15 Gift Ideas for a Newly Pregnant Friend

Picture this: it’s brunch o’clock and your dear friend is wearing her favorite sundress and an excited smile,“I have something to tell you, but don’t freak out.”

“Pssshhhaw, who do you think I am? I don’t freak out” you say, sipping your mimosa. “Just tell me.”

“I’m pregnant.”

Then of course, you proceed to spit your mimosa on her because holy cow, she’s pregnant! As you fail to contain your excitement for the sake of the slightly alarmed brunch patrons nearby, you might already be concocting ideas for baby showers, baby jokes, and of course, gifts for your BFF mama-to-be. Here’s your guide to pregnancy gifts to celebrate this wonderful time in your friend’s life.

The 15 Best Gifts for Pregnant Friends

The trick to giving a gift to a pregnant woman? Give her a gift she can use now. In a matter of months, or even weeks, your expecting mom will be up to her eyeballs in gifts of onesies and diaper cream. Now’s the time to give her something for her and the new baby that she doesn’t have to wait until her due date to enjoy.

#1 Pregnancy Journal

During pregnancy, it can feel like there’s a new discovery every day—whether that’s a new little flutter in the belly or finding out her partner secretly wants “Danger” to be the child’s middle name. Pregnancy journals are a great gift idea and are designed to prompt your friend to record both big and little changes, while also clueing her into her little one’s growth—some journals offer week-to-week descriptions of your friend’s body changes and her little one’s progress with a few tips and tricks.

This would be an especially nice gift for a pregnant mom who’s already feeling the effects of “pregnancy brain,” or the symptoms of forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating that can occur during pregnancy thanks to sleep disturbances and hormone fluctuations. A journal will help your friend remember the adventure of her pregnancy and remind her that she’s already vetoed “Danger” as a middle name.

#2 Self-Care Kit

Your friend’s body is working overtime to make a whole new person. While her body is taking care of her little one, it might slip her mind to take care of herself! Give your friend the gift of TLC with a self-care kit. Include items like:

• Belly butter to pamper and moisturize that growing belly (which can experience dryness as it stretches with each month of baby-building).
• Bath salts to help soothe achy muscles.
• Face masks to keep up that glow (or battle those pregnancy pimples).

#3 Homemade Coupons

Go old school—or should we say grade school—and give your friend and expectant mother a book of homemade coupons for specific services only you, her nearest and dearest, can provide. A coupon book is a thoughtful gift and may be especially appreciated by a friend whose love language—the way she feels most cared for—is acts of service (a.k.a. doing something nice for someone else).

• Babysitting – Once your friend’s baby arrives, the idea of “free time” may become a fantasy. Offer your babysitting services through coupons so your friend knows she’ll always be able to carve out time to relax, spend time with a partner, or even just take a long, long, loooong shower.
• Home-cooked meals – Between doctor’s appointments and baby-proofing the home, your friend and her partner may not have a lot of time or energy for whipping up nourishing meals. Offer your services as an in-home chef. You can even add a few menu items to your coupon card so your friend can choose what she’s in the mood for (don’t forget the desserts!)
• Errand buddy – Your friend’s “Things to Do Before the Baby Comes” list may seem to get bigger every day. Offer to take a few things off her list or even just keep her company while she gets things done. Having a friend tag along can turn a dull errand into a good time. Bonus? You get to show your friend that you want to continue to be involved in this new chapter of her life, beyond just the baby shower.

#4 Spa Day

Between new mom worries and the physical drain of being a pregnant lady, your friend could definitely use a day (or week) to just focus on mind-body wellness. Book a spa day (or even just a couple of spa services) for your friend to help her feel her best. Safe spa activities for a pregnant mama include:

• Prenatal massage – Prenatal massage helps tension melt away from your friend’s hard-working, baby-making body. However, hold off on booking a surprise prenatal massage for your friend if she’s in the first trimester.

While the American Pregnancy Association says that massage is safe at any point in the pregnancy, some massage therapists will only do pre-natal massage after the second trimester. Therapists may refrain until later in the pregnancy because there’s a higher risk of miscarriage during the first trimester and massage therapists can sometimes be concerned that the increased blood flow of massages could be harmful. Additionally, the first trimester is known for morning sickness, and massage may aggravate that (super fun) pregnancy symptom.

Prenatal massage is also not recommended for women with the following conditions because massage may negatively impact your friend and her little one:

• • Has high blood pressure
  • Has diabetes
  • Has preeclampsia
  • Has abdominal pain or bleeding

• A manicure and pedicure – A manicure-pedicure session complete with foot scrub, foot massage, and maybe a little shoulder rub is a classic spa treatment. Even better? Nail polish is totally safe for pregnant women. But if your friend wants to play it extra safe, you can make a quick stop at your go-to beauty store and pick up a few nail polishes that don’t contain dibutyl phthalate, toluene, or formaldehyde. Then, head to your mani-pedi!
• A nourishing facial – Kick that pregnancy glow up a few notches with a rejuvenating facial that will help your friend feel good from the inside out. The best (and safest) facials for pregnant women are:
  • Hydrating facials, which help rehydrate the skin and lock in moisture, softening fine lines and relieving tightness in the skin
  • Oxygen facials, in which highly concentrated molecules of oxygen are infused into the skin to improve blood circulation and brighten complexions
  • Collagen facials, which help skin feel plumper and more nourished through skin-loving vitamins and proteins like Vitamin C and of course, collagen
  • Steam facials, which allow pores to open up for a deeper clean and improved blood circulation
  • Fruit acid peels, which help remove dry, dull dead skin from the face to reveal fresh new skin.
  • LED light facials, give skins a little boost on a cellular level, encouraging cell turnover for renewed skin.

