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10 Must-Have Items For Your Second Trimester

Everyone told me that the second trimester of pregnancy is the “best” and the “easiest” and the “most enjoyable period of the whole pregnancy”. While I am not disagreeing, I still think that pregnancy isn’t always just a walk in the park. The ever-growing baby bump comes with a lot of challenges. Pregnancy has come with some “ Well, huh. What am I suppose to do now?” moments and some “Nobody told me this part” challenges as well. As I make my way through this first pregnancy, I want to share some of my must-have items for your second trimester that I have relied on heavily.

Some of these products have been gifted to me for this review and others are items I have purchased myself and wanted to include. As always, all opinions are my own.

10 Must-Have Items For Your Second Trimester

Zahler Prenatal+ DHA Vitamins

One thing I rely on daily and one of my top must-have items for your second trimester has been my Zahler Prenatal+ DHA vitamin. Everyone that knows me knows that I am an extremely picky eater. Although I do my best to eat a balanced diet, especially now that I am pregnant, it just doesn’t always happen. Thanks to my prenatal, I know that I am getting my daily dose of vitamins and minerals to keep me and baby healthy.

To be completely honest, I tried a few different prenatal vitamins before this one. Everything else made me feel bloated and constipated. But I never had that issue with this one. Zahler prenatal+ DHA vitamins have actual folate in its natural state instead of folic acid. Folic is more “active” in the body and does not require the body to translate the folic acid into folate. This aids in making it easier to digest and eliminate the stomach upset.

This is also the first kosher prenatal vitamin to have DHA, which is crucial for healthy brain and eye development in baby and decreases the mom’s chances of post-partum depression after delivery. It comes as a soft gel pill so it is easy to swallow with no after taste. You can order it in a one, two or three month supply. But don’t just take my word for it, check out their website to see for yourself. Or learn more about the importance of prenatal vitamins and how amazing of an option Zahler Prenatal +DHA is by listening to the Pregnancy Podcast episode 145: Prenatal Vitamins. Then head over to Amazon and use promo code: TNMPRE25 to save 25% off your order of the Zahler Prenatal +DHA.

Must-Have Items For Your Second Trimester

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks

Stretch marks. Yikes. This was one of my biggest fears about pregnancy. Sad, but true. I was advised to find a great stretch mark cream and apply is “knee to chin”. So, that is exactly what I did. And I love this lotion! It feels great on my skin, it not sticky, greasy or oily. It gives a nice coating of lotion but isn’t too thick or heavy to be applied evenly. And I never have to worry about it staining my clothes or bedding.

This lotion contains collagen, elastin and sweet almond oil for improved elasticity of skin during and after pregnancy. It has even been proven to improve elasticity in 97% of test subjects with regular use. I use this lotion every day. Sometimes when my stomach feels tight or super stretched, I put an extra layer on mid-day. Believe me, you will spend plenty of time in the bathroom, so it won’t be hard to do.

Plus, it doesn’t hurt that it says “massage lotion” in big orange letters right on the bottle. I was able to convince my husband to give me quite a few back massages based on that fact alone. At under $6 a bottle, you just can’t go wrong with adding this to your shopping list of must-have items for your second trimester.

Must-Have Items For Your Second Trimester

Boppy Maternity Pillow

I work with children and the other day an 8-year-old asked me what I was doing over the weekend. He then answered the question for me and said: “I hope you are getting extra sleep because you won’t sleep once your baby comes”. I just laughed, but I wanted to say “extra sleep”? “Yeah right! If only it was that easy”! Maybe I should consider a luxury hotel stay if I want some extra sleep!

To be honest, at the beginning of my pregnancy, I had no interest in getting a pregnancy pillow. Even after sharing a bed with the same man for over 8 years, we still like to cuddle. We might have a king size bed, but we prefer to share the same 20% surface area. I was afraid that a pregnancy pillow would get in the way of that. Fast forward to the second trimester. I am hot. Then I am cold. Suddenly I have to pee. Then the baby in my tummy wakes up at 4:00 am and wants to have a dance party. Shortly thereafter I get a leg cramp. Once I am almost comfortable, my alarm goes off. Sound familiar?

Must-Have Items For Your Second Trimester

For some reason, my husband doesn’t want to cuddle through all of this and neither do I. Cue the Boppy maternity pillow. I quickly found that a pregnancy pillow is one of those things that you think you don’t need until you need it. Like now. While a pregnancy pillow won’t make you pee less in the middle of the night, it does make your sleep between bathroom breaks much more enjoyable.

My Boppy maternity pillow allows me to not have the nightly ‘battle of the pillows’. The C shaped design provides support to my head, shoulders, baby bump, legs and ankles all at the same time! This allows me to use just one pillow, not three or four. Plus, it wraps around my front, so my husband can still cuddle up from behind and doesn’t have to compete with a pillow the size of a large person in our bed.  It took me a few nights to get it just right. But once you find your sweet spot, you won’t want to give it up. So dont miss this on your list of must-have items for your second trimester.

