Today’s blog post follows a similar format and covers everything I’ve loved from weeks 13 to 28 of my pregnancy. Though this list features my second trimester pregnancy favorites, many things I mention below continue to be favorites in my third trimester, but if anything changes or something new pops up, I’ll be sure to share additional favorites in a final third trimester favorites post in the coming weeks.
And for the mamas/moms-to-be out there, I’d love to read about your pregnancy-related favorites as well, so please feel free to weigh in below in the comments section of this post. Your pregnancy advice and insight has truly proven invaluable to me over the course of these past few months!
Second Trimester Pregnancy Favorites
You guys knew this was going to make this list, right!? I’m pretty sure I’ve professed my intense love for the Snoogle on this blog no less than 1,000 times and I think it’s safe to say this is my number one second trimester “must have” item. It makes such a difference in my sleep and the way the pillow can simultaneously support my back and alleviate pressure in my hips is just incredible. I love this pillow and use it every single night. I absolutely swear by it!
- Belly Butter
A growing belly often results in tight, itchy skin and I became a big fan of belly butter during my second trimester, not only to help prevent stretch marks, but to soothe itchiness and keep my skin feeling smooth and moisturized. I continue to use three different kinds of belly butter and typed up a brief review of my favorites below.
Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter – This belly butter is the most similar to basic lotion but it’s thicker and doesn’t really seem to have a scent, making it perfect for those sensitive to fragrance. It’s also very affordable (what is is about slapping the name “Belly Butter” than instantly makes companies charge all the dollars for a tub!?) and can be found at Target and many grocery stores.
Mambino Organics Belly Butter – This is my personal favorite but I will caution you that it is really greasy. If that bothers you, bypass this option, but I feel like Mambino Belly Butter is the most moisturizing of all belly butters I’ve tried and the Amazon reviews make me feel like I’m not the only one who absolutely adores this stuff. I typically use it before bed at night and love the way the thick butter makes my skin feel incredibly hydrated.
Nine Naturals Belly Butter – I feel like this belly butter is the perfect hybrid between Burt’s Bees and Mambino belly butters. It’s not greasy like the Mambino Belly Butter, but it’s a bit thicker and more moisturizing than the Burt’s Bees Belly Butter.
Panic Free Pregnancy is a book that came highly recommended to me during my first trimester. I started reading it a few weeks into my second trimester and really, really liked it a lot. The book is incredibly easy to read thanks to a Q&A format (I easily finished it in one sitting) and does a great job of breaking down the most common questions women frequently have about pregnancy. LOVE this book! I want to give it to every single newly pregnant woman I meet and wish I would’ve read it earlier in my pregnancy since it’s 10,000 times less overwhelming than most pregnancy books on the market.
- Large Water Bottle/Tumbler
Oh my gosh, pregnancy thirst is real. I am always thirsty… and always peeing. Drink, pee, repeat. All day long. During my second and third trimesters, I’ve had a water bottle with me at all times. I prefer larger water bottles so I don’t have to refill them as often and also find drinking through a straw helps me take down more water.
- Comfortable Bralettes
Bralettes are my boobs’ best friend right now. I wore bralettes day in and day out during my second trimester. (This trend is continuing in my third trimester as well.) None of my old bras except for one fit quite right and for some reason underwire bothers me more than it did before, so bralettes became my undergarment of choice for light support and comfort. I also love that the sizing of bralettes doesn’t seem to matter nearly as much as it does with real bras and since bralettes seem to be more forgiving, they continued to fit well as my breasts continued to grow in my second trimester.
Personal favorites: Free Press Day Bra (<— Only $7!), Splendid Mid-Line Bralette, Free People Lace Bralette, Seamless Bralette
The last few weeks of my first trimester and the first few weeks of my second trimester were plagued with some pretty intense pregnancy acne. Truthfully, my skin was the worst is has been in my entire life. Not only did I have zits on my face, but zits popped up on my chest and upper back, too. It was embarrassing and I cannot tell you how relieved I was when things started to calm down and my skin slowly began to return to normal.
