The Wildish Pregnancy & Postpartum Gift Guide

The moment that you become pregnant, friends and family start buying baby items “for you.” Who can blame them? There’s nothing better than finding that oh so cute baby outfit.

But, it’s never been more important to focus on the health and well-being of mothers as we head in to our first socially-distanced holiday season. It’s time to show pregnant and postpartum mamas that they matter and that taking care of themselves is a way of taking care of their babies.

Warning: this guide contains NO gifts for babies. But it does contain super useful and fun products that will make your favorite veteran, new, or future mama feel understood and appreciated.

Many of these items are available on sites like Amazon, but we included their direct links instead. A lot of these products come from small, mama-owned businesses, so why not support them directly? Alright, let’s get in to it!

“For the mama who was born ready”

Labor is a marathon, not a sprint (or maybe it’s a marathon where you sprint the entire time). Staying hydrated is key to having the birth experience she wants. And, trust us, she’ll need a straw! This way her birth partner/support person can give her sips between contractions. And bonus! Mamas need to be consuming lots of water during pregnancy and postpartum, so this Hydroflask is useful for all phases of motherhood. Grab a fun sticker that speaks to your type of mama (we love all of LittleWomanGoods stickers, especially this one), and boom!, you have a personalized, useful gift. ($49.95)

“For the mama who likes to move”

Give that mama pregnancy and postpartum-tailored home workouts, breath work, postpartum rehabilitation, and meditation. The Bloom Method, one of our favorite mama-owned businesses, is not focused on “getting your body back” (whatever that means), but instead helps women develop important pelvic floor and core connection, which is so key for healing postpartum. Their postpartum rehab series can start as soon as the first week after delivery, because you can do them with your baby and are gentle enough for this sensitive time. They even have workouts for healing Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Diastasis. We could go on-and-on about The Bloom Method, but will save you the time. You should just check them out yourself!

“For the sexy, but practical mama”

Nursing bras are notoriously ill-fitting and lack the fun, little details that we are used to seeing when shopping for bras. Don’t even get us started on pumping bras that look and feel more like a dairy farm, milking contraption. Lively ups the ante with their self-termed “Leisurée” (love it!), which is a mix between active, swim and lingerie.

Their nursing bras are sexy, supportive and come in fun colors. We like their new No-Wire Maternity Bra, because it has wire-free support, which we recommend while nursing, and has a racerback option, which is difficult to find with nursing bras. Lively also has several other great options for mamas who love bralettes and mamas who are bustier. Milk boobs are sexy and mamas should have a bra that feels that way.

“For the mama who loves her beauty routine”

If you haven’t gathered it already, we love simple, natural, pleasurable-to-use products, that make mamas feel good, and these Serums are no exception. The Shimmer Duo, bronzer and highlighter, provides a delicate, natural luminescence from natural micas. It feels and smells so good when applied, and gives mamas a sun-kissed look (even with a mask). Bonus, URB APOTHECARY is a woman-owned, conscious, small business, that you can feel good about supporting. ($45.00)

“For the clothing-optional mama”

You will find a robe on every standard mom gift guide, which is why we almost didn’t include one. But let’s be honest, a robe is crucial for delivery and postpartum. The Pocket Robe is a must-have in your hospital/birth center bag, because it keeps you warm, is easy to get on and off, allows you to breastfeed and get skin-on-skin time easily. Also, as a new mom, you get up countless times in the middle of the night to nurse, change a diaper, pee, you name it.

A robe is the most convenient option for clothing. We like this one in particular, because it’s made of organic cotton, has long sleeves and pockets. And, it is made with integrity by one of our favorite companies, Pact (we know, another Colorado company!), who always uses organic cotton and Fair Trade Certified™ factories. ($50.00)

“For the working boss mama”

Stating from experience, being pregnant during a quarantine is like a double-whammy of cabin fever. Luckily, Piecework Puzzles created a super vibrant puzzle for the sushi-loving, martini-drinking, midday-mani, boss lady to remind her that being a mama doesn’t make her any less profresh. And, this female-founded business is donating 10% of its profits from their site to the National Women's Law Center for the rest of 2020. ($36.00)

“For the mama who loves to read”

For some reason, people are more likely to share a negative birth experience with friends and family than a positive one. The consequence of this is that many people may have unnecessary fears surrounding giving birth. One reason we love Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth is it starts off with numerous, positive birth experiences told by women themselves. Reading this book instills a sense of “I got this”.

