5 original gift ideas for pregnant women

Have you noticed that when we have to buy gifts for pregnant women, we almost always think of a gift for the baby? If you’re still looking for holiday gifts and there are pregnant women among your friends or family, it will be much more original to choose a gift focused on the mother. And she’ll certainly appreciate it.

It’s a way to surprise her and, at the same time, it’s less likely she’ll already have your gift or that it will look like the many toys and clothes babies receive.

So if you don’t know what the best gifts for pregnant women might be, here’s a list of 5 gift ideas based on my experience with real patients throughout this year, seeing what moms-to-be really need. With these suggestions, you can help them enjoy their pregnancy more.

5 gift ideas for pregnant women

1. A prenatal Pilates class pack

   The physiotherapy treatments I offer for pregnant women focus on preparing the pelvic floor for a vaginal birth, working to improve the strength and elasticity of the woman’s perineum.

   It’s highly recommended for pregnant women, since exercising the pelvic floor during pregnancy means a lower chance of incontinence postpartum, among other injuries that are unfortunately very common.

   The Pilates classes I teach for pregnant women combine breathing techniques and postural exercises based on the ‘free pelvis’ method. This helps the mom-to-be improve her body awareness and cope more easily with the first stage of labor.

   If you’re interested in this gift for pregnant women, you can check schedules and prices in the ‘Pilates’ section of my website.

2. A prenatal Pilates mat as a gift for pregnant women

   If you’re looking for the best gift for a pregnant woman, you should know that exercising throughout pregnancy is essential to prevent back pain, maintain good posture and avoid problems related to a weak pelvic floor (leaking urine, genital prolapse after giving birth, etc.).

   An active pregnancy, supervised by a physiotherapist specializing in the pelvic floor, reduces the risk of these and other conditions postpartum.

   What kind of mat is best for pregnant women?

   Many exercises for pregnant women are done on the floor, so it’s important to be well equipped. Personally, always looking for specialized products, I recommend the Bootymats brand and, specifically, their thicker mats.

   The reason is that we’re focusing on exercises for pregnant women, and they’ll be more comfortable on surfaces with more padding. As we’ve mentioned, most exercises are done lying on your side or on all fours (the most recommended positions).

   These mats are light, so you can even take them to a second home, the park or your prenatal Pilates studio. If this is your gift, you can choose the mat you like best and use the code ‘SUELOPELVICO’ to get 20% off any product in the store.

   

3. Epi-No (say ‘NO’ to episiotomy)

   The Epi-No is a product that’s becoming more and more popular in gynecological rehabilitation, so it’s an option if you don’t know what to give a first-time mom-to-be. It’s a biofeedback device for exercising the pelvic floor muscles, making the perineum more flexible and working on it after giving birth.

   You’ve probably heard a lot about the perineal tears or episiotomies (cuts) that happen during births. In these cases, what’s usually recommended to avoid damaging the perineum during birth is to do pelvic floor exercises during pregnancy and stretching, combined with perineal massage in the last weeks of pregnancy.

   With the Epi-No, both birth preparation techniques can be done with the same device, as it lets you work the muscles and stretch them at the same time.

   What is the Epi-No?

   It’s a silicone balloon that’s inserted into the vagina, with a pressure gauge (manometer) and a hand pump. By squeezing the pump, we can inflate the balloon, stretching the perineal tissues and getting used to the sensations of birth.

   And after giving birth, the same device lets us assess the strength of the pelvic floor and improve it by working on contractions (Kegel exercises in pregnancy).

   As a specialist in pelvic floor care, I specifically recommend this Epi-No device. It’s the same one I use in my appointments with patients, because thanks to the gauge it can be used both before and after birth, so you get much more out of it over a longer time.

   The results with pregnant patients have also been very satisfying, as the rate of episiotomies has gone down. That’s why the Epi-No is a highly recommended gift for pregnant mothers.

   

4. Intimina moisturizer

   Reduced natural lubrication can happen in pregnant women going through hormonal changes or stress, or who already had vaginal dryness before pregnancy. If you know the mom-to-be is going through one of these situations and you don’t know what to give a pregnant woman, an intimate moisturizing and lubricating gel is perfect.

   It’s useful and highly recommended for the perineal massage that pregnant women do from week 33 to soften, moisturize and make the perineum more flexible and prepare it for a vaginal birth.

   I always recommend Intimina Moisturizing Gel when I see that one of my patients needs this type of product. I really like this one because it’s water-based and enriched with aloe vera, and contains no parabens, glycerin or alcohol, so it’s suitable for pregnant women. It can also be combined with a few drops of rosehip oil for even better results. What do you think of this idea as a gift for pregnant moms?

5. PHYSIOMAT TONIC pelvic support belt

   This product is one of the best gifts for first-time moms-to-be and is ideal during pregnancy and postpartum. Unlike typical lower back belts for pregnant women, which immobilize the back and give passive support, the Physiomat Tonic belt stabilizes the sacroiliac joint and repositions the pelvis. It will be one of the most useful original gifts for pregnant women!

   It’s ideal for working the core (the deep muscles of the trunk) and the pelvic floor without worrying about posture, and to use it, you simply place it above the pelvic bones.

   The belt can be worn throughout pregnancy, as it doesn’t put pressure on the abdomen. It’s also highly recommended in the immediate postpartum period (the first 4 weeks after giving birth) to protect the pelvic area.

   Benefits of the PHYSIOMAT TONIC belt

   • Reduces back pain.
   • Prevents hypermobility of the pubic symphysis.
   • Helps prevent leaking urine by activating the pelvic floor muscles.
   • Reduces the feeling of heaviness.
   • Improves posture.
   • Reduces hyperlordosis (the lower back curve).
   • Repositions the pelvis, correcting the center of gravity, so the woman can use her own muscles correctly.

   

What do you think of this list of gifts for pregnant women? Above all, I hope it has helped you choose the best one for the mom-to-be based on her needs. But most importantly, as we said at the start of this post, the gift will be for the mother and not the baby, and she’s sure to love it.