28 Best Gifts for Expecting Mothers, Trimester by Trimester

If you only get her one thing, make it this. Doctors usually recommend side-sleeping from the second trimester, and a U-shaped pillow supports her back and her bump at the same time, so she can roll from left to right without waking up to rearrange five pillows. After the birth it becomes a back rest for night feeds.

A smarter choice than a full body pillow when the bed is already crowded or she travels for work. The adjustable wedge slides under the belly and behind the back to stop that rolling-forward feeling, and the Velcro lets it grow with her from the second trimester to the due date.

Pregnancy insomnia means a lot of 5 a.m. wake-ups and afternoon naps. A padded satin mask that does not press on the eyes helps her drift back off when the sun is up, and it belongs in the hospital bag, where the lights never fully go out.

Her belly skin is stretching fast and usually itches because of it. This fragrance-free butter is a safe bet for a pregnancy nose that suddenly hates perfume, and a nightly belly rub with it is a small ritual she can share with her partner.

A ready-made skincare gift for the mom-to-be: tummy butter for the bump, a massage cream for hips and thighs, a lotion for everywhere else and an oil for tight spots. It comes boxed, so it works well as a shower gift from a coworker or friend who wants something useful.

By the third trimester her feet may be a full size larger by evening. This massager kneads, squeezes and warms them while she sits on the sofa, with nobody else needed. It is the splurge gift on this list, and it goes on being useful well after the baby arrives.

A warm foot soak is one of the simplest ways to take the ache out of swollen ankles, and this folding tub means she does not have to climb in and out of a bathtub to do it. The rollers in the base give her arches a massage while she soaks.

Pair these with the foot basin and you have a complete evening wind-down gift. The flakes are unscented and dissolve quickly in warm water, which suits an expecting mother who has been told to keep baths warm rather than hot. As with any soak during pregnancy, it is worth a quick check with her provider first.

The extra weight pulls on her lower back all day. She can tuck this heated kneading pillow behind her on the couch or office chair, or move it up to her neck and shoulders. Keep the heat on its lowest setting for pregnancy and it becomes one of her favorite evening gifts.

Bending down to pull on slippers gets harder every month. These slide on hands-free, the open toe makes room for swollen feet, and the anti-slip sole helps on hospital floors and at 3 a.m. in the nursery. They are machine-washable too.

An unglamorous gift that pregnant women who stand at work, or have a babymoon flight coming up, are grateful for. Graduated compression keeps fluid from pooling in the ankles, and the bright patterns make them feel less like a prescription.

Ginger is one of the most common first-trimester go-tos, and these soft chews from the Dramamine makers are easier to keep down than ginger tea at a desk. Tuck a pack into a card when she first shares the news.

Many pregnant women find sour flavors cut through queasiness and the metallic taste pregnancy brings. These individually wrapped drops fit in a coat pocket for the commute or the car, which is where nausea tends to strike.

For a mom-to-be who would rather avoid taking anything she does not have to, these wristbands press on the P6 point that many women find helps with morning sickness. They are reusable, and the second pair can go in her handbag.

Every prenatal appointment ends with a reminder to drink more water. The hour-by-hour markers on this half-gallon bottle turn that into a visible goal, and the straw lid means she can sip lying on her side.

Her old pajamas stopped fitting around month five. This set stretches over the bump now, and the button-front top works for skin-to-skin contact and nursing later, so it will be in rotation for most of the next year.

Maternity leggings are what most pregnant women live in, and a soft over-the-belly pair with phone pockets is always welcome. They suit prenatal yoga, walks and weekend errands, and they work postpartum when nothing else fits yet.

For an expecting mother who is still at work, on her feet or walking the dog through the third trimester. The band lifts some of the bump's weight off her lower back and stays invisible under a work outfit.

Underwire becomes unbearable in late pregnancy, and bra size changes again when milk comes in. These stretchy, wireless bralettes cover both stages, and the one-hand clips mean she will not need new bras for nursing.

Ideal for a babymoon, a summer due date or a prenatal water-aerobics class, since swimming is one of the most comfortable ways to exercise with a bump. The button neckline lets her nurse in it later.

Hospital gowns are miserable, and the first visitors will be taking photos. This gown and robe let her feel like herself after delivery, with clip-down cups for nursing and a belted robe for the walk down the corridor.

Use this as gift wrap: fill the tote with the robe, slippers, nipple butter and a sleep mask and you have handed her a packed hospital bag. Afterwards it makes a sturdy spillover bag for diapers and bottles.

The gift experienced moms give first-time moms. Nobody puts a peri bottle or cooling spray on a baby registry, yet they are what she will need most in the first week home. Getting this kit means no last-minute pharmacy run with a newborn in tow.

If she plans to breastfeed, the first couple of weeks can be sore. This lanolin-free butter is safe for the baby without wiping it off, and the two tubs mean one can live by the nursing chair and one in the diaper bag.

Nine months go faster than anyone expects. This guided journal gives her a place for bump photos, appointment notes, cravings and a birth plan, and it becomes something she can share with her child years from now. It is a lovely first-pregnancy gift.

The month-by-month guide most first-time moms end up owning, now in a fully updated edition. It answers the late-night questions calmly and costs little enough to tuck alongside a comfort gift.

For an expecting mother of faith, a card for each of the 42 weeks pairs a Bible-verse affirmation with what the baby is doing that week. Flipping the card on its stand each Sunday becomes a quiet weekly ritual.

Her first ultrasound print usually ends up on the fridge. This frame gives it a proper home on her desk, the number cards count down the weeks to meeting the baby, and the inkless handprint kit is ready for the newborn's first keepsake.