Phew! I can’t believe these words are even coming out of my mouth, but as of this past Friday, I am officially in my 3rd Trimester! It feels like just yesterday that I found out I was pregnant. It doesn’t even really feel possible that we are only 12 weeks away from meeting our baby girl! I shared this Reel on Instagram Friday, filled with clips from the first two trimesters, and it made me so emotional!
Since it’s been a while since we checked in about pregnancy, I thought we could do a little bit of a recap of my second trimester! (I recapped my first trimester in this blog post a while back.) I also wanted to share some of my “must-haves” that are helping get me through pregnancy feeling pretty good overall!
Second Trimester Recap
After having a pretty rough first trimester, I finally started feeling better and more myself around 15/16 weeks. I remember week 15 feeling like the first normal week I had had in a long time, and by the 16th, I felt like a new person! Even my friends and family noticed that I seemed more like myself. If you are having a rough first trimester right now, don’t worry! It gets better. The craziest part about the second trimester is just watching myself grow. It feels like I get bigger every day, but there are definitely weeks that feel like more of a growth spurt than others, and I usually feel ravenously hungry around those times.
My favorite part of pregnancy so far has been feeling her move inside me. I remember wanting to feel her move SO BADLY towards the end of my first trimester, and I finally felt her move just a couple of days before I hit 18 weeks! It was so hard to know what to look for in the movement, but the best way I could describe it is as if someone was poking me from the inside. Honestly, my mom told me, “When you feel it, you will know,” and that’s exactly how it was! Now, I feel her moving inside me all day long, and it is my favorite thing in the world. It feels like she and I have a little dialogue going back and forth with each other all day long. At this point, I can pretty much predict what things will make her move, like time of day, positions, etc. Oh, and she loves to start moving and kicking around as soon as I turn off the lights to go to bed. So, we’ll see how that goes when she gets here!
I would say in the last week or so, I’ve started to feel the third trimester kicking in. My fatigue is starting to come back, making it harder and more uncomfortable to move. I’ve been trying to walk for at least 20-30 minutes each day, but it doesn’t always happen. I’ve been thinking about getting one of these to help with walking and alleviate some of the pressure on my back.
Pregnancy Favorites
I know not all of you reading this are pregnant, but chances are you either will be eventually or know someone who is (send this to them!), so I thought it would be fun to go through some of the items that have helped me get through pregnancy so far!
Prenatals + Perelel
I started taking these prenatal vitamins long before I was ever pregnant. I started with the Conception Starter Pack and added on the Fertility Support Supplement when we decided to start “trying.” What I love about the Perelel vitamins is that they are individually packaged with what you need for each day and the subscription updates and adjusts based on your and the baby’s needs throughout your pregnancy. When you get pregnant, you update it with your due date, and it automatically switches you to the First Trimester pack, then it automatically switches you to the Second and Third when you need them. Brilliant! The Sleep Support has also been extremely helpful in helping keep me asleep at night. I don’t take it every night, but I also go back to it after a few rough nights of choppy sleep.
Maternity Jumpsuits
The only “maternity” clothes I have purchased so far are this Bumpsuit and this Jumpsuit from Beyond Yoga. Both have become staples in my pregnancy “wardrobe,” if you will. I love them for walks and getting outside, but they’re even cute layered with an oversized button-down and sneakers when I just want to be comfy throughout the day. I’m also so impressed with how they’ve grown with my body! I’m in my normal pre-pregnancy size for both!
Belly Care
Who knew you needed to have a whole “skincare” routine for your growing bump!? When I first found out I was pregnant, I ordered this oil and this balm and have loved both of them. For the oil, I do one dropper full almost every night, and I still haven’t run out! The brand Mutha reached out and sent me this belly balm and body oil, and I have LOVED the balm. It’s incredibly hydrating and gives my belly a beautiful glow. I usually put this on in the morning or after I take a shower. The key to the balm is warming it up in your hands first until it becomes more of an oil, and then it just melts into your skin.
Pregnancy Ball
I got one of these pregnancy balls and to be honest I’m not entirely sure how I’m supposed to be using it or if I’m doing it right, but it is definitely comfortable so sit on. I notice it helps my back feel better when I use it to stretch and opens up my hips.
Hill House Cosima Dress
I know I probably sound like a broken record at this point, but I can not express enough how much my Hill House Cosima Dress has been the MVP of my wardrobe! It just makes me feel really good and confident, which I can’t say about 90% of my closet right now. I have my eyes on this navy blue one that I think would be really great for late summer/early fall. I kind of feel like kicking myself for not trying this style before becoming pregnant because I love it that much!
Now, as I head into late pregnancy, it’s time for me to start thinking about prepping for birth, which scares me, and I’ve tried not to think too much about it. We have a birth class we’re doing later in September when we’re closer, but overall, I’m trying not to put much emphasis on having “a birth plan” and really just follow the lead of my doctor, whom I really love and trust. My “plan” is whatever is going to give me a healthy baby! I’ll probably start doing the raspberry leaf tea and dates, though, like everyone on TikTok is telling me to do when we get closer!
As always, you can check in or ask me anything on my Instagram!
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