If you’re reading my second-trimester recap after finishing up my first (first-trimester recap), I have good news for you! It DOES get better; well, it did for me! I remember reading so many first-trimester recaps online and getting frustrated with the “perfect pregnancy talk” and “luckily, I never got sick.” I even doubted the relatable ones when they said they eventually felt better, but now, I’m less bitter about it all. I feel like my pregnancy has taken all sorts of turns. I traded in those terrible side effects for more physically uncomfortable ones, but I’ll take these over being sick any day!
Can you believe I only have a few more months before our baby arrives? People are not kidding when they say, “it will all go by so fast!” Today, I’m sharing my second-trimester journey, answering a few of your questions, and sharing maternity products I have purchased and loved so far! I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’ve genuinely enjoyed the second half of my second trimester.
Favorite Maternity Clothes
Luckily, most of my pregnancy has been through the winter months, so I’ve been able to wear my oversized sweaters, baggy sweatpants, and leggings. I haven’t purchased too many maternity items, but the ones I have purchased have been incredible! I know I’ll be living in those oversized Target T-shirts, tunic-style dresses, and soft shorts when April and May roll around. I don’t want to go out and buy more clothing, so I will put my fashion on hold and wear whatever fits. I’ll continue hiding out from the fashion police.
ZJCT Women’s Yoga Sweatpants Comfy Loose Casual Wide Leg Lounge Pants with Pockets
Every morning and night, I LIVE in these lounge pants. They are so loose and soft. The bands don’t even feel like they’re wrapped around you! It’s the closest thing to wearing pants but feeling like you’re naked. I purchased them in grey, blue, brown, and green and will grab a few more. I want to wear them postpartum as well! Even if you’re not pregnant, these pants will make anyone happy.
POSHDIVAH Women’s Maternity Leggings Over The Belly Pregnancy Yoga Pants Active Wear Workout Leggings
The Poshdivah Women’s Maternity Leggings are INCREDIBLE! I purchased one pair when my regular leggings started getting tight. I fell so in love with them that I ordered six more pairs in different colors. I purchased several in black because I figured I’d be wearing these daily. They are inexpensive and feel just like my Lululemon leggings. I bought the medium and have been able to wear them throughout my pregnancy. You will not regret this purchase! They don’t shrink or wear down in the wash, either.
Old Navy Maternity Jeans
I LOVE the Old Navy maternity jeans. I only bought one pair since they’re a bit pricy and I don’t plan to wear jeans that often. I was not expecting them to be so darn comfortable and cute! They don’t have buttons or zippers, and they are regular jeans. They slide right on!
Bras
I have purchased some new sports bras at TJMaxx that are super soft and went up a few sizes to give myself extra breathing room. I didn’t realize how restricted I would feel after week 22. I love that the TjMaxx bras come in sets and are pretty inexpensive. I also found some nursing bras there that zip down the front! I hate bras with back clamps, and most of the stores and online have those.
What Products Are You Currently Using?
I have changed out almost ALL of my products. I only use Tarte Clay Foundation under my eyes and the Honest Company Mascara for makeup. I wear makeup maybe once a week.
As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I traded all my products for pregnancy-safe ones. I think I’ll end up sticking with these from here on out!
Native Deodorant
Earth Mama Deodorant
Gentle Facial Cleanser Burt’s Bees
Honest Beauty Deep Hydrating Face Cream (do not put on after the shower)
Night Time Cream Sensitive Skin Burt’s Bees
Burt’s Bees Mama Body Oil
Origins Hand Cream
Down Girl Hatch Mama Foot Lotion
Nipple + Lip Balm Hatch Mama
Hatch Mama Belly Oil
Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash
Aveeno Fresh Greens Blend Conditioner
Aveeno Fresh Greens Blend Shampoo
Love Mama Honest Relief Soothing Jelly
Burt’s Bees Belly Butter
Are You Taking Any Medications?
I am not taking any medications other than my prenatal and iron supplements. During the first trimester and the beginning of the second, I took Unisom + B6 to help with sickness. It was a game-changer! I had to slowly wean myself from Unisom and B6 because I immediately got sick the first time I tried to go cold turkey. From week 16-22, I only took 1/4 of each tablet until I didn’t need them anymore. I only took Zofran a few times to help break a cycle, but that was if I couldn’t keep food down for over 24-hours. I haven’t experienced any nausea for the past ten weeks!
