This blog may contain affiliate links, meaning I will make a commision if you choose to buy. Please know I'm recommending these items because I love them, most of the companies I work with I reached out to after using their product. If you do decide to buy I'd be stoked if you clicked the links.
Please send me an email if any links or codes aren't working, thank you!
The second trimester is said to be the best and easiest. Although I agree, there are still struggles, here are a few and how I got through them.
1. Second Trimester Must-Haves | Just buy the Bigger Underwear:
Get yourself some new underwear. I'm serious, the last thing our hormones need is underwater to make us feel fat. If they fit you nicely, (even a size or two larger) you feel sooo much better. Do yourself a favor. Aerie is always having bundle sales on underwear.
2. Panty Liners:
Oh, get yourself some pantyliners. Apparently, this is a REAL thing for some women, and others were confused about why I said it! I wore panty liners my entire pregnancy, there is more discharge going on than I want to admit (ew). I used panty liners I could replace to stay dry. If you need it, you're welcome. If you don't, you lucky dog, you.
3. Second Trimester Must-Haves | MOISTURIZE:
I moisturized throughout my entire pregnancy. You really need to start as you begin to grow.
How do you know where you'll get stretch marks?
You don't. Just do it everywhere.
Some hot spots are boobs, belly (duh), love handles, and butt! A friend gave me Aquaphor and a stern look into my soul and told me to use it.
Some people say it's genetic, regardless, moisturizing cannot be bad!
Make sure you find a natural lotion, your skin is your biggest organ and you're growing a human. I used Earth Mama Organics Belly Butter! Everything by Earth Mama is great!
4. PERINEUM STRETCHING:
I'm just going to let you look this one up and lucky for all of us Expecting and Empowered covered this.
Essentially, you stretch yourself “down there” with oil to lower the chances of tearing. Its recommended starting in the third trimester. I was ALL FOR IT, hello, I did NOT want to tear! Unfortunately, by the 3rd trimester, I was straight up too big to reach. My midwife told me it was okay and she didn't believe it was very effective. They say you can ask your partner to do it… I told Seth “Some people have their partners do it” then I was silent. He was also silent, that was the end of that.
5. Second Trimester Must-Haves | PREGNANCY PILLOW:
I still don't understand why pregnancy pillows are the greatest thing of all time… but they are. I've found partners are not usually fans of our new cuddle buddy, haha. Toward the end of my pregnancy, I also added a pillow under my belly.
6. STAY HYDRATED:
This is going to help with your stretch marks as well! Staying hydrated is super important while pregnant and a great habit to get into if you plan on breastfeeding. I drank my water through a filtered water bottle, and feel comfortable filling it up anywhere!
7. Second Trimester Must-Haves | MEDITATION:
I use a meditation app called HeadSpace. The app is around $70 for the year, which is not cheap, but in my opinion it's worth it. Covid is a crazy time to be pregnant and this and Hypnobabies course helped to keep me sane.
Headspace has an entire pregnancy section. You choose if you want to meditate for 10, 15, 20 minutes and it just guides you through the whole thing.
It's to the point where if I'm getting overwhelmed Seth suggests I go listen to it.
8. Workout!
YES, we can now move without feeling nauseous and I was ready to work out again! But it was so confusing what I could and couldn't do until I found Expecting and Empowered's workout guides! They have week by week guides for pregnancy and postpartum and holy crap was it a game-changer. It's created by a nurse and a physical therapist and it tells you what to do, week. PLUS each workout includes kegels to help with labor and recovering postpartum. I am an ambassador for them and LOVE their program. HEYSHAYLA gives you $10 off!
9. Second Trimester Must-Haves | ELECTROLYTES:
Anytime I worked out, my muscles locked up. If I was driving and looked over my shoulder my neck would lock up, or my hands would lock up if I clenched them in a fist or grabbed a dumbbell.
My doctor suggested I start taking electrolytes during or after workouts, and magnesium before I go to bed. It was my nightcap and it worked SO well!
I used two types of electrolytes: LiquidIV (HEYSHAYLA25 gets you 25% off), which has a lot of sugar, LiquidIV says the sugar is for function not for taste. And I used these electrolytes sometimes that has stevia, I'm not sure which is better.
This is the magnesium I used. Magnesium is great to keep your stools soft, with cramps and for better sleep, WIN WIN WIN.
10. SQUATTY POTTY:
Hemorrhoids are terrible and can be a pregnancy symptom. There are a few things that made them more manageable. The Squatty Potty and, treating them with witch hazel. You’re welcome and God bless. I didn't' have a squatty potty, I used yoga blocks.
