Pregnancy must haves in Singapore: what to buy each trimester, and what to skip

You need less than the baby shops suggest. Most pregnancy must haves in Singapore are small things that ease nausea, back strain, swollen feet and sleep: folic acid, a supportive bra, flat shoes, a water bottle, a spare pillow and a mosquito repellent. Buy each one when your trimester calls for it. Baby gear can wait until the third trimester.

How to shop for pregnancy must haves, step by step

1. Start folic acid before pregnancy if you can. HealthHub says it's usually taken from then until about week 12, to lower the risk of birth defects of the spinal cord. Ask your doctor how much to take.
2. Check with your doctor before you buy a multivitamin. HealthHub says some contain more vitamin A than may be safe in pregnancy.
3. Keep dry crackers, ginger and a water bottle close in the first trimester. HealthHub suggests dry snacks and ginger for nausea, and KKH says small, frequent drinks are easier than a lot at once.
4. Switch to looser, stretchy bottoms when your waistbands stop closing. KKH doctors on HealthXchange say the belly starts to show by 14 to 16 weeks.
5. Get measured for a supportive bra. SingHealth's HealthXchange says it may feel more comfortable than the bras you wear now.
6. Swap heels and sandals for flat or low-heeled shoes. KKH suggests athletic or walking shoes with good arch support.
7. Sleep on your side later in pregnancy, with a pillow between your knees. That's KKH's advice, and pillows you already own can do it.
8. Wear a three-point seat belt on every car ride. KKH says the belt goes above and below your bump, never over it.
9. Pick a repellent with the NEA registration mark. HealthHub says repellents sold in Singapore are safe in pregnancy.
10. Leave baby gear for the third trimester. Our newborn shopping list and hospital bag checklist cover that part.

What helps in each trimester

Your list changes as your bump grows. Here is what KKH and HealthHub point to at each stage.

Support belts help some women with back pain. KKH's Dr Jessie Phoon told HealthXchange they're more often used in the second and third trimesters. For the tests and admin at each stage, use our first trimester checklist, second trimester checklist and third trimester checklist.

Choosing a maternity pillow, bra and shoes

A maternity pillow is a long body pillow that supports your bump, back and knees at the same time, and you can do without one. KKH's advice is to rest on your side with a pillow between your knees, and SingHealth's guide adds a small pillow under your belly, so two ordinary pillows cover both. A long one helps if you keep losing the pillows as you turn. Many are sold as maternity and nursing pillows, so you can use one for feeding later. Our guide to pregnancy sleeping positions explains when to move off your back.

Get measured again as your bust grows, and look for soft cups and wide straps. A maternity-nursing bra opens at the cup, so it keeps working after the birth. Our maternity clothes guide plans the rest of your wardrobe by trimester.

If your usual shoes start to pinch, that's normal. KKH's clothing tips say your feet increase in size during pregnancy because of water retention. Its back pain advice is to skip sandals and high heels, and HealthHub suggests flat shoes with your feet raised when you sit.

On the listing pages of three sellers we read on 7 Nov 2026, a maternity pillow cost $64.90 to $159.00, and a maternity or nursing bra cost $19.00 to $44.91. Pupsik showed several of these as sale prices that day.

Prices sellers publish, in alphabetical order (listed prices, read 7 Nov 2026):

What you can skip or check first

• Stretch mark creams. KKH says 8 in 10 women get stretch marks, usually in the last 3 months, and there's limited evidence creams work. The NHS says the same and adds that retinoid creams are not for pregnancy. Our stretch marks guide covers what helps them fade.
• A home doppler. The NHS says it's not a reliable way to check your baby's health. Get to know your baby's usual pattern of movements instead.
• Multivitamins you pick off the shelf: HealthHub asks you to check with a healthcare professional first, and our prenatal vitamins guide explains what doctors usually prescribe.
• New baby items you'll use for a few months. Borrow or buy secondhand; our guide to preloved baby items says what to check.
• Strong cleaning sprays and new skincare. Check them first with our guides to cleaning products while pregnant and pregnancy-safe skincare.

When to get help

• Bleeding or tummy pain before 22 weeks: KKH's Urgent O&G Centre is a 24-hour walk-in centre at Basement 1 of Women's Tower. If you booked elsewhere, go to your own hospital.
• Leaking water, bleeding or signs of labour from 22 weeks: KKH asks you to go straight to its Delivery Suite, Level 2 of Women's Tower.
• Your baby moves less than usual: HealthHub says watch for a while, and if you're worried, see your doctor or go to the hospital straight away.
• Regular, painful contractions before your due date: HealthHub says this can be preterm labour. Go to the hospital as soon as possible.
• A bad headache or swollen limbs with dizziness, vomiting, blurred vision or upper tummy pain: HealthHub lists these as possible signs of pre-eclampsia. See your doctor.
• Vomiting so much that you can't keep food or drinks down, or severe itching on your palms and soles with no rash: see your doctor (HealthHub).
• Swelling in one leg only, with pain or breathlessness: see a doctor (KKH).
• Fever and rash: HealthHub asks pregnant women to see their doctor about a Zika test.
• An emergency: call 995 (SCDF).

Frequently asked questions

What are the pregnancy essentials in Singapore?

Folic acid early on, then a supportive bra, flat or low-heeled shoes, stretchy bottoms, a water bottle and a repellent with the NEA registration mark. Later, add a pillow for side sleeping and compression stockings if your legs swell. You may own some of these already.

What should I buy when pregnant, and when?

Buy for the trimester you're in. Early on, that's folic acid and snacks for nausea. Clothes, a bra and shoes come next, once your bump shows at about 14 to 16 weeks. Near the end, buy for sleep and swelling, then your baby's items and your hospital bag.

Do I need a maternity pillow in Singapore?

No, it's optional. KKH's advice is to sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees, which regular pillows can do. If you buy one, the sellers we read on 7 Nov 2026 listed maternity pillows at $64.90 to $159.00, and many double as nursing pillows.

What goes on a pregnancy shopping list?

Keep two lists. One is for you: the items in the trimester table above. The other is for your baby and the birth, which our newborn shopping list and hospital bag checklist cover.

Is mosquito repellent safe when pregnant?

Yes. HealthHub says repellents sold in Singapore are safe for pregnant women. NEA says DEET, picaridin and IR3535 last longer than plant-based repellents; put sunscreen on first, then repellent. Our guide to Zika and dengue in pregnancy has more, and our kids repellent guide covers your baby later.