Second-Trimester Diet
It’s MUCH better than the first. My food aversions have finally gone away, and I’m able to eat fruit, fresh vegetables, proteins, and better-for-you foods. Now, I still get the crazy cravings, but nothing like it was before. My appetite is much more robust, and I have to eat more frequent meals throughout the day. I have been loving berries, cantaloupe, pizza, romaine lettuce-based salads, decaf cappuccinos, smoothies, cereal, oatmeal, grilled chicken, steak, and cooked vegetables! My sweet cravings are for things like cake and cookies.
Are You Having a Baby Shower
I wasn’t planning on having a baby shower because my family is all over the place, and they’ll be visiting in May/June when the baby arrives. My good girlfriends are doing a little shower for me to celebrate the baby this weekend.
Have You Picked Out Your Baby Names?
Yes! We are 100% sure of our baby names for our boy/girl. I love that we are both so mutually in love with the names, so there is no back and forth arguing. I don’t think I’ll share the names online, but maybe their nicknames!
Is Your Husband Allowed at Your Appointments?
He was allowed at my appointments during the first five months, but they’ve changed it now where husbands cannot come in with you. This makes me mad because I believe the husband is just as important in these appointments as the wife. It takes two to make a baby. It also doesn’t make too much sense to me because if he has covid, then I most likely have it. It’s rough seeing 75k maskless people gather for a football game, but my husband can’t come to a doctor’s appointment with me. It makes me sad for partners that want to be involved, and Kyle is just as excited as I am. He would have loved to listen to the heartbeat, and I think it’s a crucial way to help dad and baby bond. I know there are so many opinions on this, and I’m not trying to start any kind of debate (so don’t even try to leave hateful comments because I won’t approve of them), but it’s a frustration of mine. I can understand why people are tired of all of this. We listen to the rules by social distancing, wearing masks, staying home if you don’t feel well, and getting vaccinated, but when does it all end? And half of the rules don’t even make sense. So no, unfortunately, I have to go to the appointments alone.
What Symptoms Are You experiencing?
My sickness and weird first-trimester symptoms have turned into more physical ones. A few have stuck around!
I feel like the baby is sitting on my bladder at all times. It feels like I have to pee, even though I don’t. I’ve dealt with ligament stretching these past few weeks, so my ribs are finally taking a hit. I’ve mentioned this before, but I had a horrible pinched nerve in my back before getting pregnant. I was regularly seeing a chiropractor, but that didn’t help. Since getting pregnant, it’s excruciating. If I trigger the pain, it’ll be an all-day thing. Walking without good posture, cleaning, cooking, or even driving for too long can trigger the pain. It’s like sharp burning and stabbing pain in the middle of my back. I’m now getting prenatal massages to help with the discomfort, and I find that my heating pad works the best for instant relief. I’ll have to take care of this after having the baby since it’s a pain I’ve had for years.
I still have swollen gums, which the dentist said should clear as soon as the baby arrives. It’s due to the extra hormones. The good thing about the hormones is that my skin and face have never been this soft or clear in my entire life. I feel like I have my second-grade complexion back! It’s true what they say about the pregnancy glow.
Aside from that, I was fortunate to feel GREAT during my second trimester. I deserved it after the first
How much weight have you gained so far?
I didn’t think I’d ever share this, but I just want to be relatable. So many people have asked this question, and I know it’s so personal. When I first started blogging, it always revolved around my body, so I get the focus on it still, even if I’ve managed to stay away from that focus. Pregnancy is beautiful, but yes, I’ve put on the expected weight. Even though I’ve been walking a ton, eating well, drinking water, and getting good sleep, I’ve put on 36 pounds so far. I’m 5’8, so I do carry it pretty well. I know that would scare some people, but I’m not even slightly concerned. Being pregnant means storing extra fat, growing a different organ, retaining water, gaining up to 10 extra pints of blood, carrying a baby, and so much more! There are so many weight factors that are simply uncontrollable, and everybody is different. Some people hardly gain weight, and some just pack it on quickly. It started creeping up later in my second trimester. I’m sure I’ll put on another 10 or 15 pounds in the next ten weeks, but it’s all worth it!
