re-thinking maternity care- from patient to consumerSponsored post from Wholeshare

Congratulations on the big news! Before you meet your baby, we definitely encourage you to indulge in some serious self-care. After warmly welcoming your new curves, pregnancy often calls for help with little things like relieving itchy belly skin, boosting up on essential vitamins, and soothing the digestive system.

We mixed up our list with staple items like prenatal vitamins and belly balms as well as indulgent items like warming essential oils and yummy teas. Whether you're a seasoned mom or new to the club, we've got some top rated picks from mamas who loved using them throughout their pregnancies.

The best part is, all of the products in this list are available at wholesale prices on Wholeshare, a site that helps families shop together online and receive 20% to 50% off of retail prices on healthy grocery and household products. You can sign up to join Wholeshare by clicking here. It might even become your favorite way to save money before the baby arrives.

1. Weleda Pregnancy Oil

This nutrient-rich, all-natural oil nourishes, moisturizes and smooths skin as your baby grows. Organic arnica flower extract to help ease tightness and discomfort in skin and muscles. A natural fragrance from pure essential oils helps to relax and calm, while skin-strengthening wheat germ oil and Vitamin E support skin as it stretches. It's made with safe and natural ingredients too, so you don't have to worry about putting any questionable chemicals on your growing tummy.

2. Rainbow Light Prenatal One Multivitamin

This once-daily prenatal multivitamin provides potent vitamins and minerals in a base of superfood extracts that support your baby's healthy development and your nutrition and energy, in just one tablet a day. Plant-source enzymes, ginger juice and probiotics support digestion and absorption, so no upset stomach.

3. Mother's Milk Tea

The herbs in this tea, fennel, anise, coriander, fenugreek and blessed thistle are galactagogues, which has nothing at all to do with their reputation for space travel, and everything to do with their power to promote healthy lactation. This herbal tea has traditionally been used to help mothers support their breast milk and promote healthy lactation. It tastes like stepping into a tradition that has been passed down from woman to woman for hundreds of years.

4. Cooling Peppermint Aromatherapy Stick

The fresh aroma of Peppermint essential oil invigorates, refreshes and energizes the body, mind and spirit. This handy stick combines the therapeutic power of peppermint with skin-nourishing jojoba oil and coconut oil. The result is gentle and effective aromatherapy that goes beyond harsh, alcohol-based roll-ons. Consider it natural therapy you can take anywhere.

5. Papaya Enzyme Pills

This sweet blend of papaya fruit, amylase, and protease enzymes is the perfect "after meal" supplement for helping maintain daily digestive health. It also makes for a sweet after-meal treat. Take this delicious digestive aid regularly to promote gastrointestinal wellness.

6. Earth Mama Angel Baby Body Butter

Earth Mama Body Butter combines the healing herbal goodness of organic calendula and calming organic chamomile with essential oils in a shea butter body lotion. It's the purest lotion for pregnancy stretch marks you'll find, made with 95% organic ingredients. For expectant bellies, breasts and way beyond. Bonus points for this safe-for-pregnancy-potion that won't aggravate morning sickness.

7. Nature's Gate Calming Tea Tree Shampoo

Pregnancy may have you reconsidering use of your everyday products too. This shampoo provides soothing, healing, and anti-inflammatory benefits and is also free of parabens, sodium lauryl, phthalate, and butylene glycol. It's ideal for everyday use and will leave hair beautifully shiny and healthy-looking.

8. Honest Company Belly Balm

This nourishing belly balm softens, tones, and moisturizes pregnant belly skin. Its unique blend of organic butters, botanicals and antioxidants support optimal belly and body health. Organic shea butter, olive oil, tamanu oil, and calendula help prevent stretch marks, and improve elasticity and hydration for soft and supple skin. It's perfectly light and quickly absorbed for everyday use too.

Image: Vladimir Pustovit