If you’re booking for your friend, keep in mind that experts recommend pregnant women avoid facials with ingredients like retinoids and salicylic acid.

#5 A Maternity-Wear Shopping Spree

Maternity clothes can make all the difference in a woman’s comfort and confidence as she navigates the strange and new waters of pregnancy. So, if you’re a friend or even a husband looking for the perfect valentines gift for your pregnant wife, purchase a gift certificate from a local clothing store that specializes in all things pregnancy and take your friend out shopping. Don’t forget to shower your friend with compliments as she tries on each outfit to help her feel like the glowing goddess of fertility that she is!

#6 Morning Sickness Kit

Morning sickness isn’t pretty but you can help make your friend’s least favorite pregnancy symptom a little easier with a morning sickness kit. Buy a cute zipper-pouch that can easily fit into a purse or backpack (bonus points if you get one with plenty of sequins). Then, fill it with things to help morning sickness like:

• Sea bands
• Vitamin B6 and Unisom (which is known to help morning sickness)
• Ginger candies and ginger ale
• Facial wipes
• Unscented lip balm
• Mini toothbrush and toothpaste
• Refreshing facial spray (unscented or something made with natural ingredients like aloe and rose water)
• Some goofy notes from her good friend to make her smile when she’s feeling barfy

That way, no matter when morning sickness strikes, your friend will have her kit to rely on.

#7 Maternity Pillow

If you could pop a good night’s sleep in a colorful box with a big bow and give it to your pregnant friend as a gift, she’d probably name her baby after you. The next best thing? A big, comfy maternity pillow that will help your best friend feel comfy and ready to catch some z’s (and keep you in the running for that baby name).

Some of the best maternity pillows are:

• PharMeDoc U-Shaped Full-Body Pregnancy Pillow
• AngQi U-Shaped Body Pregnancy Pillow with Jersey Cover
• S.O.S. Side Sleeper Pregnancy Pillow

#8 Maternity Robe

There are a select few pregnancy gifts for first time moms that stay beloved and utilized after the baby arrives—a maternity robe is one of them. A snuggly robe is perfect for getting up in the middle of the night to pee (again) and perfect for early morning feedings. Look for a robe with:

• Soft fabric
• Roomy pockets
• Easy to wash-fabric

#10 Mocktail Kit

If your friend is already sighing over the cocktails she’s missing, you can give her a fabulous pregnancy-safe happy hour with a mocktail kit. Fill a gift basket with decorative stuffing as well as:

• A book of mocktail recipes (bookmark recipes you think she’ll like)
• A shaker
• A muddler
• An assortment of flavored syrups or non-alcoholic bitters
• Artisanal non-alcoholic mixers
• Decorative glasses

Schedule a mocktail hour for just the two of you to experiment with flavors. Then, when you’ve concocted something delicious, raise a glass and toast to your friend’s pregnancy adventure.

#11 Foot Spa

A foot spa can turn your friend’s living room into her favorite spa. Look for a foot spa that has massage features as well as the option to add bath salts (and add some to your gift) for an extra dose of much-deserved indulgence.

#12 Gift Certificate for a House Cleaning Service

Give your friend the gift of a clean house with a gift certificate to a cleaning service. Being able to enjoy a clean home (without having to lift a finger) is the ultimate treat for a woman whose body is working double time on the miracle of life.

#13 Pregnancy Photo Shoot

Everyone knows the value of a friend who can capture you in your best light—so why not make sure she gets to enjoy a little red-carpet treatment during her pregnancy? Give your friend a session with a professional photographer to help immortalize this exciting time in her life and celebrate the incredible chapter that’s about to begin.

#14 A Night of Babymooning

In the midst of pre-baby craziness, your friend might wish she could freeze time to savor these moments with her partner. Help your friend and her partner do just that with a gift card to a local inn, hotel, or bed and breakfast.

This is also one of the best expectant father gifts that you can give to the soon-to-be daddy in your life!

#15 A Sneak Peek at Her Baby’s Gender

If your friend is counting down the days until her second trimester sonogram (where she can learn the gender of her baby), help her learn about her little one even sooner with the SneakPeek Early Gender DNA Test!

The Gift of Knowledge with SneakPeek

The best gifts for newly pregnant friends can be everything from a keepsake journal to a spa day. But one of the best gifts for pregnant friends is the gift of knowledge with the SneakPeek Early Gender DNA Test.

The SneakPeek Early Gender DNA Test lets moms know the gender of their babies as early as 6 weeks into pregnancy. The kit comes with detailed step-by-step directions, a simple sample collection method, and packaging with a prepaid shipping label. Once your friend has collected her sample, she can ship it off to SneakPeek Labs and learn her baby’s gender in as little as a day after the sample is received!

Give your friend a gift she’ll never forget with a little help from SneakPeek!

Sources:

Healthline. Is Pregnancy Brain Real? https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/is-pregnancy-brain-real

What To Expect. Spa Treatments During Pregnancy. https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/looking-good/pampered-parts/spa-treatments.aspx#nails

Walnut Hill OBGYN. Beauty Myths for Pregnant Women. https://walnuthillobgyn.com/blog/beauty-myths-for-pregnant-women/

UT Southwestern Medical Center. Your Pregnancy Matters. Is massage safe during pregnancy? https://utswmed.org/medblog/massage-pregnancy-guidelines/

American Pregnancy Association. Prenatal Massage. https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/is-it-safe/prenatal-massage/

Healthline. Treating Morning Sickness with Unisom and Vitamin B6. https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/unisom-and-b6#vitamin-b-6-and-unisom