Finding the Perfect Gifts for an Expecting Mother (things she’ll actually want)
Did you recently get the news that someone you know is pregnant? Or maybe you are the other parent-to-be and are now looking ahead to the wonderful journey that awaits you both. Either way, we’re here to do one thing and one thing only: find the perfect gift(s) for the expecting mother. The mom-to-be is probably going to experience a lot of emotions and changes as she moves throughout her pregnancy and you as a supporter in her life want to provide her with things she can use all throughout the next nine months and beyond.
Now of course it’s good to note upfront that every pregnancy is different and every parent is different. What works for one may not work for all, so some of the things on our gift list might not appeal to the expecting mom, while other things will be just what she needed. The best thing you can do as a friend, family member, and/or partner is to talk to and listen to her. She will be able to tell you what she needs better than anyone because, well, she’s the one who's pregnant! Communication, like in all aspects of life, is the key, and you want to be able to help balance and provide for her needs moving forward; so it’s important to listen to what she has to say.
We’re going to provide a gift guide that has a range of gifts, some to help provide her with comfort, some that will be useful to get around and get things done, and others that will be good for when the baby eventually arrives.
Get Creative: Become The Gift Yourself
Now you may be wondering what “becoming” the gift means, let us explain:
Moms are some of, if not, the hardest workers in the world. They are there for us in every color and shade of our lives, providing for, and taking care of our wants and needs. And that’s just what they do for us, they also have their own fruitful lives, their own wants, needs, and interests to also cultivate and grow. With pregnancy and the upcoming newborn stage, finding the time to do daily tasks like laundry, cleaning, cooking, etc. can be a bit harder; so we thought why don’t we help do those things?
You, your friends, and family can create a Google Spreadsheet of daily tasks the future mom does. Really go in-deep here and write it all down. Then you all can take turns “taking shifts” by providing her with those services when she needs them most.
Clean the House: Keeping things clean makes everything easier, sure a little mess never hurt anyone, but there is something quite relaxing about having a clean environment, especially when it gets closer to the due-date.
Laundry: The family is about to have a lot more laundry to add to its rotation so do the laundry and do it well. Have everything clean, folded, hung-up, and organized as much as possible- (this goes into that “clean home” feeling we mentioned above).
Cleaning the Car: Just like the home, having a clean car she can take to work will probably be one more small helpful thing that will be nice to have as the months go on.
Cook Meals: Calling all the cooks and bakers of the fam, we’re going to be utilizing your services as the pregnancy gets into the last trimester and the baby’s due-date arrives. Having a fridge full of meals will take a huge load off of the family because cooking can be so tiring when you have a newborn.
Lawn Care: Keep the lawn and garden neat and tidy. Cut the grass or shovel the paths if it’s snowy.
And our favorite:
Sit Down, Shut Up, and Listen: Sometimes as humans we just need to talk, complain, and be listened to. Pregnant women will never get the credit they deserve for all of the things they go through and their support system deserves to be air-tight. She may want to rant or cry or laugh or simply just, talk about how she’s feeling, what her fears are, and what she’s excited about. It’s your job to sit with her and listen. You can ask her what she needs to hear from you. She may want advice or she may want someone to say “that sucks.” This ties back into our starting point: communication, open up times for her to talk throughout her pregnancy so she can release any tension she may be carrying in her head.
The local community might have “pregnancy” exercise classes or mommy get-togethers she can get into.
Comfort Gifts That Are A “Must”
Pregnancy can get a bit uncomfortable at times and it can hurt. Aches and pains are to be expected, so having gifts to help prepare and hopefully alleviate some of that can be a major help moving forward.
Slips on and off easily, makes for the perfect sleepwear! Image courtesy of: Tupelo Honey.
The way your clothes fit will change the father along in your pregnancy you are, and that goes the same for your favorite comfort wear. The Satin Maternity Nightgown from Tupelo Honey for $79.99 is made for growing bodies. Satin Silk is the most comfortable and breathable fabric to wear during the night. It’ll also keep you from getting too warm and can be a perfect fit for right after the birth too. This nightgown comes in three colors: teal, black, and champagne; and comes in sizes XS to XL.
Slip these on and get going with your day with minimal foot discomfort. Image courtesy of: kizik.
Now we’re getting into a common pregnancy side effect: foot pain and swelling. The farther you’re along in your pregnancy the more your feet will swell and cause pain which means finding new shoes to help with that eventuality is smart. The Women’s Madrid Eco Knit Sneakers for $99 from kizik is a highly rated pair amongst pregnant women as being a comfortable shoe that you can easily slip in and out of without having to bend down. Their “four-way” stretch material will allow for movability without pain. And one of the cool things about the shoe is that it’s made of 100% recycled plastic bottles which means it's sustainable and eco-friendly! It comes in three colors: Heathered Grey, Blackout, and Black and has sizes (including half) from 6 to 13.
