Top Holiday Gift Ideas for Pregnant Women: A Trimester-by-Trimester Guide

Do you have a pregnant woman in your life? Whether she is your sister, friend or cousin, she deserves some special attention for the holidays. A lot of people are tempted to buy a pregnant woman clothes and items for her new baby. After all, there are a lot of cute baby things to pick from.

However, the holidays are a perfect time to pamper a pregnant woman and shower her with gifts that will help her through the pregnancy and beyond. Your gift will depend on what trimester your pregnant friend is in. Here are some gift suggestions split up by trimester.

First Trimester - Pregnancy might not have even sunk in for your friend. This trimester is full of a lot of planning and a few worries. These gifts speak to these needs.

1. A Pregnancy Calendar- Most women want to write down all of the essential dates and happenings in the course of their pregnancy. A pregnancy calendar makes it easy to record all the important details. A calendar will also help a woman track her weeks of pregnancy, weight gain and write down significant days like ultrasounds, first time feeling the baby kick and doctor's appointment.

-What to Expect Pregnancy Calendars, $4.99. From the makers of the popular What to Expect When You're Expecting Books. It includes helpful hints, prenatal recipes and spaces for belly pictures.

-Baby Chronicles Pregnancy Calendar, $9.95. This calendar is in planner form, with pages that lie flat for easy recording. There are tips for physical well-being and self-esteem throughout pregnancy. It also has fun stickers to quickly record appointments, tests and prenatal classes.

2. Pregnancy Books. Every pregnant woman, whether she is a first time mom or having her third child, wants to know more about her baby and the process of pregnancy. These books offer fresh perspectives on these age-old questions.

-The Pregnant Woman's Comfort Book by Jennifer Louden, $12.21, paperback. This is one of the most acclaimed pregnancy books. It focuses on self-care and nurturing during pregnancy. Louden teaches mind/body balance and addresses issues common to pregnant women like fears about changing relationships, changes in body and self-esteem and food issues.

-The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy: Or Everything your Doctor won't Tell You by Vicki Iovine, paperback, $11.20. This sassy guide to all of the ups and downs of pregnancy gives straight-talk on pregnancy and childbirth. Topics include everything from sex to cellulite, and topic between.

Second Trimester - As the baby begins to grow, a pregnant woman's body begins to adjust. These gifts help ease discomfort and nurture mind, body and soul.

1.Home Spa Kits and Pregnancy Products. Giving gifts like these allow a pregnant woman to relax, rejuvenate and pamper herself.

-Luxury Bath Diva Gift Basket for Moms, $114. This gift basket is great for the pregnant woman who loves to pamper herself. Shower gel, bubble bath, hand cream and luxurious spa slippers are complimented by a night shirt and "do not disturb" door pillow.

-Motherlove Herbal Company Pregnant Belly Oil, $19.95. Fending off stretch marks and relieving belly itching starts early in pregnancy. This luxurious oil smells wonderful and can be complimented by any other of Motherlove's pampering pregnancy products.

2. CDs of music and mom-related comedy. Listening to music while pregnant will help you and your baby relax. And comedy recordings will help your pregnant friend have a few good belly laughs.

-Mozart Before You Were Born CD, $12.99. This CD of Mozart features some of the composer's greatest works. It is perfect for before the baby is born and after. The CD includes 17 titles and over 65 minutes of music.

-Momnipotent: Songs for Weary Parents, $22.99. This CD will lift your pregnant friend's spirits. Singer Nancy White's CD features the classic "Its So Chic to be Pregnant at Christmas."

Third Trimester - Your pregnant friend is no doubt ready to just get the baby out! These gifts have comfort and postpartum happiness in mind.

1.Postpartum Comfort Kits are great for the third trimester pregnant

-Forty Weeks Special Momease: The Essential New Mother Comfort Kit, $49.99
Spa products specifically for the new mother. This deluxe kit has all the essentials for a comfortable postpartum experience. The kits includes a refreshing shower gel, a waffle weave sponge, a rich and creamy hand lotion, reconditioning oil to treat scars and stretch marks, a New Mother Journal and a Lullabies for a New Mother CD.

-Motherlove Labor Care Pack, $17.95. Everything your pregnant friend needs to ease the common discomforts of labor and postpartum. Sitz bath and Sitz Bath spray are effective on delicate perineal muscles. The Birth and Baby Massage Oil is great for the last weeks of pregnancy and for infant massage. Rhoid Balm helps relieve the pain of hemorrhoids.

2.Pregnancy Pillows can help relive stress on back muscles and improve sleep quality in the last months of pregnancy.

-Leachco Best Rest Pregnancy Wedge, $26.96. This set includes two pillow wedges that can be used separately or together. They help relive back and abdominal pain.

-Leachco Snoogle Deluxe, $44.06. This is a full-body pillow that will support your pregnant friend's back and tummy while she sleeps. It comes in three different colors and has a 100% removable cotton cover. As an added benefit, this pillow can be used postpartum to support the baby during feedings.