2025 Pregnancy Must Haves: Essentials for Every Trimester
As a mom and the founder of Little Bean, I’ve been fortunate to experience the joys and challenges of pregnancy firsthand. Over the years, I’ve curated a list of essentials that I’ve sent to my pregnant friends—things I personally found invaluable during my own journey to motherhood. With so many of you reaching out for advice, I thought it was time to share my personal pregnancy must haves in a blog post. Whether you’re preparing for your baby’s arrival or just starting your journey, I hope you’ll find these recommendations as helpful as I did. Let’s dive in!
Before Trying to Conceive
If you’re planning for a baby, it’s always a good idea to start focussing on health. There are many tools available, like Oova, for testing your hormones that help you understand the changes needed to conceive. As I am writing this article my IG feed is flooded with fertility ads. Discussing your health and goals with your healthcare provider can also be incredibly beneficial.
First Trimester of Pregnancy Must-Haves
Prenatal Vitamins
One of the first books I read when I was pregnant was “Brain Health from Birth” by Rebecca Frett. This book has since been replaced by It Starts with the Bump. I generally like to get my information from evidence-based type books, and sought out prenatal vitamins based on her scientific recommendations. These included key nutrients like folic acid, b vitamins, choline (450mg per day recommended), methylated folate, vitamin D, and DHA—nutrients essential for brain development.
At the time, I couldn’t find one prenatal vitamin containing all three, so I ended up purchasing a prenatal multivitamin from the Whole Foods brand and additionally supplemented with Nordic Naturals Prenatal DHA. The good news is that today options like Beli Women’s Prenatal contain these essential nutrients in one. If you’ve found another prenatal that includes all in sufficient amounts including DHA, please share in the comments, and we’ll add it to this blog to provide some options.
Limit Exposure to Toxins in diet
Another point Rebecca Frett brought up was the negative effects of drinking from plastic water bottles, which made me reconsider my own habits during pregnancy. In the early stages, I switched to glass water bottles or a BPA-free reusable bottle to minimize exposure to harmful chemicals.
Before pregnancy, I wasn’t overly health-conscious. While I stayed active, watched my diet, and enjoyed staying lean, I also loved indulging in a glass of wine and often relied on takeout living in NYC. But once I found out I was pregnant, everything changed. I felt a strong urge to give my baby the healthiest start possible—cutting out alcohol, avoiding toxins in my skincare and diet, and making more conscious choices overall.
Now, seeing my son as a happy, healthy bundle of energy, I’m grateful for the effort I put into those precautions. Though I prioritized a healthy diet, bacon surprisingly became my go-to for curbing morning sickness! Everything in moderation, right? Consulting your healthcare provider for healthy food options can help ensure your diet supports both you and your baby.
Pregnancy Safe Skincare
The idea for the Little Bean App came to me during my first trimester. A few months before I got pregnant, I read Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb. In the book, one of her patients shares her guilt, believing her son’s autism might have been caused by skincare products she used during pregnancy. While it’s often impossible to pinpoint the exact causes of developmental conditions, the fact that she believed this left a lasting impression on me. It highlighted the importance of being mindful about skincare choices during pregnancy, something that was not being talked about much at the time.
For more insights, check out our previous blog post on pregnancy-safe skincare.
Second Trimester Pregnancy Must-Haves
Fashionable Maternity Clothing
This is when I officially retired my pre-pregnancy wardrobe. I discovered Bumpsuit, which offers buttery-soft maternity clothes you can order in your pre-pregnancy size to transition seamlessly into postpartum life. I personally didn’t love the pregnancy jeans with the waist band and was instead living in Bumpsuit throughout my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th (postpartum) trimester.
Fun fact: Kayden and I did our first photoshoot together for their baby carrier! One of my model friends invited me to come to their “gifting suite” in NY (who doesn’t like some free clothes), and I came with Kayden in a carrier as he was living in it the first few months, and Nicole the founder, told me “omg you guys would be great for our baby carrier launch shoot!” Also highly recommend their carrier as it’s on the “more affordable side” of luxury carriers (think Artipoppe) and way more convenient with all the side pockets.