Slippers you can wear both in and out of the house with ease! Image courtesy of: Bombas.
Speaking of footwear we’re next going to be talking about one of our favorite brands: Bombas. Bombas is known for their ultra-comfort footwear including socks, t-shirts, underwear, slippers, and slides. These Women’s Sunday Mule Slippers for $65 will be her new house shoe for the remainder of her pregnancy (and after because they are just so dang comfy). Coming in five different colors and fits sizes 5 to 11, she will love the “slippability” (new word just dropped, thank you us) of these house shoes because, again, she doesn’t have to bend down to put them on.
There’s a memory foam footbed so it gives off that nice squishy feeling you get from anything memory foam and has a rubber outsole so you can go out and about with these and not have to worry about sliding all over the place.
Jumpsuits are what every pregnant person needs and we won’t stop saying that. Image courtesy of: Pink Blush.
We can’t recommend a good jumpsuit enough. They are the going-out clothing item that you’ll love to wear as your pregnancy develops. Just like every clothing item on our list so far, the Black Sleeveless Pocketed Wide Leg Maternity Jumpsuit on sale for $41 (normally priced at $59) from Pink Blush Maternity is easy to take on and off. This means that she can pee as much as she needs and won’t be uncomfortable by any form fitting pants or ridden up shirts. It comes in seven different colors and has sizes S to L with an in-site size guide to help you figure out which one works best for where you’re at.
No Pain, All The Gains
We 👏 love 👏 compression 👏 socks 👏. Image courtesy of: Bombas.
Say “nay” to feet pain with compression socks, specifically the Women’s Everyday Compression Sock 3-Pack (15-20mmHg) offering a “medium” level of support for $84 which are also from Bomas. It comes in three sizes: S (US 4-7 ½), M (US 8-10 ½), and L (US 11-13), and four different color combinations. Compression socks can help reduce swelling, blood clots, aches, pains, and stress. Since these are of a “medium” level of support they aren’t too tight but still offer a snug type of support.
If you’re looking for a higher level of snugness then you can take a look at their Women's Performance Compression Sock 3-Pack (20-30mmHg) for $108 which look almost identical to the ones above but instead are tighter on the foot. Both of these socks have their “stay-up technology” which means you don’t have to worry about them sliding down your legs which can especially be annoying if you’re nine months pregnant. They offer airflow and great cushioning for those who are on their feet for long-stretches of the day.
We girls absolutely adore a heating pad at any stage in life. Image courtesy of: Amazon.
Heat can be a major help during the pregnancy, especially when certain parts of the body start aching. This Heating Pad on sale for $19.18 (normally priced at $26.39) on Amazon is a longer version of your regular heating pad which means it’s great to have on your whole back instead of being limited to just your shoulders and neck like most heating pads. It has six heating settings (104॰ to 149॰) and four auto-off times, as well as near-instant warming and protection for overheating.
A “Bonus” Perfect Gift:
Book a Prenatal Massage: Prenatal Massages can help immensely throughout the pregnancy especially, you can book a massage or multiple messages for her throughout her journey.
Make sleep a little less uncomfortable. Image courtesy of: Amazon.
You didn’t think we’d have a “perfect gifts for an expecting mother” list without adding a pregnancy pillow did you? This is the Momcozy Pregnancy Pillow for $44.99 on Amazon which offers full body support from head to toe. The “U” shape offers support for the head, shoulders, neck, stomach, back, hips, and legs, and can easily be manipulated to change positions for finding the sweet spot of comfort. It’s 57 inches and has a removable cover for washing.
She can use this to take the weight off a bit and help her body relax. Image courtesy of: Amazon.
When you become pregnant, your center of gravity begins to shift which can throw everything out of whack. Luckily there are tools to help with that including the NeoTech Care Pregnancy Support Maternity Belt for $29.07 on Amazon. This belt can help stabilize your lower back and stomach by taking the pressure from the bump off. This belt in particular can be used all throughout the pregnancy as the straps are adjustable, it's described to “grow with you.” It comes in sizes S to XXL with a size chart on the item page to help you decide which one will work best.
A perfect gift for an expecting mother who has a wave of unexpected nausea! Image courtesy of: tummydrops.
Morning sickness and nausea are another common symptom of pregnancy and for those who know what being nauseous feels like- you know it’s not fun. And one of the most recommended ways to combat nausea is through ginger, but eating raw ginger is low-key insane. That’s when companies like tummydrops came in to help out. TummyDrops have their own Natural Ginger Flavor drops that are peanut, tree nut, and dairy free. They are pregnant-safe and can help with that pesky nausea that can seemingly pop out of nowhere. There are 33 lozenges that come in a pack for $15.00.
Finding the right gift for an expecting mother doesn’t have to be hard, especially if you keep an open line of communication with her throughout the next nine months. She will let you know what she needs and you can be there to provide that for her. It’s a perfect combination 😉
