There are so many products out there targeted at pregnant women -figuring out what you need can feel really overwhelming. Here’s a quick list of what we found helpful (and why). Of course, you’ll always want to consult with your health practitioner.

Prenatal Vitamins

If possible, getting on a prenatal (or multivitamin) a few months before conceiving is ideal. These have been our favorites, especially Metagenics because it includes a great fish oil.

If you can’t stomach taking multiple pills a day, check out Needed. It’s in powder form which is awesome especially for those of us who can’t stomach capsules.

If you can, take them with a meal - to increase bioavailability.

Labdoor is a really helpful tool if you want to make sure your supplements have what they actually say they have in them (supplements aren’t regulated by the FDA). If you have questions, our nutritionists can help.

Check out our more extensive article on choosing a prenatal here.

Probiotics

Probiotics can help restore your gut health and microbiome, benefitting your digestion, immunity, regularity, mood, energy, and skin. In addition, studies have shown that they help decrease your risk of Group B strep - learn more here.

Magnesium

This mineral is vital for nervous system and hormonal balance - supplementing here (depending on the form) can also help with sleep, calming the nervous system, alleviating muscle tension and constipation. It can be a life saver with any leg cramps as you get farther along in your pregnancy. Using a spray gets into your blood stream quickly, and you can target spots that need it most. We also love these bath flakes, you can either take a full bath, or do a foot soak in the evening to help draw energy down for a more restful nights sleep. Capsule form helps in these same ways, and has the extra bonus of helping regulate bowel movements.

Beauty

We love Credo, Ayla Beauty or Follain to help you discover products that work best for you.

Below we’ve included some of the more important swaps:

Sunscreen

All you need to know about sunscreen here.

We’d recommend using physical blockers (non-nano zinc oxide) instead of chemical sunscreens. Recent studies have prompted the FDA to raise concerns about many of the ingredients in chemical sunscreens, like oxybenzone which has the potential to affect hormone levels (FDA 2019).

Deodorant

The skin under our arms is especially thin, and if you shave under there, you’re doing some extra exfoliating. When you apply deodorant, it gets into your system. We love Ursa Major, but here’s a more exhaustive list of choices.

Around the Home

Clothing

Check out our favorite lines to wear during pregnancy here.