Second Trimester Pregnancy Favorites

A few weeks into my second trimester, once my pregnancy news was finally public on the blog, I shared a list of some of my First Trimester Pregnancy Favorites with you guys. The post basically served as a roundup of everything I loved during my first 12 weeks of pregnancy, from nausea helpers and prenatal vitamins to pregnancy-related books and apps and more.

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

• Snoogle

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

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

• Belli Skincare

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!