Gift Ideas for Expecting Moms

During my pregnancy and after giving birth, I found myself reaching for these items quite often. If you’re a first-time mom, or need for gift ideas for one, here are my recommendations.

1. Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump (pictured above)

   This is the first item I’d recommend to any breastfeeding mom. Prior to getting this after a friend’s recommendation, I had no idea that one breast would leak (a lot) while the other side was nursing! This super simple pump has saved me a ton of milk during feedings. There are several ways you can use the extra breastmilk:

   • Pour it into a bottle for another caregiver to feed the baby with.

   • Freeze it for future use.

   • Use it on your baby’s diaper rash or skin conditions like eczema. You can pour it into his/her bath.

   • Use it on your own skin, acne, or nipple rash.

   Breastmilk has natural healing properties and contains antibacterial properties that works wonders on your skin. I had no idea until they told us at our prenatal classes!

   A few weeks into using my Haakaa and loving it, I purchased a second one to put into rotation so Will and I didn’t have to constantly wash and dry the first pump in between feedings.

   Tip: Make sure to suction the pump really well onto your breast, as you or your baby can knock it off if it’s not stuck on well. I’ve spilled the milk on more than one occasion. Legendairy Milk shared this hack to help prevent spillage from happening.

2. A long shoe horn

   Another must-have is a good shoe horn. It wasn’t until later in my second trimester that I realized I could no longer bend over to put on my shoes and it certainly didn’t help that my feet were swollen in my third trimester.

3. FridaBaby Mom Peri Bottle

   Most hospitals provide peri bottles, so this isn’t a “must-have”, but I appreciated having a second one for my other washroom. I kept one in our master bedroom and the other in our powder room so I didn’t have to carry it everywhere. A second one would also be helpful to have if you plan on going out during the first couple of weeks. The angle of this particular bottle worked better than the hospital one I received.

4. High-waisted underwear

   I bought these halfway through my third trimester and wish I’d bought them sooner. My existing undies were low rise and cutting into my growing belly. These were super comfy and can be worn postpartum and beyond! I purchased my pre-pregnancy size and they fit perfectly (still do). Many of the reviewers said these work post-C-section as well, so it’s a win-win purchase for anyone.

5. An extra long phone cord

   Any parent or caregiver would appreciate this, especially during the early days of caring for baby. I’m usually browsing on my phone and never close enough to a wall outlet when I’m breastfeeding. I purchased this pack of extra long cables (in gold) and have them lying around the house in my usual spots, plugged in for ease of access.