11. Second Trimester Must-Haves | 3 BOOKS TO READ FOR LABOR:
1. I recommend Ina May’s guide to childbirth to every pregnant woman. Well, pregnant women who are more inclined to natural options, Ina May is a bit of a hippie. It has two parts, the first part floods you with POSITIVE labor stories. Ina May is a midwife on “The Farm” in Tennessee and she says people always want to share their negative labor stories, movies glamorize it and all of those bad stories are in our psyche.
The second half explains labor and some of the options available. Taking some of the fear out of labor, which is huge for most of us.
2. The other book I read was “HypnoBirthing“. When I told my midwife I wanted to try hypnbabies she told me to read the book first. So I did, and after I was even more interested in doing the course. It helps to take the fear away from labor.
So, I took the hypnobabies course, and am so glad I did. If you’re interested in hypnobirthing I have 3 videos about it:
– My positive hypnobirthing story
– How to prepare for a natural labor
– What is hypnobabies?
3. Mindful Pregnancy: This book was created by the man who created the Headspace app. If you buy the audio version he reads it to you which I loved. It's hard to find time to read, I listened to it. This book, again, puts you in a positive headspace for labor!
12. Second Trimester Must-Haves | GOOGLE IS NOT YOUR FRIEND:
Stop Googling things. Seriously, Google is where I turned for every weird pregnancy symptom. Every time it would say you’re either having a miscarriage… or your not. It’s better to just call your doctor and see what they think.
12. MATERNITY CLOTHES:
I was anti maternity clothes, why would I buy something I'll only wear for a couple of months? Plus I was working from home! But when my sister gave me some to try I was forever changed. I realized they fit so much better, and honestly showed my bump better because they were more fitted below my belly!
1. I LIVED In my maternity leggings from Blanqi. The maternity leggings compress in the legs, which felt so good to me, and are loose in the belly! I bought two and wore them back to back.
2. The other place I grabbed some was from Pink Blush Maternity, enter your email and wait, they send out discounts practically every day!
3. AND my sister’s Boutique, Boone Clothing. She doesn’t have pregnant specific clothing, but there are a few options that would look so cute with a bump! HEYSHAYLA for 15% off!
13. Second Trimester Must-Haves | ITS OKAY TO REST:
I know the nesting is REAL, but I promise you need to do way less than you think. Just ask any second-time mom.
I have an entire blog about what you'll need for baby when they first get home.
For example, I stressed about having the crib ready and she didn't even sleep in it for the first 3 months. She slept wherever she fell asleep and in her bassinet in our room.
REST.
14. HORMONES ARE A B*TCH:
The second trimester is supposed to be smooth(er) sailing and I agree for the most part. I felt pretty energetic and my appetite was good, except I was super HORMONAL.
The hormones were bad. The worst part was I could tell I was being irrational (I'm not usually that crazy) but I couldn't stop!
Everything felt overwhelming. I would be deliriously stressed to the max. But Seth would try to help and ask what do we need to do, I could come up with like two things…
15. Second Trimester Must-Haves | BABY KICKS!:
Most people don't feel baby kicks until week 18-20. My placenta was on the front, which means you don't feel as many kicks. So, it took me until our 20-week ultrasound to see her moving and associate the feeling.
What does it feel like? For me, it felt like I had gas. I literally waited and see if I actually had gas, if I didn’t, I assumed it was a kick!
A lot of people say flutters, I wouldn’t describe it as flutters.
16. BABY APPS:
When we first found out that I was pregnant, I was on the baby app like every day. I reread it a million times and shared it with Seth. My mind was blown by how big the baby was! When she was 2 inches I told everyone and they were like… that's not that big. I was like THERE IS A TWO INCH SOMETHING INSIDE OF ME!!!
As my pregnancy went on, I barely checked the app. I used the Ovia Pregnancy App because it has a food and medication search option to tell you if things are safe, as well as telling you your baby is the size of a pineapple.
The other thing I LOVED to watch was a YouTube channel called Channel Mom and she does a video every single week of pregnancy. It includes baby updates, mom updates, and then has other moms in the same week as you talk about their symptoms and show their bumps. I always just googled “Channel Mum Week X”!
17. Second Trimester Must-Haves | BE SELECTIVE WITH WHO'S ADVICE YOU SEEK:
Everyone wants to give it and everyone does it differently. Find someone who has kids that you like their way of parenting or mindset and ask THEM for advice.
The same goes for choosing a doctor. It's important to trust your doctor's advice and be aligned with them.
18. Actually only 17
Even in the video I accidentally skip one of the numbers. If this drove you nuts, I'm sorry and thank you for your attention to detail.
For those of us where are my non detail oriented people at!
There it is! There is my list of things you need to know in your 2nd trimester.
If you're in your second trimester, CONGRATULATIONS. I hope some of this information was helpful for you. If it was helpful please share with anyone you know who is pregnant or who you think would enjoy!
xo Shay
