Pregnancy & Postpartum Training Essentials - Abigail West
I had my first baby in February 2026, and was able to train through my whole pregnancy and have been rebuilding in the months since. These are some of my go-tos!
Abigail West's expert gear recommendations on Rendezvu
Products in this list
- HYPERLYTE H1 by Hyperlyte — Fueling is more important than ever when growing & breastfeeding a tiny human.
- HYPERLYTE H1C by Hyperlyte — New mom life has me leaning on caffeine more than ever to optimize my training opportunities and keep feeling great!
- Luxe Pocket Bra by Brooks — This was specifically recommended to me by another mom as a supportive option for postpartum running (things are a little different right now!). Note the size, I sized up to a large per reviews and it fits just right.
- Anti-Chafe & Skin Repair Sticks, Original by Squirrels Nut Butter — I live in the South. Humidity is no joke. Gotta be prepared.
- W's Long Bra by Janji — Pregnany meant ditching my really old sports bras. Breastfeeding meant desperately seeking recommendations for better sports bras (one walk/run in an unnamed unsupportive bra was all it took). The long bra from Janji has been perfect for me and it doubles as a cute crop top!
- OpenRun by Shokz — I started running a lot more with music during pregnancy to give me a boost, and now postpartum, running is my primary alone time in the day, so I want it to be as fun as possible! I also use these around the house in place of my old noise canceling headphones, because even if baby is sleeping, I always have one ear out.
- Prodigio Pro Womens by La Sportiva — Finally, a trail shoe I truly love! Not all modern trail shoes feel fast on rooty techy East Coast trails and these have come out on top for me lately.
- W's 9" Trail Half Tight by Janji — When I received the product from the collab I designed with Janji x Aravaipa, the Trail Tight was an instant favorite. Functional for a lot of my pregnancy and also light compression in postpartum, and plenty of space to take my phone (and all the other things you want to stuff, like gels and keys etc)
- RockTape GO Extra-Sticky Adhesive Precut Kinesiology Tape Black by RockTape — KT taping my belly was, strangely, the best way for me to keep running while minimizing pain. It's not that the tape offers support per se, but rather I think it cues your supporting muscles to engage better in support of the belly. I tried running without it at one point and immediately went back to taping fresh every few days!
- Maternity FITsplint™ by ReCORE Fitness — The belly band I used, when I used one. This was most recommended by other pregnant runners. I switched to KT tape for awhile, then in my final weeks of pregnancy brought it back! It's also helpful when you need to be on your feet a lot more than normal, though it's not advised to wear it for many hours at a time.
- Anti-Chafe & Skin Repair Stick w/ Frankincense & Lavender by Squirrels Nut Butter — I live in the South. Humidity is no joke. Gotta be prepared.
- Traverse Hydration Pack by UltrAspire — We took an epic fastpacking trip in Norway during my first trimester (great opportunity to slow down and take even MORE snack breaks!). The traverse was still in beta testing and I freaking LOVED it for storing all my gear and even some watercolor supplies!
- 550 Pocket Handheld by UltrAspire — Hydration = everything
- 800 mL Softflask w/ Locking Cap by UltrAspire — Pairs well with the Traverse
- Alpha 6.0 Race Vest by UltrAspire — My go-to vest for training and racing. As a runner who lives and trains in a humid environment, one of my favorite underrated things about UltrAspire is that I don't chafe as much from their materials.
- Tadej Secret Gel by The Feed — When I need even more carbs :)
- THORNE - Iron Bisglycinate - 25 mg Iron Supplement for Enhanced Absorption Without Gastrointestinal Side Effects* - NSF Certified for Sport - Gluten-Free - 60 Servings by Thorne — This is NOT a blanket recommendation for everyone, but a reminder to get your iron levels checked! And if you need to supplement, this is my personal favorite option. I needed it more than ever through pregnancy and postpartum.
- BETA Fuel Gels by SiS Science in Sport Logo — Bonus carbs on top of Hyperlyte!
- Anti-Chafe & Skin Repair Tins, Original by Squirrels Nut Butter — Love the tins for traveling!