Must-Have Items For Your Second Trimester

Mommy Steps Maternity Insoles

With pregnancy, comes weight gain and extra weight on your feet.  This can cause some women to have foot pain through pregnancy. But what you might not know is that pregnancy also causes women to release a hormone called relaxin. Although this is helpful in relaxing muscles for childbirth, your body starts producing it long before that. It can therefore also loosen ligaments in your feet that can lead to pain and can even cause your feet to expand and grow throughout pregnancy! That was certainly another thing that nobody told me about being pregnant. I learned the hard way that my feet hurt! 

These next must-have items for your second trimester is the Mommy Steps maternity insoles. They have the world’s first insole made for pregnancy. Their customizable insoles come in either Athletic and Active or Casual and Flats. You can order them in your exact shoe size to guarantee a great fit. But there is even more! Once you get the insole, you can heat it up to mold directly to your foot, or use it as is. The best part, it can be heated and molded up to three times! This means it can change with you as your feet needs change throughout each trimester of your pregnancy.

Must-Have Items For Your Second Trimester

Don’t be like me and wait to get these until your second trimester. I would buy them right away if you can. Now that I have discovered how great they are, I have a feeling I will be buying a set for every pair of shoes I have real soon. They work well in both tennis shoes, flats, and Cheyenne Booties. These insoles can make even the cutest shoes comfortable. They are not bulky and don’t take up much room in your favorite flats.  Making them amongst the must-have items for your second trimester or any trimester for that matter. If you want to learn more about How Pregnancy Changes Your Feet, tune into the Pregnancy Podcast episode 152.

Must-Have Items For Your Second Trimester

Truffles Moulded Lace Cup Plunge Nursing Bra

Who says a nursing bra can’t be sexy? I recently had a conversation with a close mommy friend of mine who admitted that she can’t remember the last time she wore a bra that wasn’t nude in color. How boring is that? Although I am not nursing yet, I decided if I was going to get a new bra, it might as well be a nursing bra.

The Cake Maternity Truffles Moulded Lace Cup nursing bra is a great bra for maternity or post baby use. I got this one in a sexy black color with lace cups. It is made of a soft, stretch, French-inspired, deco lace that is designed to shape the décolletage. It has a plunging neckline with a ¾ contour cup inner to provide lift and support. This bra style comes in a band size 32 to 38 and cup sizes B,C,D,E,F, and G.

The second trimester has not always left me feeling sexy, but this lace bra from Cake Maternity sure does make me feel sexy when I wear it. And of course, you can complete the look with Cake’s Truffles Lace Maternity Brief. Equally as sexy, yet still has the comfort I crave. Making this set must-have items for your second trimester.

Must-Have Items For Your Second Trimester

Ice Cream Cotton Nursing Tank

I have found that I can still fit into quite a few of my regular tops despite being pregnant. However, my tank tops are getting so snug that they just are not comfortable. I knew it was time to upgrade to a tank top that fits. As long as I was updating, I went straight into a nursing tank top. Why buy clothes that will only work for pregnancy and not once the baby is here?

Cake’s Ice Cream Cotton Nursing Tank literally feels as smooth as ice cream melting on a hot day. This tank offers a flattering shape and length with room to grow for a baby bump. It has padded foam cups that allow you to wear it with or without a bra as it offers more support than a tradition tank top. It comes in two colors, both black and grey and is available in sizes small through extra-large. Plus the thick straps offer loads of support. It has cleverly disguised nursing clips so it looks and feels fashionable and has side sling support to allow for quick and easy feeding. A great, comfortable and well-fitting tank top is amongst my must-have items for your second trimester.

Must-Have Items For Your Second Trimester

Gateau Soft Modal PJ Set

Sleep has proven to be trickier than I had imagined now that I am rounding out my second trimester. It is so nice to have pajamas that are comfortable, no matter what else might be getting in my way of a good nights sleep. Cake’s Gataue Soft Modal nursing camisole and maternity pants are the perfect must-have items for your second trimester.

The nursing camisole is made in the perfect length for all torsos. It has a folded edge side support sling for easy middle of the night nursing sessions and drop down cups for easy access to feeding baby. It is made from a super soft fabric and trimmed with lightweight stretch satin. I would recommend going up a size if you are between sizes. I found that it is more fitted than I would have expected in a PJ top.

Don’t forget to get the matching Gateau Maternity Pants. They have a comfortable waistband with a drawstring. Plus a pleasant surprise of a concealed front hip pockets. The PJ bottoms are made of a breathable and lightweight fabric, with a slimming design and cooling effect. The front is made of satin while the back is a modal fabric.

Must-Have Items For Your Second Trimester

2nd Trimester Stork Bag

I have found that now that I am pregnant, my life seems to revolve around my pregnancy. It has affected what I eat, what I drink, my exercise and activities levels. The 2nd Trimester Stork Bag was a fun gift that was just for me. This bag is loaded with 2nd-trimester must-have items that are essential to getting through this mid-point in the pregnancy.

