Being pregnant is no joke. There’s the belly, the swollen ankles, and all that anticipation of the amazing life that’s about to enter (and shake up!) your world. I for one was all about being showered with love from friends and family. Even the smallest gestures, like a thinking-of-you text, I so appreciated. And whether it’s the first baby or you’re on to number, 2, 3, or beyond, every pregnant woman deserves some awesome mom-to-be gifts to make her smile.
We all love receiving cute nursery must-haves, and what mama-to-be ever turned out a sweet little outfit for the baby on the way? But some of my favourite gifts I received when I was expecting were things that were truly for me to enjoy. I liked pampering myself with little beauty treatments or giving myself an afternoon off here and there to read a book and just relax. If someone special in your life is expecting — or you are expecting — this is the list for you (hey, there’s nothing wrong with gifting yourself or hinting what you want to someone else!).
Amazon Fire TV
Sometimes, the exhausted mama-to-be needs to just curl up and watch some really good television. And once that baby comes, she'll definitely want something to watch in the middle of the night, too. Help her skip the boring reruns On Demand with Amazon Fire TV, which brings the best of all the networks plus Netflix and more, right into her home. From movies to TV series and beyond, she'll be totally hooked up with this awesome gift. With access to over 4,000 channels, apps, and games, this is a must-have for any gal with a baby on the way.
Price: $99.99
Photo: Amazon
Subscription to Bump Boxes
With a dedicated set of products for each stage of pregnancy, Bump Boxes are an amazing gift for the expectant mama. The boxes come chock-full of goodies to address the various woes and wonders of a given trimester. From cookies to beauty products, each item is carefully selected to appeal to what the mama-to-be is needing at the time. These are thoughtful, unique gifts that present her with some much-needed happy mail along her maternity journey.
Price: From $114
Photo: Bump Boxes
Chanel Nail Polish
It's a splurge she isn't likely to indulge in for herself right now, and nail polish is the easiest beauty product to give, because most colours really work on everyone. I loved using Chanel polish when I was preggo because it's part of the "3-free" family of products that don't contain the three toxic chemicals that are unsafe for use during pregnancy -- DBP (dibutyl phthalate), toluene, and formaldehyde. In addition to passing the pregnancy-safe test, it's fancy! And they offer so many gorgeous colour options. Slip a gift certificate for a mani/pedi in the gift box, and she will love you forever.
Price: $28 per bottle
Photo: Chanel
Pretty Hair Ties
Okay, let's face it. All the cute maternity clothes in the world don't make up for the fact that elastic waistbands and gestational acne can make any preggo-mama feel icky. I loved receiving pretty hair accessories that made me feel special and cute, despite everything else that was going on with my appearance. These leather bow elastics from Etsy shop Happy Little Fin are handmade (by a currently pregnant mom!) and they work over-time to chic-up the preggo's mom-bun, add a pop of pretty to her wrist, and stylishly hold back those bangs later, when she's in labour.
Price: $25 (set of three)
Photo: Etsy.com / Happy Little Fin
Aromatherpy Spa Blanket
If there's one thing every mom-to-be needs, it's an excuse to relax whenever she can. I am so loving this lavender aromatherapy blanket from Uncommon Goods. Infused with lavender to calm and soothe, the blanket can be warmed up in the microwave or cooled down in the fridge and applied directly to sore spots.
Price: $65
Photo: Uncommon Goods
Fancy Flip Flops
Chances are, her feet have either puffed out of her favourite comfy flats or will soon. For the final three months of my pregnancy, I wore my husband's shoes because I couldn't face the hideous flip flops lurking at the back of my closet. Gift her with a truly pretty pair that she won't be embarrassed to walk around town in -- and consider going up a half size if possible, to leave a little room for expansion. I am obsessed with this pair by Melissa Shoes.
Price: from $21.40
Photo: Amazon
Mocktail Guide
All the maternal glow in the world doesn't quite make up for nine months chugging nothing more exciting than sparkling water with a lemon wedge. Add a bit of humour and a total dash of delish to her prenatal beverage routine with Preggatinis: Mixology for the Mom-to-Be, a smart and sassy mocktail how-to book for preggos. Bonus points if you bring the fixings for one or two of the recipes and serve her one. Frosted glass highly recommended!
Price: $12.44
Photo: Amazon
Hysterical Tee
A funny new mum shirt is the perfect thing to get her smiling, and this one from Sweetees is printed on a roomy unisex tee. Thus, she can wear it now over her bump and it'll offer a cute yet relaxed fit once she's got the babe in tow. Bonus: purchasing from small shops like this one puts cash right back in the pocket of other hard-working mums like the designer of Sweetees, which is definitely something to feel good about.
Price: $32
Photo: Sweetees
Pregnancy Pillow
It might not seem like the most exciting gift in the world -- unless you're pregnant, in which case it totally is. My Snoogle Total Body Pillow was seriously the best thing ever; my hubby got it for me when I was only a few weeks along. Even that early in my pregnancy, long before I had a bump, I had a lot of trouble getting into a comfortable position for sleep, and many pregnant women experience the same. This trusty sidekick was so good to me from start to finish, I passed mine along (with a new slipcover!) to a newly pregnant friend the week after I welcomed my own bundle of joy. She is still grateful to this day!
Price: $53.49
Photo: Amazon
Pretty Poncho
There is nothing trickier to dress than the end-of-the-pregnancy bump -- I ran out at the 36-week mark to grab maternity clothes in the next size up, and many of my friends did the same. Also, post-preggo, there's the ever-so-lovely empty round belly that hangs for a while. Not to mention, if she chooses to breastfeed, cover-ups are a must. Gifting a pregnant mama something luxe and pretty that will drape perfectly now and after the baby comes will help her feel more like her normal self, which is exactly what she might need right now. I'm loving this one from Pink Blush Maternity.
Price: $32
Photo: Pink Blush Maternity
Prenatal Massage Gift Certificate
In the first trimester, massage isn't recommended. But once she reaches the mid-point and goes waddling toward the end, a prenatal massage is pretty much the best thing you can do for her. Not only does everything tend to hurt the bigger she gets, but massage provides a mandated escape from stress and the opportunity for her to truly relax and get pampered.
Photo: Getty
Funny Baby Book
If she's anything like me, your preggo bestie is spending these nine months reading up on all things baby. But it's easy to get lost in all the theories and the stressors and really panic about what's to come. Scour the shelves at your local bookstore for a lighter read that will bring some humour into all her research. I really liked The Sh!t No One Tells You: A Guide to Surviving Your Baby's First Year, by Dawn Dais.
Price: $9.28
Photo: Amazon
Funny Handmade Mug
Bring a little humour to her morning cup -- and that decaf she's chugging while she awaits the day she can indulge in all of the real thing that she wants. A handmade mama mug is a cute (and functional!) gift for the mom-to-be and will be her daily go-to long after the baby arrives, too. I love Etsy shop The Pink Polka Dot Custom Creations where everything is custom made to order and you can add glitter, change up the phrasing, and personalize the mug with her name and more.
Price: from $13 or $16, depending on the mug
Photo: Etsy / The Pink Polka Dot CC
More for Pregnant Mums:
41 Creative Ways to Tell Your Husband You’re Pregnant
Totally Great Push Gifts for New Mums
Pregnancy Week by Week: How Big Is Your Baby Right Now?
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