Going into my second pregnancy, I kind of had a good idea about things that I would need during my pregnancy and others that were a total waste of money. When I was pregnant with Hunter, I remember going to the maternity store with my mom and buying what I realize now was totally not worth it. Granted every pregnancy is different and every woman carries differently, there are certain things you absolutely need and others that you just don't need. Also worth mentioning, I've only been (very) pregnant during the cooler months and I'm sure my list would be a tad different if I was rocking a large bump in the summer heat.
Here is my short list of Three Maternity Essentials::
LEGGINGS::
Leggings are a must for pregnant women. Leggings are a must for me even when I'm not pregnant. But when you are growing at a rapid pace, nothing feels quite as good as a stretchy pair of leggings. Unfortunately most maternity leggings are about as thick as tights and are pretty much see-through the second you bend over. Not a good thing for moms chasing around toddlers in gym class. I have three favorite pairs of maternity leggings:
- Ingrid & Isabel Active Maternity Leggings: The opposite of thin leggings. These are pretty thick but not uncomfortably thick. I wear these with sneakers when I'm running around doing errands and I even wear them with ballet flats and an oversized sweater. They come in a capri style and yoga style, too.
- Ingrid & Isabel Everyday Leggings: These are definitely on the thinner side but are the.most.comfortable things I have ever put on my body. I'm actually wearing them right now. They are the first thing I put on when I get home from being out. I stocked up and own three pairs (two left over from Hunter days).
- Beyond the Bump by Beyond Yoga Leggings: Ok so maybe these are tied for being most comfortable. I have every intention of wearing these after the baby comes. I own these in the black/white spacedye color and you can keep the belly band up or roll it down.
DENIM::
Everyone needs a good pair of denim. I tried cheaping it up and I ordered a few pairs of $20 jeans because I kept telling myself how pointless it was to spend money on jeans you will only wear for a short amount of time. Unfortunately, you really do get what you pay for and the cheaper jeans didn't even come close to the quality and comfort of the "designer" ones I had tried on. My all time favorites are the AG Jeans. I wear these and these all the time.
TANKS & TEES::
Maternity tanks are an absolute must. You need that extra length and the extra stretch that your regular tanks just won't give you. My favorites are the Gap Pure Body tanks and I love their V-neck tees also. These thin strap tanks are also perfect, especially for under sheer blouses and tops. I've been wearing a lot of my non-maternity oversized tees but I'm definitely on the verge of not being able to fit into those either.
On a side note: I'm trying to figure out exactly what I'll need for the hospital. With Hunter, everything happened so suddenly and I was not prepared at all. We had him very unexpectedly at 32 weeks and I never had time to get my hospital bag in order. My mom and husband would get things as I needed them but to be honest with you I can't remember for the life of me exactly what I needed and what I didn't need. I think with all the chaos I just made do with whatever I had. I'm crossing my fingers that I won't need my hospital bag until after 37 weeks but I'm trying to be as prepared as possible and would like to get one all packed up in the next week or so. If anyone has any suggestions, I would love to hear them! Here's to a long, healthy third trimester! xx