Here is what was in my bag:

  • Earth Therapeutics Terry Covered Bath Pillow. This is a blow-up pillow that you put into the bathtub to provide extra comfort for those long soaks in the tub.
  • Bela Mineral Bath Soak. This pairs perfectly with the bath pillow. It is made from Pink Himalayan Sea Salt, a powerful detoxifier, is fused with Tea Tree and Eucalyptus Essential Oils to work together in promoting healthy and well-hydrated skin while reducing cramped and achy muscles.
  • The Stork Bag Mug and Earth Mama Heartburn Tea. My husband actually snatched this mug up right away and claimed it as his own. Despite the pink and silver color, he liked the size, quality and cover this mug provides. I plan to sneak it back to try to get some relief with the Heartburn Tea I found in my Stork Bag.
  • Bellie Band. My bellie band came in my exact size and is black in color. Perfect for any pants/leggings, that might fit, but don’t provide the bump support you need at this point in the pregnancy. I can wear mine all day, with any pants, and do not even notice that I have it on
  • Earth Mama Morning Wellness Body Wash, The Stork Bag Stretch Mark Bellie Butter and Knocked Up Nail polish. The body wash is made from organic products and is designed to be easy on the senses. The bellie butter contains no harsh chemicals, parabens or artificial colors and the nail polish is a super cute and fun pink in color.
  • Zahler Prenatal +DHA prenatal vitamins 10 pack. You already know how much I love these! As well as a 2 pack of Crystal Collagen Gold Powder Eye Masks. Another item that will be used as I soak in my bath salts while using the bath pillow.

The Stork Bag really put some thought into the items included in the 2nd-trimester bag. The items complement each other so nicely and can be used in conjunction with each other or separately. These are definitely some 2nd-trimester must-have items. Every expecting mama deserves some things made just for her that promote health, wellness, and a little self-pampering.

Must-Have Items For Your Second Trimester

Glasstic

Staying hydrated is super important. Especially when you are pregnant and hydrating for two. Statistics say that up to 60% of our bodies are made up of water. Although you might feel like you never stop running to the bathroom while pregnant, that is not a reason to cut back on fluids, especially water.
 
Water can help during pregnancy with so many things! Water not only keeps us hydrated but can also help prevent UTIs, constipation, and hemorrhoids as well as help with fatigue, headaches, overheating and swelling. A general rule of thumb is eight to ten, eight-ounce glasses of water a day.
 
Want a safe and fun way to get your recommended daily water intake?  Try a Glasstic shatterproof glass water bottle. Glasstic makes their water bottles out of reusable, recyclable and quality products that are BPA and toxin free. It is portable, break-resistant AND shatterproof making it safe to carry everywhere you want to go. This is super handy if you have noticed that you are a little more clumsy than you were pre-baby, like me. Being that it is made from glass, it is safe to use with essential oils or add your favorite fruit for a refreshing twist on just plain water.
 
Must-Have Items For Your Second Trimester
 
The Glasstic water bottle is 16 ounces, meaning that you need about 4-5 fills a day to get your recommended water intake. It has a flip top cover which means you don’t need to worry about taking off and losing the cap.  The cover also locks so it won’t accidentally pop open if it is dropped. And has a small loop to grab on to making it easy to carry. Add in the fact that it is dishwasher safe and this product is ready to be used any time, anywhere and any day!
 
Must-Have Items For Your Second Trimester
 

What To Expect When You’re Expecting Book

Okay. This is really a must-have item for your first, second and third trimester. The What to Expect When You’re Expecting book has been like my pregnancy bible. This thing covers just about every symptom, feeling, question or concern an expected mother (or father) could ever have. Just be careful to not self-diagnose or freak yourself out. I am not a doctor, but I can almost guarantee, without a shadow of a doubt, that you will not have ever symptom discussed in this book. I found this book to be easy to read, easy to pick up and put down whenever I found the time, and just a great reference for all things pregnancy. They also have a smartphone app that allows you to track your baby‘s daily and weekly progress. It is so fun!

Must-Have Items For Your Second Trimester

 

I’m so excited today to tell you that Cake Maternity, Zahler and Mommy Steps Insoles have offered a special giveaway for my readers! One lucky mom will win a $50 Cake Maternity online gift certificate, a 3-month supply of Zahler prenatal vitamins, plus a pair of Mommy Steps Insoles. A runner-up will win a pair of Mommy Steps Insoles! If you’d like a chance to win, just enter using the Giveaway Tools entry form below. Good luck!

Disclosure: This giveaway is not associated with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest or YouTube. All opinions are my own. Cake Maternity and Mommy Steps Insoles are responsible for prize fulfillment. 

Must-Have Items For Your Second Trimester

Laurie Emerson

Wednesday 15th of May 2019

Must haves for me are a good body pillow and definitely a belly band. Especially the body pillow to get some sleep before the long sleepless nights begin!

Julieh

Tuesday 14th of May 2019

A body pillow for sleeping is a must have.

Sandra Preti

Tuesday 14th of May 2019

I totally agree with the What To Expect When You’re Expecting Book!

Lauryn R

Tuesday 14th of May 2019

A must have item for me during the second trimester was two good body pillows! I couldn't get comfortable without hugging one and having one behind me.

Amanda Alvarado

Sunday 12th of May 2019

A good body pillow and support socks!