Nestled between the nausea and exhaustion of the first trimester and the largeness, insomnia and hemorrhoids that tend to plague the third, is a magical few weeks when a pregnant woman might actually get to enjoy a bit of bump-y bliss. For many women, the second trimester can be a welcome relief. With this stage of pregnancy often comes the first obvious sign of a bump (finally!). A bump that strangers can recognize as baby not burrito… but not a bump so big that it makes sleeping or even walking through narrow spaces impossible.
But that’s not to say that this glowing time couldn’t be even better. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite products sure to make the second trimester fun and comfortable.
Here are our top 6 must-haves for your best second trimester ever:
1. Three Lollies Stork Pops
Whether you already know your baby’s gender, or you’re on the edge of your seat waiting to find out, chances are pretty good that you’re bursting at the seams to share the news with family and friends. And if you want to do it in a really unique way, the awesome company Three Lollies has you covered. They make these adorable lollipops, called Stork Pops, in blue and pink, which will make your big reveal extra special—and extra delicious.
There are a million ways to use the Stork Pops to share your big news. If you’re hosting a gender reveal party, you can ask your attendees to hold up the color they suspect matches your little one’s gender, then you and your significant other can show the correct one. Or, you can fill a piñata with the correct color and let guests take a swing. Or you can do what my husband and I did: We tucked our blue lollipops into envelopes that read “Pink or Blue? Here’s a clue… then had everyone open their envelopes at the same time. We even shipped a few of these envelopes to family members and friends who couldn’t attend our reveal. We loved being able to do something other than the cake-cutting reveal we’d done with our first baby.
And hey, it doesn’t hurt that Stork Pops actually taste good. The “It’s a Boy” pops are a delicious Blueberry flavor, and the “It’s a Girl” pops come in a delicious Pink Lemonade flavor. We were still enjoying ours long after our bundle of joy’s gender was revealed. And we feel good about letting our toddler eat them, too, since they’re made in the USA, and are non-GMO. They’re also gluten-free and kosher, so everyone can enjoy them!
2. Belly Support Band
If you’ve ever experienced round ligament pain before, you know it’s no joke. Typically beginning any time after 14 weeks, round ligament pain can feel like cramping in the pelvis, groin or back. It is caused by the growing and stretching of the ligaments that support your uterus. It can range from mildly uncomfortable to downright painful. And while it’s a normal part of pregnancy, it’s not something you just have to grin and bear.
Support belts can help take the pressure off of your your ligaments and provide some welcome relief from the infamous round ligament pain. Pregnancy belly support belts and bands wrap around your lower back and abdomen to gently cradle your bump, which can help ease the pressure on your pelvic and back.
Our advice: Opt for an adjustable version that can support your belly as it grows bigger.
3. Maternity Clothes
One thing we’ve learned after each having two babies is that no two pregnancies are the same. My second pregnancy was nothing like my first. The symptoms were different, the way I carried was different, my entire perspective was different.
But there is one thing that holds true for every pregnancy: Just when you think your bump couldn’t possibly get any bigger… it will.
Which is exactly why you need to be prepared with maternity clothes that will cover you beyond the early stages of your bump. The second trimester, when your bump may just be making its grand entrance is a good time to purchase a few staple items with a lot of stretch, so they’ll work now and into the third trimester. Pants with over-the-belly waistbands and tops and dresses with empire waistbands or wraps are great options that will grow with you.
And if you’re having a baby shower (or suspect someone just might be throwing you one), this is a great time to start thinking about what you’ll want to wear. Depending on how far away your shower is, you may want to wait a bit to actually purchase the dress, but you can at least peruse the styles to decide what look you’re after. I personally didn’t want to risk losing out on a dress I loved so I checked the store’s return policy and when I saw that it was 90 days, I purchased the dress several weeks before my shower. I ended up wearing the dress so I was happy I’d snagged it when I saw it.
In Your First Trimester? Check Out Our Must-Haves for Newly Pregnant Mamas Here >
4. Pregnancy Body Pillow
“Never in your life will you need more sleep, and never in your life will it be harder to get.” That’s what a friend told me before I got pregnant the first time. And man, was she right.
It’s almost as if as soon as I got my big, fat positive pregnancy test, my body went on a big fat sleep strike. In the beginning, it was the constant nausea. Then it was the constant need to pee. And in the third trimester, it was the impossibility of getting comfortable with a giant basketball between me and my mattress. That is, until my husband ordered me a pregnancy pillow. (Insert soothing harp music here).
If you haven’t seen them, pregnancy pillows are these comically large, U-shaped pillows that come in a variety of fabrics, like cotton and velvet. Basically, you lay in the middle of the pillow, then turn on your side and lay your top leg over the arm of the “U.”
Your doctor has probably told you by now that once you reach 20 weeks, you need to stop sleeping on your back. That’s because the weight of your growing uterus can compress a major blood vessel, the vena cava, which can be dangerous for both you and your baby.
As if you needed another thing to worry about, right?
But trust me: Get yourself a pregnancy pillow. These ridiculous-looking things are the key to getting comfortable when side-sleeping. I actually still use mine today, two kids later. I like the way the arms align my hips and take the pressure off my legs and knees.
5. A Comfortable Bra
It’s true that your breasts can grow an entire cup size during pregnancy. So it’s a good idea to invest in at least one bra in the next size up. Purchasing one that doubles as a nursing bra is a great idea if you plan to breastfeed. I lived in nursing bras long after my little guys were born so I certainly got my money’s worth.
Just remember that the size of your breasts during the second trimester may not be the final size they will be in the third or when you’re breastfeeding. So if you’re concerned about wasting money on a bra now, consider purchasing a stretchy sports bra in the next size up. They tend to accommodate size changes better than a typical underwire or cup-based bra.
6. A Water Bottle You Love
Drinking enough water is always important. But when you’re pregnant, it becomes even more crucial. That’s because water plays a key role in the formation of amniotic fluid, increasing blood volume, building new tissue, carrying nutrients, optimizing digestion and flushing out wastes and toxins.
So how much water should you drink when pregnant? Experts recommend shooting for a minimum of eight to 12 cups (64 to 96 ounces) of water every day.
Make drinking enough H20 easy on yourself by investing in a portable and reusable water bottle you love. Fill it up every night so it’s ready to grab and go in the morning. We love Healthy Human and Swell water bottles, but what’s most important is finding one YOU love.
Other tips for making sure you’re drinking enough water? Set an alarm on your phone every hour to remind you to drink up, or wear eight to 12 rubberbands on your wrist each day, and pull one off each time you drink eight ounces. Strive to have removed them all by the end of the day.
Happy blissful bump-ing!
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