A couple weeks after I started using the Belli products (facial cleanser + moisturizer + spot treatment), I noticed my skin started clearing up. Now I cannot say for sure this is all because of Belli skincare products and not just hormonal, but the coincidence was too good to be true and so now I use Belli skincare products every single day. I have no more acne on my chest and upper back (thank goodness) and despite the few random zits that pop up on my face (just like pre-pregnancy!), things are looking much, much better.
- Lightweight T-Shirts
I gravitated toward lightweight t-shirts daily during my second trimester. They got me through the awkward in-between stages of pregnancy when my belly wasn’t really poppin’ just yet, but continued to work well once my bump became more obvious. Two t-shirts that were comfortable and seemed to accommodate my growing belly well included the Gaiam Burnout Yoga Tee (from Kohl’s) and the Motherhood Maternity V-neck Tee (so amazingly comfy and only $13 – I have the navy color).
- Foot Massages
There is nothing better than a foot massage at the end of a long day. My feet started to feel more sensitive during my second trimester and on certain days, if I would be on my feet for too long or take Sadie for any extra long walk, my feet would feel a little achy by the end of the day. A foot massage from Ryan was pretty much the best thing in the entire world.
Shop My Pregnancy Favorites
Question of the Day
- Mamas/Moms-To Be: Is there anything in particular you fell in love with during the second trimester of your pregnancy?
The Snoogle claimed the number one spot in my heart during my second trimester!
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I feel like I’m so behind because I’ve hardly read any books! I have What to Expect but I’m thinking the library is on my list of places to visit today and get some other reading material! This book will be on my list, so thank you! I love Q & A formats.
I want a Snoogle and I’m not pregnant!! haha Is that weird?
Not at all! It’s magical. 🙂
http://m.target.com/p/bematernity-by-ingrid-isabel-seamless-belly-black-legging/-/A-11289936?ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001&AFID=google_pla_df&LNM=11289936&CPNG=Women&kpid=11289936&LID=22pgs&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=11289936&kpid=11289936&gclid=CjwKEAjw4-SrBRDP483GvreDr2ASJAD5sCIudcB-Y0wlcXGSw8diHQLJe-yTNvmEjbQCES4n-4kKaBoCxvXw_wcB
These maternity leggings from Target!
I’ve never been pregnant in my life but I still use the Belli undereye cream. Better than anything else out there.
I truly appreciate all of the information and your weekly posts about pregnancy! This might be a dumb question but do you use all three belly creams at once or do you switch off?
I switch off! I usually only use the Mambino one at night because it really is SO greasy and I don’t want it to get my real clothes greasy. I then switch off between the other two during the day!
Love the Burts Bees Belly butter and that is what I have been using. My favorite thing though is the Snoogle–hands down, no way would I be able to sleep without that thing. Lets be real, i plan on using that bad boy when I am done being pregnant lol.
i loved tight shirts since my belly finally started popping i loved to show it off! 🙂
I loved Palmers Cocoa Butter Skin therapy oil! I sprayed it on my belly every night before bed. It went on easy and smelled so nice! I liked it alot better than the actual butters.
I also loved my belly support belt that I wore during workouts…it made me feel like my belly was supported while I was jumping around, haha.
These rounds ups are great, Julie! Great to save for the future. Knowing about products is such a huge help – so thank you!
there’s nothing that I’ve bought so to speak that made the second trimester better but what I found was that I would get aching under my bump if I stood for a long time or if I sat for a long time. I committed to walking 5-7 miles a day and when I’m walking any aching subsides and it’s LOVELY. I never thought i’d enjoy walking so much but just to have it feel easier on the bump was delightful!
a couple of other things I was grateful for were cushions (not unlike your snoogle obsession!) propped under bump and leg while I slept stopped me rolling on to my tummy (long term tummy sleeper here!) and my new nursing bras. I can wear them right up to and after birth and it’s nice not having sweaty tight bras on. The “ladies” are appreciative!x
Great products! I’m not preggo, but I’ll keep these in mind if I ever am! 🙂
I’m a huge fan of bralettes! I’ve been wearing them for years and find them to be so comfortable. My favorite brand is Wacoal. I typically purchase them from select Macy’s stores, Lord & Taylor and Bloomingdales, because they can be a little challenging to find in-store.
Oooh! I’ll look into Wacoal! I’ve never heard of that brand before.
