Pregnancy and the postpartum period bring constant change, and the products that support you should evolve right alongside you. Whether you’re preparing for a baby’s arrival, recovering after the birth, or navigating life with a newborn, the right tools can make everyday routines feel a little more comfortable and manageable.
For the Good Housekeeping 2026 Parenting Awards, Good Housekeeping Institute experts and real parent testers evaluated maternity and postpartum essentials ranging from pregnancy pillows and nursing bras to wearable pumps, recovery products, and vitamins. These winners stood out for their thoughtful design and practicality, helping moms feel supported and comfortable through every stage of their journeys.
Finding a comfortable sleeping position during pregnancy isn’t always easy, but Newton’s pregnancy pillow is designed to make nights a little more restful. It is U-shaped but has a detachable component for times when you prefer a more compact J-shaped design. It’s filled with a plush blend of memory foam and fiber clusters.
TEST RESULTS: Testers gave this pregnancy pillow high marks for all-around support, saying its generous size helped create a comfortable sleep setup. One parent shared, “I love the shape. Being a ‘U’ makes it very supportive throughout the night and also allows for pelvic support when the pillow is placed between your legs.”
This Momcozy nursing pillow has foam for a combination of comfort and firm support during feedings. With a contoured shape that helps keep the baby securely positioned during feeds and a wider cushion designed based on real parent feedback, it’s useful for both breast and bottle feeding for all caregivers.
TEST RESULTS: Testers preferred this nursing pillow over others they had tried, praising its balance of firmness and comfort. Parents especially liked the arched back design, which helped their babies feel secure, along with the profile that wasn’t bulky and the soft fabric. One tester shared that the pillow’s firmness helped “hold the baby in place throughout a nursing session,” and another appreciated that the strap allowed for a more secure fit.
Designed for both nursing and pumping, this seamless bra from Ingrid & Isabel gives moms the flexibility to feed, pump, and go without changing bras. With easy nursing access, openings for pump flanges, and four rows of hook-and-eye adjustability, it provides a comfortable, customizable fit through the postpartum period.
TEST RESULTS: This bra earned perfect scores with testers for its soft, breathable fabric, its comfortable fit, and its reliable support. Parents especially appreciated how easy it was to switch between nursing and pumping, with one sharing, “I can absolutely say I love these,” adding that they were “supportive and super soft” as well as smooth under clothing. Others highlighted the easy-to-use clips, the secure pump fit, and the wear-all-day comfort.
This Momcozy nursing bra stands out for being made of cotton instead of synthetic materials and offering a wide range of inclusive sizes, including a busty variation for larger cups. Its seamless construction helps reduce friction and pressure on sensitive postpartum skin, and built-in pads provide extra coverage and leak protection.
TEST RESULTS: It was a favorite nursing bra among parent testers, who said it felt softer than other styles they'd worn. “The material is great, the clasps are seamless, and the bra band and straps are super comfy and don’t dig in,” one mom said. Another told us, “It was easy to use one hand to hook and unhook.”
Choosing a prenatal vitamin can feel overwhelming, but Ritual simplifies the process with a clear ingredient list and a focus on thoughtful sourcing. Made with 12 carefully chosen ingredients, the multivitamin delivers key nutrients critical during this life stage, such as methylated folate, choline, iron, omega-3 DHA, and vitamin D, in a delayed-release capsule designed to be gentle on the stomach.
TEST RESULTS: GH’s nutrition director highlighted Ritual’s commitment to transparency, especially the brand’s ability to show where its ingredients come from and how they’re sourced. She also noted that the human clinical trial was a compelling differentiator and appreciated that the formula includes iron, which plays an important role in supporting healthy blood production during pregnancy.
Postpartum nutrition can often feel like an afterthought, but Perelel puts it front and center with this curated postnatal vitamin pack formulated by ob/gyns. Each preportioned packet includes a postnatal multivitamin, omega DHA and EPA, and additional vitamin blends to help support recovery, energy, immunity, and overall wellness during the postpartum period.
