions. Maternity clothing is cut to show off your blossoming belly, and this helps you to look pulled together.  Target, Motherhood, and Kohl’s all have great assortments of cute and stylish maternity clothes that are comfortable and won’t break the bank.

 

Yoga shorts are a total new mom must have! These shorts serve a variety of functions:  wear them under dresses (to prevent the chub rub!); while lounging around the house; and as comfy shorts for after the birth. These do not have to be maternity until the last few weeks, as these shorts stretch and provide support for your expanding belly.

 

Maternity underwear is one of those items that no one really tells you about, but you need to snag a few pairs! Your regular underwear may bunch down uncomfortably at the bottom of your belly, and maternity underwear are stretchy enough to support your growing (and heavy) girth!

 

Maternity Jeans really came in handy for me. I loved Jessica Simpson’s brand because they were so supportive, but  A Pea in the Pod and Motherhood have some awesome maternity jeans at great prices. You don’t need to go crazy…2-3 pairs will get you through your entire 9 months. I’m linking a few other favorites below!

 

Don’t forget your feet! There are some women who can wear heels throughout the duration of their pregnancy, but there are many who cannot due to their excess weight and swelling. If you’re lucky enough that your feet don’t swell, the shows you own will carry you through your pregnancy. But if you suffer from swollen or painful feet, I recommend Sanuk Yoga Sling Sandals.  The sandal material is stretchy, feels like a yoga mat under your feet, and they come in lots of cute colors!

 

Must Have Items

La Croix (or any brand) Sparkling Water is a sugar free and caffeine free alternative to soda!

 

Tummy Butter is a must have!!! I personally believe that it kept my stretch mark count low, but I loved rubbing it on my belly and feeling my baby respond!

 

The Honest Company Once Daily Prenatal Vitamins: I love these because they are so well thought out! They include ginger for nausea, green food and spirulina, and Folate, as opposed to Folic Acid, which is supposed to be more bioavailable.

Be sure and snag one (or a few) Stylish kimonos for the hospital. After giving birth, you’ll be exhausted, but you;ll need to look somewhat pulled together for all the visitors that want to come see your new bundle of joy! Kimonos are stylish enough for photos, comfortable and non-binding, and they allow you to discretely breastfeed.

 

Comfy, cute, and soft pajamas are definitely a new mom must have! You’ll be spending 99% of your time in bed with the baby, but you’ll also want to be covered and reasonably cute (lol) when company comes over. Pajamas will save the day!

 

The Third Love Nursing Bra: Stop what you are doing right now, and go get it! So soft, but still supportive, and they have a handy snap front closure! Third Love is also awesome for regular bras as well. They match you with bras according to the shape of your breasts, not just size!

 

Mesh underwear and cool pads: Do yourself a favor and hoard them while you are in the hospital so you have plenty to take home!

 

Nipple shields: This is a gift I give to every new mom, because they can help save so many women who are ready
to give up breastfeeding due to the pain. Use them when it feels like it hurts too bad to keep going and it will give your nipples a break. These are also helpful for babies who have trouble latching!

 

Milkies Milk Saver Breast Milk Collector: These are a lifesaver! Use on one breast, while the baby feeds from the other, to save all the milk that may leak out. Don’t let a drop go to waste!

 

Freemie Breast Bump: A quiet breast pump that goes inside your bra with no external parts that allows you to pump anytime, anywhere without others knowing!

Dockatot: I am so glad I made the investment in one of these! Use it in the bed, on the floor, during the day, and at night! The Dockatot is very versatile and tested for safety.

 

 

We loved this travel system by Chicco! The stroller is so sturdy and pushes smoothly. The car seat is well cushioned and has a really secure harness and latch mechanism.

 

I loved Dr. Brown’s bottles! The unique vent system depressurizes the bottle and reduces the likelihood of gas and colic. These bottle can be a pain because of all the parts, which require more cleaning, but to me, they were worth it!

 

Mama Roo Swing: Your baby will love this! The movement is so smooth, and the speeds for each setting can be adjusted easily using the app that you download to your cell phone.

 

Zarbees Naturals: natural remedies that help babies who may be too young for medicine.

The Honest Company: I love it all, but my favorites are the shampoo/bodywash, the healing balm, and the breathe easy rub. No harmful chemicals, soft, subtle smells, and easy on sensitive baby skin!

 

 

Readers! What are your new mom must haves? Drop me a line below!

See ya next time!