Wacoal is the best for sure!
I love foot massages/reflexology more than anything and I’m not even pregnant! I can only imagine what a treat they will be : )
The Snoogle was #1 for me with both of my pregnancies. My hubby hated it and couldn’t wait to see it go. I wanted to keep it forever…I was denied 🙁
I was obsessed with my snoogle also!! And I hear us on the bras. I lived in different colors of reebok sports bras my whole pregnancy!
I’m in the second tri right now and love: Palmer’s cocoa butter tummy butter, hydroflask water bottle that keeps my water ice cold all day, new undergarments in bigger than before sizes…can we just talk about how I’ve gone from a B to a D?!!!! WHAT. I know, unreal. Also, I’ve been loving my bath robe! I know that’s random, but when I come home from work I’m so ready to not feel constricted and throwing on my robe for the rest of the night is just so comfortable!
Oh man, the boob growth is CRAZY, isn’t it! I think my sister commented on the size of my boobs before she commented on the size of my belly! Ha!
I’m going to grab the Burt’s Bees belly butter for one of my best friends who is pregnant right now. I love lists like this for gift ideas for those of us who haven’t been there!
I’ve been a HUGE fan of bralettes this pregnancy too. I don’t remember them really being a “thing” in my pregnancy with Hunter, but I’m all about ’em this time around! I found a couple at Forever 21 that were super affordable and cute too. And yes to the tumbler! I’m a water drinking machine these days, so having my big tumbler filled with ice water is always a lifesaver for me!
Great list! My favorite thing has to be my bra! It’s not a bralette but it’s similar. I went ahead and got a couple of nursing bras when my regular bras didn’t fit anymore, just to avoid extra purchases. They are seriously the most comfortable bras ever. I didn’t know how comfortable a bra could be!!
I also got the basic maternity package from Storq, which was a splurge but has been SO versatile and comfortable and stylish! I can’t recommend it highly enough.
So I just gotta tell ya–this blog has been such a blessing to me. I started reading about 3 years ago when I was really getting into healthy eating and holistic (as much as possible) living, and I have learned so many things from you!
I feel like we are on the same life clock–we are the same age–both from IL originally–both married our husbys in October 2010, apparently we both know Shane Jones, owner of Fooda (I went to high school with him and saw you on his FB friends list..random!) and now…we are both expecting our first! I’m a couple months behind you in my pregnancy so I just have to say thank you, thank you for all of these posts. I live and breathe by the Preggie Pop Drops and Quease Ease, which I bought after your recommendation, to ease some pretty intense all-day sickness. and I also have a Snoogle already, which even though I’m pre-bump pop-out, I admittedly like to lounge with on the couch when I’m watching movies 🙂
You are inspiring and honest, and lovely. And I’m so thankful for all of the thoughts you share. I’m also super pumped for you and Ryan and can’t wait for you to pre-emptively talk me and my husband through childbirth as well.
Thanks for being you, Julie!
Thank you for taking the time to comment, Britani! I’m SO glad the Preggie Pop Drops and Quease Ease have helped you — they were definitely life savers for me, too!!! And BIG congratulations to you and your husband. Such an exciting time! <3
I need to invest in some bralettes. Underwire is driving me crazy lately because it’s making my ribs hurt worse than they already do. My doctor said that my uterus is starting to push my ribs out, which I guess is common in the third trimester!
Belly creams are nice but I think what kept my skin soft and stretch-mark free was a big ‘ol brick of pure shea butter.
I loved Husband Coached Childbirth and Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way. I didn’t have hundreds of dollars to spend on actual Bradley classes, but I’d heard a lot about the method and decided to see if reading the books on my own was enough and they made a huge difference for me.
My love for the Snoogle is so real, too! And I actually haven’t had that much trouble sleeping…yet. I think my husband loves it almost as much as I do. He is still so proud of himself for buying it for me, all on his own. haha.
My favorite pregnancy clothing items have been from Hatch Collection. They are definitely $$$ but I feel so good in the few pieces I recently bought that I think the money is worth it. I’d rather spend more and feel great than buy a $40 dress from Zara or H&M and feel so-so. (Although, I have found a couple cute dresses from both places that I get TONS of compliments on…I just go up in size, they aren’t maternity). Anyway…with Hatch, you are SUPPOSED to be able to wear the clothing pre, during and post pregnancy. I’m already convinced that the money is worth it, so if this turns out to be true then I will be completely sold!