TEST RESULTS: The thoughtful design of this supplement pack stood out to our registered dietitian, who appreciated how the preportioned packets made postpartum nutrition more convenient and easier to stay consistent with. She liked that the system took the guesswork out of managing multiple supplements as well as the breastfeeding-safe formulation and the third-party testing to add another layer of trustworthiness.
These specialty pads from Lola are made of organic cotton, extra-long for full coverage, and designed to help manage postpartum bleeding and leaks after delivery and C-sections. The highly absorbent design helps provide reliable protection while keeping comfort a priority during the early days of recovery.
TEST RESULTS: The pads proved absorbent in GH Textiles Lab evaluations, and consumer testers gave them high ratings and high praise. “These were my favorite pads out of the ones I used. They fit very comfortably and I had no leaking,” said one mom. Another liked how the size was larger than that of hospital pads, and a third said she didn’t even notice bleeding because of their quick absorption.
This soak from Oilogic can be used for a full-body bath during pregnancy or a sitz bath during the postpartum period. Either way, it helps provide soothing comfort when moms need it most. Made with only two ingredients—colloidal oatmeal and Epsom salt—the simple formula has no unnecessary fillers such as fragrance and soap.
TEST RESULTS: This soak earned praise for providing a calming moment of relief during the demanding pregnancy and postpartum journey. One tester shared, “This product brought instant relief.” Parents also appreciated that it encouraged a little self-care during a busy time, whether it was used for easing late-pregnancy discomfort or postpartum healing.
Naya offers a trusted alternative to late-night Internet searches, giving new parents reliable support when they need it most. An AI tool built by a board-certified pediatrician, neonatologist, and lactation expert, this app provides instant evidence-based answers to common postnatal questions on topics from feeding and fevers to newborn development. Unlike most AI tools that are broad and scrape websites, this one is built by clinical experts.
TEST RESULTS: Having a dedicated resource for newborn and postpartum questions helped parents feel more confident navigating early parenthood. They appreciated Naya’s focused approach, with one parent sharing, “The answers were thorough, and it seemed to understand exactly what I needed,” especially compared with popular AI chatbots.
A new take on manual pumping, the Willow Wave combines the simplicity of a traditional pump with the convenience of an in-bra design. It fits discreetly inside a bra for mobility without charging or complicated setup. An ergonomic handle, a soft silicone flange, and a two-phase suction system help encourage efficient milk expression.
TEST RESULTS: The strong performance of this manual pump surprised testers, who appreciated its suction, comfortable fit, and simple setup. Parents liked that it was easier to clean and store than many electric or other wearable pumps, with one tester noting that with it, she could get similar output to her electric pump in less time. “I was genuinely surprised by how strong and effective the suction was—it’s excellent,” she said.
Medela’s wearable breast pump combines simple setup with thoughtful comfort features. It requires no app or pairing and features an angled breast shield designed to help reduce compression along with a four-size insert system for a personalized fit. An LED timer, an easy-pour spout, and a lightweight design add convenience to everyday pumping.
TEST RESULTS: Testers gave it five stars for overall satisfaction and agreed that they wanted to continue using it. They were impressed by the pump’s effective performance. “It had good suction and was easy to wear walking around doing things,” one said. “It also was by far the easiest wearable pump to put together and take apart for cleaning.”
Eufy's pump has a built-in heating setting that can be adjusted to offer seven different warming levels during sessions. Along with customizable suction rhythms and app controls, the wearable pump features full and overflow alerts in a lightweight design.
TEST RESULTS: The warming feature stood out to testers, who appreciated how it helped with common pumping challenges such as discomfort and clogged ducts. Parents also praised the pump’s quiet operation and quick charging. One new mother shared, “What I liked most about this pump was how lightweight, discreet, and easy it was to use while on the go. It fit comfortably inside my bra, allowing me to move around and care for my baby without being tethered to a wall.”





























