7 Totally Unnecessary Pregnancy Products
Oh, the world of pregnancy products. There are a million gizmos, gadgets, and apps galore that someone out there is going to say you absolutely need. But that’s not always the case; some of those so-called must-haves aren’t necessary — and some might actually be dangerous. Before you buy or register for everything your friends, mom-group, books, and blogs tell you to, check out which products you can nix from your list.
1. At-Home Fetal Monitor: That magic moment when you get to hear your baby’s heartbeat for the very first time is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. Sure, it sounds kind of like a muffled metronome that’s been filtered through Darth Vader’s mask, but it’s still beautiful. Now you don’t have to take a trip to the OB’s office to get a listen — you can buy your own at-home fetal monitor. Yay! Or not. Some experts believe that these monitors lull women into a false sense of security. A faulty monitor could also freak out the mama-to-be when nothing is really wrong.
2. Morning Sickness Bags: Yes, this is a real thing. You can actually buy disposable and “stylish” baggies that come complete with chic little designs on them. Seriously, save some money and reuse the free ones you get at the grocery store check-out.
3. Uterus Headphones: You want your baby to someday go to Harvard (preferably on a full scholarship), so you’d better get started early. Maybe you heard somewhere that playing classical music to your fetus will make her smarter later on (you know, after she’s actually born). Don’t believe the hype. While there’s nothing harmful about playing music to your soon-to-be baby, a special womb-y headphone set is totally unnecessary.
4. Vaginal Headphones: Yeah, you read that correctly — vaginal headphones. They stream music vaginally so that your baby can hear it better. You could invest in these… or you could just sing to your baby. For free.
5. Groin Band: There are some legit reasons for buying a groin band during pregnancy. The compression product is meant to support inguinal and femoral hernias and help with prolapses, so if you have a real problem, go ahead and buy one. But if you’re just scared your nether region won’t stand up to pregnancy, skip it.
6. Social MediaMessenger: Oversharing is a major problem in our social media landscape. Apparently, we all need to be updated every time our “friends” do laundry, have a beer, eat a meal, or buy a coconut water. Well, the oversharing parade doesn’t stop at pregnancy. It just gets worse. Steer clear of products that, say, post to Twitter every time your baby kicks — you’ll thank yourself later.
7. Perineal Oil: Perineal massage can really help you out when it comes to the great stretch of childbirth. But that doesn’t mean you need to use a pricey oil. A vitamin E oil or pure vegetable oil will work just as well as those super-fancy so-called pregnancy blends.
What maternity product do you think is totally unnecessary? Share your pick and tweet us @BritandCo!
(Photo via Getty)