I’m a Pregnant Doula and I Tried Bump Boxes. Are They Worth It?

As a doula for over a decade, I’m all about products and services that make life easier or more special for pregnant people. Pregnancy can be an intense time of life and expectant parents need a lot of support. And if that support comes in the form of useful products, so be it. 

I’m currently pregnant with my second child and on the hunt for things to enhance my experience. I’m certainly not alone in that; after all, there are over 3 million babies born (and parents made) in the U.S. every year, and most of those birthing parents would no doubt appreciate some products to support the pre- and postpartum journey.

So, I decided to try Bump Boxes, a curated monthly subscription box made especially for pregnant people. Read on to learn about my one-month subscription experience with Bump Boxes, including what was in my box in the second trimester of my pregnancy and my thoughts on the products (as both a doula and a mom).

What Is Bump Boxes?

Bump Boxes was founded in 2015 by parents who wanted to give parents access to “the safest, most effective pregnancy products and ensure healthy pregnancies around the world.” The boxes consist of curated products for pregnant people, like skincare, body care, and other items for the pregnancy journey. 

The company is owned by Bump Health, which manufactures products for parents (like the BumpLife and BlushTeas brands) and also assists parents in getting breast pumps covered by insurance. 

Signing Up for Bump Boxes

It was super easy to navigate the ordering process for Bump Boxes. I could order for one month, six months, nine months, or twelve months (Bump Boxes also now offers BitsyBox, which will send you a baby gift every month for the first year of your child’s life). 

The nice thing is that shipping to the continental U.S. is always free, as are returns. Plus, the more months you sign up for with Bumb Boxes, the less you pay per individual box. For example, if I were to sign up to pay monthly, I’d pay $50, but if I was ready to commit to longer, I’d pay:

• $43/month for six months
• $40/month for nine months
• $39/month for 12 months

In the end, though, I decided to sign up for the Month to Month Subscription Box. Once I’d selected my subscription plan, I was prompted to input my due date (I was in the late second trimester at the time). 

Next, I was offered the option to get an upgrade product. I didn’t choose this option, but it looks like upgrade options include onesies, belly butter, tote bags, and more—and it’s available to anyone that signs up for a subscription that lasts more than at least one month. 

Receiving My Bump Boxes

I ordered on a Wednesday and got my box on a Saturday, so shipping was lightning-fast. It came on its own (not inside of any other packaging), and was a bright pink cardboard box that had a logo of a noticeably pregnant person on the outside (which felt like gendered marketing). The box and the shipping materials are both recyclable. 

The box I received contained five full-sized products:

• BumpLife brand printed wet bag
• Dr.Brown’s Disposable Breast Pads, 30 count 
• T.N. Dickinson’s Witch Hazel Cleansing Cloths, 25 count
• Kanu Mother Cooling Leg Gel, 4.2 oz
• BumpLife brand small wooden massager

The box also included a postcard from Bump Health (Bump Boxes’ parent company) with a QR code to scan to help parents get a free breast pump through their insurance. I didn’t try this service, but I was impressed that this is something the company provides—anything that helps parents navigate health insurance is a big plus for me. There was also a postcard explaining how Bump Boxes works, with a number to text to get more deals on products.

My favorite product was the cooling leg gel. I live in a hot climate, so it felt great to use after a long day of walking. I can see how this would be a very soothing product for any pregnant person, especially as the pregnancy progresses. 

That said, as someone at the end of their second trimester/beginning of the third, I didn’t find all of the products to be particularly useful. I inputted my due date when I ordered, so I assumed the products would be more targeted to my stage of pregnancy.  For example, the disposable breast pads and the wet bag don’t seem to be applicable until you actually have a baby, which for me is probably more than three months away. I won’t be able to use breast pads until I’m lactating, so it seems like this would be more appropriate to include at around 36 weeks of pregnancy or in a postpartum box.

The witch hazel pads also seem more geared toward the postpartum time, but they can still be useful throughout pregnancy, especially since hemorrhoids are common as pregnancy progresses. 

I would have loved a guide that explained why the specific products were included and how to use them. For example, as a doula, I know that the wooden mini massager included can be helpful to ease discomfort during labor (as well as to soothe tired muscles in pregnancy) but I’m not sure that’s common knowledge. 

I can think of a ton of other products that would be great for third-trimester moms, ones that they could use and enjoy while they are experiencing those last few months of pregnancy.

I’m curious about what comes in subsequent boxes, as Bump Boxes does offer them monthly—perhaps boxes for later in pregnancy would be more appropriate for that time. I emailed customer service to ask but was told that there are different versions of each box and that the boxes change from month to month. In general, it seems like specific information on the contents of the boxes isn’t readily available, so keep that in mind if you’re someone who wants to know exactly what you’re getting. 

Pros & Cons

Overall, I think Bump Boxes are fun and useful, but there are ways the subscription could be better. Here are my pros and cons.

Pros

• Easy to order 
• Simple gifting 
• Fast, free shipping
• Free returns
• Responsive customer service
• Assistance in getting a breast pump

Cons

• Not very specific to the trimester of pregnancy you’re in
• Products may not be useful to you
• Unclear how products are chosen/vetted and by whom
• Very gendered packaging

Final Thoughts

Plenty of parents will appreciate receiving a box full of products each month, especially products they might not even be aware of (like the wooden massager or the leg gel). As I mentioned, I think the products could be more specifically tailored to someone’s stage of pregnancy, but I think there are at least a few products in each box that can make a difference to any pregnancy experience. 

The boxes also seemed more suited to a first-time parent who knows less about what to expect, physically and emotionally, during pregnancy. 

One thing that irked me: Although the website says the products in the boxes are “vetted by experts,” I am not sure what type of experts are actually vetting the products. Is it parents themselves, OB-GYNs and midwives, doulas, lactation consultants, or others who work with expecting families? I could not find any information on who chooses the products and why. 

Also, it doesn’t look like the company offers any way of giving back to the community, such as free or discounted boxes for low-income parents, donations to charities that support maternal health causes, or other initiatives. This is something I’ve seen with other, similar subscriptions so it feels like a miss. 

That said, I still think a  subscription to Bump Boxes would make a wonderful gift for a pregnant friend or family member, especially if they’re a first-time parent or one that doesn’t live near stores with family planning supplies. Ordering one or two would also be a nice gift for yourself as you move through the trimesters. Even if some of the products aren’t right for your current pregnancy stage, they could be helpful down the road.