Congratulations – you’re pregnant! During these next nine months, you’re going to go through a lot of changes: Physical, emotional and yes, financial.  Time to start stocking up on all the necessities.  But, before you begin to shop for cribs and strollers, you’ll need to take care of your own maternity needs.

Whether you plan on purchasing a maternity wardrobe, or borrowing from friends or family, here are some suggestions that can help you on this journey – some are necessities; some are just nice to have.

CLOTHING

• The bare necessities include:

• 2-3 maternity/nursing bras
• 4-5 pair “granny” panties, or your favorite ones a size larger
• 1 transition band (so you can continue to wear your non-pregnancy clothes for a while longer – and wear your larger maternity clothes earlier)
• 1-2 pair of maternity jeans (These will even be great after you give birth. You might prefer a pair with stretch in them.)
• 3-4 t-shirts
• 2-3 soft yoga/sweat/lounging pants
• Sweater (depending on the season)
• 1-2 date night outfits
• Comfortable shoes (you might need to get a pair that’s a half size or so bigger due to swelling feet)
• Work wardrobe (if applicable) – Don’t worry if you don’t have 17 suits; your colleagues will likely be forgiving.

COMFORT

• Body pillow and/or a pregnancy wedge
• Stuff for the morning sickness: Morning Sickness Magic Capsules, nausea band or pregnancy pops
• Stretch mark cream or belly oil (for itchy skin, which may occur as your belly expands)

NUTRITION

• Prenatal vitamins
• Folic acid (It’s best to start taking folic acid one to three months before getting pregnant. It’s recommended you take 400 mcg while trying to get pregnant, and 600–800 mcg while pregnant.)
• Energy bar (keep one in your purse or in your car so you never get too hungry!)

KNOW-HOW

• The Complete Organic Pregnancy by Deidre Dolan and Alexandra Zissu
• The Pregnancy Journal by A. Christine Harris
• The Girlfriends’ Guide to Pregnancy by Vicki Iovine
• Pregnancy Do’s and Don’ts by Elisabeth Aaron, MD
• Healthy Child Healthy World by Christopher Gavigan
• The Baby Name Bible by Pamela Redmond Satran and Linda Rosenkrantz
• The Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp, MD
• Raising Baby Green  by Alan Greene, MD
• The Nursing Mother’s Companion (6th Edition) by Kathleen Huggins, RN, MS
• The Best Birth by Sarah McMoyler, RN, BSN, and Armin A. Brott
• Getting Ready for Baby by Helene Tragos Stelian
• The Baby Book by William Sears, MD and Martha Sears, RN
• The New Basics by Michel Cohen, MD
• giggle guide to baby gear by Ali Wing
• The Expectant Father by Armin A. Brott
• The Sleepeasy Solution by Jennifer Waldburger and Jill Spivack