The Best Gifts for Pregnant People, According to Pregnant People

When I was pregnant with my first kid, a friend sent me a care package that included ginger chews, anti-nausea pressure bands, and this cheeky activity book that celebrates the absurdity of pregnancy with quizzes, fill-in-the-blanks, and journaling prompts. Instead of peddling the usual hyperpositive, “mama”-centric musings on what it’s like to have a bun in the oven, this pop-culture-reference-filled book lets you laugh at all the unpleasant things about growing a human inside of you, like the constipation, bloating, and epic mood swings that come with it.

Another way to capture moments during pregnancy is on film. Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo, whose baby is 9 months old, used disposable cameras to record her growing belly. “I wanted to document this period of time, but I also felt a little self-conscious in photos, so these disposable cameras made it easier to record certain moments or bump evolution without the immediate self-judgment that comes with hormonal shifts,” she said. “Plus, I always think film photos are more flattering.”

Pregnant people constantly hear that staying hydrated is key, which is why a large water bottle that they can get excited about would make a welcome gift. Chugging water can also help with morning sickness, as Hill House Home founder and CEO Nell Diamond found when she was pregnant with twins. Diamond, who struggled with a more severe form of nausea called hyperemesis, said the only remedy that worked for her was drinking extremely cold water. For that reason, her “real love” during that time was the biggest possible Yeti tumbler, which “stays ice-cold over a 12-hour pregnancy sleep. It’s better than a Birkin bag,” she told us at the time. (They’ll also use it postpartum, as breastfeeding requires a lot of hydration, too.)

Some pregnant people experience restless legs syndrome, which often occurs at night and makes it hard to sleep. Sadie Stein, a writer and Strategist contributor, dealt with this when she was pregnant with her son, Hal, and found that “giving my legs a vigorous brush with a stiff-bristle body brush was the only thing that alleviated the feeling. So if someone is having trouble with that, I’ll give them a brush and a nice dry oil for their body. That feels good no matter what.” Nutritionist and mom-of-two Daphne Javitch uses this Japanese palm-fiber brush, explaining that it can feel cleansing and healing because it “increases circulation.”

For a more targeted massage, try this porcelain massager that Strategist contributor Fiorella Valdesolo used to combat carpal tunnel, another condition that some pregnant people may experience (it’s sometimes called “mommy thumb”). To use, fill the porcelain vessel with hot water, cap it with the silicone lid, then pass the bumps across any sore areas. It’s glazed with crushed tourmaline crystal, which is supposed to have soothing, infrared properties. Valdesolo found that this oddly shaped massager was the only thing that tempered her hand and forearm pain — and postpartum, she has continued to use it to reduce shoulder tension and as a teething toy for her baby.

Pregnant people can experience swelling, too, but good compression socks like these from Bombas can help. Corsillo wore them all throughout her third trimester and in the hospital, and while she said she still got really swollen anyway, “they made it more comfortable” because they were “so soft.” She adds, “I was also just nice to have warm socks that made me feel less stressed out about taking long car rides and also didn’t make me look like a grandma from 1950.” They also come in a merino wool blend, for colder climates.

For something slightly more formal than the Bae tee, consider this flowy button-up from Storq that I wore during both my pregnancies (and postpartum, too). Made of the softest, wrinkle-free, woven modal-blend fabric, it’s just so easy to throw on: It can go from shirt to cover-up and from night-to-day, and pairs equally well with leggings or a skirt. It’s roomy, long enough to cover your butt, but still manages to make you look put together. For the record, I love everything I’ve ever tried from Storq, which makes really high-quality pregnancy and postpartum basics that don’t look maternity at all. Check out more of my favorite (actually cute) maternity picks here.

Odusanya also appreciated that one of her friends, the jewelry maker behind Peace of My, gifted her “a necklace with my initial on it, and once we figure out the baby’s name, she’ll add another initial to it. It felt like a nice intention toward me and our child,” she says. We’ve pointed out that Etsy is a good place to shop for affordable but nice-looking initial necklaces, or you can get this letter charm from Mejuri to add to any existing bracelet or necklace chain.

“I think it’s impossible to ignore the staggering maternal mortality rates for Black women in America, even right in our own backyard in New York City, so I’ve made a particular effort to seek out Black-owned businesses that are supporting mothers during this time and also Black-owned nonprofits,” says Diamond, who found it particularly meaningful when, after hearing about her pregnancy, a friend donated in her name to the Black Mamas Matter Alliance — an organization working to advance Black maternal health before, during, and after pregnancy.