If you’re pregnant for the first time, it’s natural to want to track every last detail and buy every gadget on the market to help you do that. But which pregnancy gadgets are actually worth having?
- Fetal doppler. A doppler machine lets you listen to the baby’s heartbeat. If you’re finding it difficult to wait to listen to your baby’s heart between doctor’s appointments, this machine could give you peace of mind. With some dopplers, you can even record heartbeat to share with the grandparents.
- Contraction tracker. A contraction tracker can be used all through the pregnancy to help you notice patterns. If you know what’s normal for your body, you can screen out false alarms later on in the pregnancy, and feel more sure your contractions are the real deal when you go into labour. You can also use the tracker to help your partner understand what you’re feeling. Try Bloomlife, a rentable piece of kit, which is the first and only wearable for pregnancy in the world.
- Anti-sickness wristbands. Nausea is one of the most unpleasant side effects of pregnancy. There are lots of remedies out there, but for a natural alternative, try anti-nausea wristbands. Usually sold for motion sickness, these bands work by pressing on your wrist’s pressure points, which interrupts feelings of nausea.
- Bump headphones. You can now special ‘headphones’ for placing on your bump to play sounds to your baby. Many expectant mothers enjoy playing music to their baby in the womb, and find that listening to soothing sounds relaxes them both. Try it out, and see if it works for you.
- Kick trackers. Logging every scrap of data you can? A kick tracker can be used to track and log every movement and kick of your baby. Spot patterns on when baby is most active, and what sort of movement they’re up to.
- A Tens machine. A Tens machine uses small electrical pulses to provide natural pain relief. They’re great during contractions to make things more comfortable. Check with your doctor before investing in one, however, and practice using it before the big day.
- Digital baby book. Go digital with your baby book so it’s always safe and can be more easily shared. Using a free template, you could create a simple website where you can track updates about your pregnancy and the baby when it arrives. Never worry about losing the book, and a website is far easier to share with the whole family at once so they can up with how you’re doing.
- A razor reach. Reaching your shins to shave your legs with a baby bump in the way is a real challenge. If you’re still bothered about having hair-free legs, a razor reach is a great tool. The long plastic handle makes reaching with your razor much easier.
- Pregnancy pillows. Sleeping while pregnant is a real challenge. Get a good pregnancy pillow to help you find a comfortable position. You can even get ones with a hole in the middle for your bump if you’re usually a front sleeper.
