The second trimester has come and gone for me, so I thought I'd put together some of my must-haves for getting through it! Being pregnant and having three other littles to chase around is no joke - anything that keeps my life simple and convenient, I'm ALL about. So here's my personal list of tried and true products that got me through those few months.
Babylist.
This is probably my favorite thing to do in the second trimester. If you decide to find out the gender of your babe (Or even if you don't!), you tend to want to go crazy buying ALL the things! I like to think of this registry as my online "window" shopping. Babylist is SO easy to use and you can add anything from any store to your registry. I have things from Etsy to Amazon, to all the little baby boutiques in between on my registry! Not to mention, they will send you FREE baby registry insert cards with your personalized URL for your invitations. They'll also give you a 10% discount on your registry items about two months before your due date, which I mean...who doesn't love a good discount?!
Meditation.
Meditation is also on my first trimester must-haves list, and I can't say enough great things about it. It's not only great for your mental health, but your physical health as well. I use the Studio Tone it Up app on my phone to do guided meditations every morning in the comfort of my own living room. I always feel so centered and ready to take on my day when I'm done. I also love how quick they are, because let's be real...mama doesn't have a lot of time.
Great Prenatal Vitamins.
I have the WORST gag reflex when pregnant, so swallowing pills is a no-go for me! I learned that when I was preggers with the the twins, that gummies were the way to go!
BEST. DECISION. EVER.
I've tried a few prenatal gummies, but let's be honest...some just don't taste that great. These are hands down my favorite! The only downside to gummies is that you need to watch your iron and calcium levels, they usually lack those two minerals. I always make sure I eat foods high in iron and calcium, like spinach and almonds. If you decide to take iron and calcium supplements instead, make sure you don't take them at the same time. Calcium will interfere with the absorption of iron.
Chug! Chug! Chug!
Water is your best friend during pregnancy. It's SO incredibly important to stay hydrated when you're pregnant, especially when pregnant during the hot summer months! Every health provider has different recommendations, but I've always been told to drink at least a gallon of water a day. (Side note: that's SUPER hard to do and I usually fail at that...) Having a large BPA-free water bottle that you can take everywhere is a great way to make sure you stay on track! I love this one because it has a straw and I can see exactly how many ounces I've had (or really how many I should be drinking). They come in a 20oz size and I love that it fits in my car's drink holder.
I can only drink plain ole' water for so long, so usually I'll throw in some fruit or a splash of juice to add some flavor. My latest go-to is Liquid IV, which is also great for replenishing those electrolytes! Use CODE::Dakotacurfman for 20% off your order!
Comfy Maternity Clothes.
If you're anything like me, your belly will pop pretty quickly in the second trimester, and your regular clothes just won't cut it anymore. I've learned that investing in a few quality pieces is essential!
Here's my list of favorites:
- tank tops: they are a MUST when pregnant and the tanks from Target are so comfy. I love that they don't have the rouching on the sides, but still grow with your belly.
- comfy pants: having comfy pants that don't constrict your growing belly is a necessity. I bought these from GAP when I was in my first trimester and OH. MY. GOSH. The softest and most comfortable pants I think I've ever owned.
- leggings: it's always a good idea to have a good pair of leggings when pregnant! These leggings from BLANQI are some of my favorites, and they come up over your belly and have back support built in. They are also super flattering on that baby bump and even have a postpartum line for after baby too!
- wireless bras: I can't remember the last time I actually wore a bra with underwire. Between being pregnant and breastfeeding the last FOUR years, it's been more about comfort over style. I'm definitely over anything that isn't super comfy on the girlfriends...if you catch my drift. I've been getting these from Target and I actually use them when I nurse, which is a major bonus!
Belly Butter.
This was on my first trimester list (see the link above to read it) and it's even more important now! You've probably already started showing, so it's important to moisturize that growing belly! During my first pregnancy, I was SO itchy from my skin stretching. Enter: belly butter! I use this one and LOVE it! I love that it's toxin-free, which is something that's so important to me, especially while pregnant.
Tums.
Helloooooo second trimester heartburn! It kicked in full swing for me towards the end of my second trimester, and these bad boys were my BFF. Another tip: Don't eat right before bed. If you do, make sure to sit up in bed before laying down to avoid the firey throat.
So there you have it! Those are my must-haves for getting through the second trimester! I love hearing from other mamas about what worked for them, so let me know in the comments what your favorites were!