Although the stories alone are worth the read, Gaskin’s writing on topics include: common methods of induction; tips for maximizing your chances of an unmedicated labor and birth; and creating a safe, comfortable environment for birth in any setting, including a hospital, etc. making this book a must-read for any expecting mother. On a side note, we love Bookshop as an alternative to Amazon. They are a B-Corp and give away over 75% of their profits. ($16.56)

“For the athleisure-loving mama”

Don’t underestimate how crucial comfortable, non-frumpy clothes are late in pregnancy and postpartum. No postpartum mama wants to change her clothes for guests, a quick trip to the grocery, etc. These joggers were given to me by my sister-in-law and I still wear them at least 5 days a week (8 months postpartum). Simply put, these are the best looking and feeling joggers ever! I highly recommend that you choose black. The blood, spit up, sweat, and tears, don’t show up as much. She will appreciate this, we promise. ($84.00)

“For Colorado-based, cocktail loving mama”

Mamas sacrifice a lot before, during and after pregnancy. Giving up alcohol may be easy for most mamas, but giving up the end-of-week or date night rituals associated with drinking can make the 40 weeks of pregnancy feel extra long. Mocktails are surprisingly crucial to maintain some normalcy for mamas who love to celebrate small victories with a tasty libation.

Crystal Sagan, founder of Cocktail Caravan, offers Community Supported Cocktail/Mocktail shares for weekly pickup or delivery through Doordash in the Denver and Boulder area. The weekly mixers are made from locally sourced, unique, delicious ingredients. They change weekly, but are always well balanced (not too sweet) and so fresh! They are delicious with just a dash of soda, so you won’t even miss the alcohol. Seriously, this was such a treat during pregnancy. So, gift your Colorado-based mama a weekly mocktail mixer that she can enjoy through the holidays. ($64.00)

“For the mama who’d rather stay in bed”

There are quite a few ailments, aches and pains associated with being pregnant (not to mention exhaustion). Having a versatile prop pillow, especially during the later stages of pregnancy and postpartum are key to getting comfortable.

The Wedge Pillow allows you to veg in bed, binge Netflix, read, nurse or just elevate your legs. It’s more versatile than a straight body pillow, which allows mamas to get comfortable during every stage of pregnancy and postpartum. Plus, the fill doesn’t have any flame retardant (we can’t believe this is even a thing), and the cover is made from a washable, organic cotton/poly blend that comes packaged in zero plastic, 100% recyclable material. ($149.99)

“For the caffeinated mama”

Once you become a mama, you may never enjoy a hot cup of coffee again (or at least for a little while). We love this Yeti mug, because your coffee will still be piping hot when you accidentally stumble upon it hours later, having completely forgotten you even made it. It also boasts Yeti’s indestructible design for when it is inevitably knocked to the floor. And, for a few extra dollars, Yeti will even customize it. ($24.99)

“For the mama with too many plants”

We can’t say enough about Rose Grown ceramics. They hand make limited runs of body-positive, inclusive, mugs, vases and planters. We highly recommend following them on instagram, as their products often sell out fast (and they post amazing photos). For extra credit, plant a cactus or aloe in the pot before gifting, which symbolizes protection & endurance, and healing & protection, respectively. All good things for birth and motherhood. (prices vary)

“For the mama who just wants a shower”

Showers are not a priority as a new mom, not to mention during a pandemic. Dry shampoo is a must for any postpartum mom. But, many of the dry shampoos out there are filled with synthetic chemicals and damage your hair. Given that you already lose hair postpartum, mamas need a nourishing alternative. Mama-owned, Chiky Botanica has a wildcrafted, refreshing, dry shampoo that is pleasurable to use and a time-saver at home. ($29.00)

“For the mindful mama”

Practicing mindfulness, breathing, positive affirmations, and visualizations can be great ways to thrive during birth and motherhood. If the mama you’re buying for has this type of practice, a meditation cushion is a great gift so that she can create a sacred space for her daily ritual. We love this handmade, fair trade cushion made in Vietnam. It is beautiful, colorful, and provides the right amount of structured support. Bonus: Ten Thousand Villages is the pioneer of the fair trade movement and provides a fair wage to their artisans. ($59.99)

“For the mama who has her party pants on”

These pants are fun, sleek, and appropriate for any occasion. They have a faux-leather-type shimmer and can be dressed up or down. The light compression in the core area is perfect for increased confidence and support as you’re rebuilding your core and pelvic floor strength postpartum. We love Belly Bandit products for a few reasons, including their clothes are versatile and can be worn before, during and after pregnancy. Even better, this company is mama- and sister-owned. We love family-owned companies created by mamas for mamas. ($109.00)

“For all the mamas”

Is it tacky to put your own product in a gift guide? Probably. Do we believe in the power of our postpartum recovery products? 1,000%. Most mamas focus on labor and delivery, but don’t think about how they will heal. You only get one chance, so it’s important to make it count.

Whether you have a vaginal or cesarean birth, this collection of items is chosen to address the biggest postpartum recovery challenges, including: breast health, nipple soreness, perineal tearing, cesarean incision healing, hemorrhoids, mineral replenishment and the easing of general aches and pains. Every product is entirely plant-based and blended with the highest quality ingredients. Plus each box comes pre-packaged for gifting so you can ship directly to the recipient.