Pregnancy Apps
When I was pregnant, I loved tracking my baby’s development week by week. One of my must-haves apps during pregnancy was Flo. They provide personalized updates and health advice tailored to your stage of pregnancy. Flo now includes comprehensive pregnancy tracking, and post-pregnancy, it switches seamlessly back to cycle tracking after birth. For more app insights, check out our post on Top Pregnancy Apps in 2025
A baby registry
Planning a baby shower? A baby registry is a must! Platforms like Babylist let you consolidate all your pregnancy essentials into one place. From belly oil to baby gear, it’s the best way to ensure you’re prepared.
Two popular options are Babylist, which has a more upscale feel, and Amazon, where you can find all the smaller pregnancy essentials you might need.
While you might feel hesitant about asking for specific items, a registry can save you from receiving five baby blankets or a pile of stuffed animals—popular choices for those without kids, but not always practical. Your friends and family will likely appreciate knowing exactly what you want, making shopping easier for them and more useful for you.
Alternatively, consider treating your best friend (or yourself!) to a thoughtful gift like belly oil, bath salts, or cocoa butter, or other pregnancy essentials. Everyone loves a personal touch!
Preventing Stretchmarks (or at least trying to)
While genetics play a significant role in stretch mark formation, applying oils and creams rich in vitamin E and alpha hydroxy acids may help improve skin elasticity. Consistent application on areas like the abdomen, breasts, and thighs is key. For more information on this you can check out our previous blog post on pregnancy-safe belly oil.
Third Trimester Pregnancy Must-Haves
A pregnancy pillow
By the third trimester, a good pregnancy pillow becomes an essential. My favorite was a cooling body pillow cooling body pillow as my third semester was in peak summer, supporting my lower back and hip. Its. and it Because it was nice and thick, I could comfortably have my hips parallel, while hugging this pillow.
Even now, I can’t sleep without it! I ended up buying two2. Before I discovered this one, I had oOne of those long snake ones, which I honestly found a bit annoying, as it would be too thin for my legs to be completely separated, and then would go all around you, which did not leave much room for my hubby.
Colostrum collectors
This was something my doulas recommended that I start to start harvesting colostrum after 36 weeks of pregnancy. This can provide a backup supply if there are initial breastfeeding challenges. In the beginning, it was hard (and somewhat boring) to express the colostrum, but after a few days it became much easier. Simply put the colostrum into the Hakaa colostrum collectors and place it in the freezer. It was nice not to worry whether my milk would come in as soon as the baby was born and have a little extra supply in the freezer and hospital bag.
My OBGYN wasn’t too familiar with expressing colostrum, but she thought it was a good idea in my case, as my son’s head was measuring massive, and she said I should try to make as much effort to go into labor early. Nipple stimulation could have some impact (hence, they don’t recommend it before 36 weeks). She also mentioned that collecting colostrum after 36 weeks of pregnancy it does not diminish your ability to produce colostrum after birth, and having extra of this liquid gold is nice to have. Just remember everyone’s birth is different, you might try all you can to get labor started like me. Think acupuncture, Raspberry leaf tea, expressing colostrum, and still don’t get any signs of going into labor. Discuss this practice with your healthcare provider to see if it’s right for you.
Nursing Bra’s and Maternity Underwear
As my body changed during pregnancy, my regular bras were stored away by the second trimester. Investing in stretchy maternity bras and comfortable maternity underwear made a world of difference. Look for bras that accommodate fluctuating sizes and are compatible with breast pumps.
In my third trimester, I went from an A cup to a C cup. To feel a bit more attractive, I bought two regular bras in my new size, knowing my size would likely increase after birth—which it did. While breastfeeding, I went up to a DD. That’s when I invested in a few comfortable, stretchy nursing bras that I could wear both during and after pregnancy. This one in particular was a lifesaver—it was incredibly comfortable and securely held the pump flanges in place postpartum. I wouldn’t recommend spending a fortune on maternity or nursing bras—it’s a short period of time you’ll need them. Prioritize comfort over style, as even the “cute” nursing bras I tried weren’t as comfortable as I’d hoped.
Closing Notes
Pregnancy is a different experience for everyone, but having the right essentials can make the journey smoother. While these were my pregnancy must-haves, yours might look a little or a lot different. Remember, every pregnancy is unique, so find what works best for you. As we strive to build a supportive maternity community here on Little Bean,
I’d love to hear your favorite pregnancy essentials! Share them in the comments, and let’s continue supporting each other through this incredible journey.