Loose V necks are the best anytime 😀
The Snoogle is easily my #1 pregnancy must-have. It was 100% worth the purchase! I’m not sure I’ll want to give it up once this pregnancy is over. 🙂
Oh, Julie! I wanted to tell you that you inspired me to try Pure Barre! I loved it (and wrote about it on my blog, lol). Thank you for the inspiration!
Julie, I ordered the Belli spot treatment as soon as I found out I was pregnant. I HATE the smell though! Sometimes it makes me nauseous – how do you cope with using it every day??
Right now I have mint Chapstick smeared under my nose to see if that detracts from the scent, haha…
Oh no! The smell doesn’t bother me at all. I know our sense of smell is heightened during pregnancy, so maybe there’s an ingredient in the Belli products that is really off-putting to you? I’m so sorry!
My favorite is the Fit Sugar Pregnancy Workouts on YouTube- check them out!
I am still using my Snoogle and my baby is 19 months old! I discovered the book ‘The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding’ by the La Leche League when he was 4 months old and oh how I wish that I had had the opportunity to read it or even just some of it while I was pregnant! It is my #1 recommendation for new mamas!
I love reading these lists and all the comments! I really wish I’d had access to these when u was pregnant, lol! But now I’ll feel much more prepared when we try for kid #2. I never splurged for the Snoogle, thinking “how different can it be than a body pillow?” But judging by my lack of good sleep while pregnant and the oodles of good comments here about it, it may just be my very first purchase next go-round!
Pregnancy massages are the best- I only had two while pregnant, but man! Oh man! Were they life savers! I do remember being cautioned about massage of feet and hands while in the third trimester due to the belief that certain pressure points in the ankles and hands can trigger contractions. I’ve also been told that almost nothing can cause you to go into labor before your body says so, but I thought I’d mention it, in case there’s any validity. I haven’t looked into it extensively to see if it’s just anecdotal or not.
Reading your pregnancy posts are making me feel the pregnancy itch little-by-little, and my little guy just turned one! Ha ha
I am in my second trimester and my snoogle was worth every penny! I don’t know what i would do if I didn’t have it! And if I’m honest, I think it will stay with me after the baby comes too! 🙂 I also am loving the Burt’s Bees belly butter, that stuff is incredibly moisturizing! I will have to try to find me some bralettes, my boobs are definitely not fitting into any of my bras anymore! 🙂
I love your list and watching your pregnancy develop know I’m just a few weeks behind you!
I had to tell you that you and Ryan were in my dream last night! Maybe I’m just a little too obsessed with reading your blog! 🙂 Hope you are doing well!
OMG! I’m a little late to the party, but congratulations on your baby! It had been a while since I last visited your blog. The baby bump is totally working for you! Also, the snoogie just looks like a whole lot of fun. I’m not even pregnant and I want one! Lol
I love reading these posts! i am just a few months behind you in pregnancy so the timing is perfect! I need to up my pregnancy/birth reading material so I will have to check out the panic free pregnancy book. Panic free is def a good thing 🙂 Happy Friday!
Such a great list! You look great in that top 🙂
Even though my “baby” is 13 think I need the Snoogle! It will also be the number one on the list to buy for any future mothers.
Thanks for the recommendation on the sleep pillow. I am having hip pain when I sleep on my side. Just ordered the pillow on Amazon!
I loved reading your pregnancy updates when you were pregnant with Chase and I knew that one day when I was pregnant I’d love using them as a resource. Now I am 20 weeks pregnant and find myself referring back to them all the time! A question for you that I can’t find the answer to in your archives: Did you find a pair/pairs of maternity workout pants or crops that you liked? My regular crops are really starting to dig in and it’s time to either size up or buy a few pairs of maternity ones. Would love your recommendation!
Julie how supportive were those bralette bras? I’m already up to a 36C from a 36A and wondering whether they will be supportive enough?
I’m getting preparation for pregnancy. So always I feel good to read your pregnancy blog. Your information is really so helpful for me.