Midwife Pregnancy Favourites (What I Actually Used)

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If you are pregnant and you have spent any time online, you will have encountered approximately seventeen thousand lists of pregnancy must-haves. Most of them are sponsored. Most of them involve products you absolutely do not need. And most of them will leave you feeling like you need to spend several hundred pounds just to survive the next nine months.

You do not.

What you actually need is a handful of things that make you more comfortable, a couple of things that genuinely help, and – I will not apologise for this – something nice to eat. Here is my honest edit: the things I have actually used and would genuinely recommend.

Quick links

M&S cotton pyjamas

[M&S cotton pyjamas – around £30]

You are going to spend a lot of time in pyjamas during pregnancy. A lot. So they need to actually work – breathable, non-restrictive, comfortable around your bump, and decent enough that you can answer the door or a video call.

M&S cotton pyjamas tick all of those boxes. They are soft, roomy (go one size up!), wash well, and stay comfortable as your body changes. They have them in two gorgeous colours too! All I keep thinking is how they’ll be perfect to breastfeed in this summer.

bbhugme pregnancy pillow

[bbhugme pregnancy pillow – around £130]

Right, I am going to start with the big one. This pillow is more expensive than a standard pregnancy pillow and I am recommending it anyway, because it is genuinely one of the most useful things I have come across. I have used it in both pregnancies and leant it to my sister and friends for their pregnancies too. It really is the gift that keeps on giving! You will use it well into your postpartum too.

Sleep gets uncomfortable fast in pregnancy – your hips ache, your lower back protests, and finding a position that actually works starts to feel like a puzzle with no solution. The bbhugme is adjustable, which makes a real difference because it can be tweaked as your bump grows rather than becoming useless by the third trimester.

It supports your bump properly, keeps your body aligned, and takes the pressure off your hips when you are on your side. If you are going to spend money on one pregnancy product, make it this one.

Nivea Q10 stretch mark body oil

[Nivea Q10 stretch mark body oil – around £8 to £12]

There is a huge amount of pressure around stretch marks in pregnancy, and an equally huge amount of very expensive products that promise to prevent them. I am going to be honest with you: whether you get stretch marks is largely down to genetics and how quickly your skin has to stretch, and no product will guarantee you will not get them.

What moisturising does do is keep your skin comfortable, reduce that tight itchy feeling as your bump grows, and support your skin as best it can through the process. This oil is lightweight, absorbs well, does not feel sticky, and is easy to use every day without it feeling like a whole production. It is also very affordable, which I appreciate given the amount of other things you are spending money on right now.

Big knickers (because comfort is everything)

I cannot believe this is not talked about more. Comfortable underwear in pregnancy is not a luxury – it is a necessity. Anything that digs in, has a tight waistband, or sits awkwardly on your bump is going to drive you absolutely mad. Do not suffer. Just get the big knickers – they’re superb for after you have your baby too!

I recommend two options depending on what you are after:

M&S big knickers

[M&S big knickers 5 pack – around £12]

Soft cotton, high waisted, affordable, and completely no-nonsense. These are your everyday option – nothing fancy, just genuinely comfortable. You can get a five pack for well under £15 and they will see you through the whole pregnancy.

Stripe and Stare knickers

[Stripe and Stare knickers – around £18 to £20 per pair]

These are the slightly more premium option – softer fabric, very stretchy, and they stay comfortable as your body changes. If you want something that feels a bit nicer day to day, these are brilliant. Both options are good – it really just depends whether you want the practical five-pack or the treat yourself version.

Weleda Skin Food moisturiser

[Weleda Skin Food moisturiser – around £10 to £15]

Pregnancy skin can feel dry, tight, and more sensitive than usual – particularly on your bump but also just generally. Weleda Skin Food is a thicker, proper moisturiser that hydrates well without a long list of complicated ingredients. It works for both face and body, you only need a small amount, and it is particularly good if your skin is feeling really dry or irritated.

It has a slightly herby smell that not everyone loves, so worth knowing – but the texture and hydration are genuinely excellent.

Cadbury Mini Eggs

[Cadbury Mini Eggs]

Look. This is less of a clinical recommendation and more of a survival strategy. Pregnancy is hard, you deserve something nice, and Mini Eggs are one of life’s great simple pleasures. They are easy to snack on, available everywhere, come in a range of sizes depending on your level of commitment, and are very, very difficult to stop eating.

No further justification needed. You are growing a human. Have the Mini Eggs.

What actually matters

You genuinely do not need loads of products to get through pregnancy comfortably. You need a few things that make daily life a bit easier, something to help you sleep, something to keep your skin happy, something comfortable to wear, and something to eat when everything feels a bit much.

These are the things that have actually helped me and that I feel confident recommending. I hope they make your pregnancy a little more comfortable too.