Purchasing a gift for a pregnant friend or family member (or yourself, no shame!) can feel daunting because you want it to be something she will ACTUALLY use rather than just stuff away in a closet only to be donated next Spring (not speaking from experience or anything….). And let’s be real, everyone is going to be focusing on celebrating the new baby and completely forget about celebrating the new MOM.

Stress no more. I am here to help you celebrate the new mom in your life with gifts for her to used during pregnancy. I have compiled a list of both physical products and non-physical gifts that you can give to your pregnant friend or family member and feel confident that she will actually use and appreciate your gift.

Physical Products

1. A large water bottle

During pregnancy, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend drinking 64-96 ounces of water per day to help with amniotic fluid formation, digestion, and nutrient circulation.

Here are a few options:

2. A birth/exercise ball

This is one of my all time favorite products to recommend to all of my pregnant patients. I recommend spending about 5-10 minutes per day on the ball completing mobility work to mobilize the full body no later than 34 weeks, but really you can use the ball as soon as you find out you are pregnant. Download my free birth ball mobility guide to learn 7 movements to prepare for labor using the ball.

3. A pregnancy pillow

Ok, this can be a tough one because many women prefer different kinds of pillows, but the good news is if you purchase off of Amazon, they can always exchange it and try a new one. Sleep during pregnancy is TOUGH. I personally opted to use my long lumbar pillow that I have for décor on my bed, but that was just my preference.

Here are a few my patients love:

4. A magnesium supplement

There are SO many benefits of magnesium for both mama (improves sleep, hydration, mood and cramping) as well as baby (reduces risk of fetal growth restriction and low birth weight). Current research recommends consuming at least 350-360mg of magnesium per day during pregnancy with a dietary allowance of up to 450mg. Many prenatal vitamins only have 100mg!

Here are a few options:

5. A heating pad

If you think period cramps are bad…try labor. A heating pad can be incredibly helpful to not only ease the aches and pains of pregnancy, but also help to reduce discomfort during labor.

6. Body butter/lotion

While it may not be completely possible to prevent stretch marks, it is possible to keep your skin hydrated and healthy. During pregnancy, many of my patients (and myself) complain of dry and itchy skin or even the feeling of stretch. Maintaining hydrated skin can really help to reduce some of these symptoms.

(please note, if significant itching persists please speak with your provider to rule out any other medical conditions)

7. Belly support band or bloomers

Pregnancy is tough on the body and sometimes you may need additional support from a belly band. Depending on just how close you are with your friend, you could also gift her some support bloomers to support not just the belly but also the pelvic floor. Bao Bei is my go-to for all things support wear during pregnancy.

8. A hydration supplement

Not only is water important during pregnancy, but so are trace minerals and electrolytes to support optimal body function to reduce swelling, improve nausea and promote hormonal balance.

9. A protein powder

It is common during pregnancy to experience food aversions, and this may come in the form of a meat aversion (I could NOT stomach any chicken throughout my entire pregnancy) which can make it hard to meet your daily protein intake. To combat my meat aversions I made a protein smoothie every single day to help with my protein intake.

Here are my two favorites:

Non-Physical Gifts

I wanted to include some non-physical gifts that would be so appreciated for the pregnant friend in your life that prefers to product shop for herself (or lives on the minimalist side of life).

1. A prenatal massage

No description needed. Just do it.

2. A 4D ultrasound

3. A date night

Whether your friend is going to be a first-time mom or has two toddlers running around at home, a date night is always appreciated to simply get away from the chaos. Treat her to a nice dinner with her partner, with a friend or just herself…whatever she wants! You can do this with an UberEats gift card, a homemade meal, a reservation at her favorite restaurant or even just a Venmo payment of straight cash. You get the point.

4. A pregnancy-safe workout course

5. A house cleaning service

Three weeks before I delivered my little girl, Ava, I hired a cleaning company to come and deep clean our home so that I felt ready for Ava’s arrival. It was one of the best investments of my pregnancy. The last thing I wanted to do at 36 weeks was get on my hands and knees to scrub the floors.

Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.