There are some people who are absolutely adorable while pregnant. I am just not one of them
Weight is temporary. Sure, it SUCKS not to fit my cute clothes, but it’s just something I’ll work towards when the doctor gives me the green light to work out and diet. I plan on breastfeeding, so I won’t be beating myself up after labor because I know even breastfeeding can cause extreme hunger. The best thing you can do is listen to your body. I can’t wait for long walks in the stroller, hot yoga, and tennis to start back up. The good thing is I’m having a baby in the warmer months. I know so many women struggle with weight, so I wanted to share that I’m right there with you, and it’ll be so worth it! Your baby doesn’t care how much weight you’ve packed on. They care about you being the best parent to them. Pregnancy is beautiful and a blessing. As long as the doctor tells you you’re healthy and everything is fine, just keep enjoying it. I plan to share all about body changes and my journey after postpartum.
What Have You Enjoyed The Most?
I have enjoyed experiencing all of the beautiful changes my body has made. Sometimes, I’ll sit for hours, holding my belly and feeling the baby kick. It’s my favorite part, and we have one active baby! The doctor told me to start doing kick counts. You want to make sure your baby moves ten times in 1 hour, but having a posterior placenta and a very active baby, I get ten kicks in about five minutes. And these kicks are strong! You can see them bulging on the outside of my stomach. It’s super fun, and I love it. I should post some videos for you all soon!
I have enjoyed the learning process as well. Every time I read a pregnancy book, I find it fascinating and just want to learn more and more!
This has been such a fun way to bond as a married couple. We have so much fun working on the nursery, making trips to BuyBuyBaby, and just going through this experience together. We often talk about what we think our child will be like, and it’s fun to imagine how they’ll look, sound, or what gender they’ll be! I also love using the pregnancy card around Kyle shh! The other night I woke up so thirsty, and he insisted on going downstairs to get my ice water, or he would make the trip up the stairs to grab something I forgot. He’s just the best partner! He’s very attentive and always asks if I need anything. He was like that before, but now it’s extra! I think dads try to make up for not going through the discomfort of carrying a child.
The two anatomy scans we had were amazing! I loved seeing our baby moving around in there.
Are You Still Waiting to Find Out The Gender?
Yes! We are so excited about the surprise. Every time we go to an appointment or ultrasound, it’s the first thing that comes out of our mouths. We don’t want the surprise to be ruined. We have waited this long, so it would be sad if the gender were to slip. I have zero sense of what I’m having, but kyle and I have our bets on opposite genders. He thinks we’re having a girl, and I think we’re having a boy. I am carrying pretty low, which most people say is a boy! But all of that is just a bunch of old wives’ tales. I’ve kept everything in the nursery neutral, but I’ll have to buy a set of bows to go with some of the outfits if it’s a girl.
Have Your Dogs Noticed You’re Pregnant?
I’m not sure! Leo is exceptionally clingy with me, but that may be because he’s my little walking buddy. He has also stopped jumping up on me and will come to lay his head on my belly. The baby sometimes kicks him when Leo puts his head on my stomach. I’m not sure if he notices, but I read that dogs can hear your baby in the womb after 27-weeks. I know he’s going to be the best doggy brother! Tux has always been sweet and gentle, so it’s hard to tell if he notices.
Second-Trimester Workouts?
Walking! I still walk every day, even if it’s just one mile. I am pretty active around the house doing things, and I’ve also tried incorporating prenatal YouTube yoga videos into my weekly routine. Sometimes, I get a little bored with those videos and end up laying on the floor doing my stretches, but it’s the effort that counts, right?
I have noticed more discomfort this past week that makes walking harder. I get awful bladder pressure and need to sit down for a second. I try not to drink anything a few hours before my walk to help.
Are You and Your Husband Taking Any Classes?
Yes! We had our first class through our hospital on Saturday morning. It was a 4-hour class that covered everything! I loved taking the course through the hospital because they explained everything they offer, gave a tour, and told us what we could expect. All hospitals do things differently, so I felt prepared after that class. I have also been reading so much!
Are You Feeling Over Emotional at All?
I figured pregnancy would put me in hormonal overdrive. I don’t think I’ve been this calm and relaxed in my entire life. Nothing seems to bother me, I’m not crying all the time (my period hormones would send me into a crying frenzy), and I feel extremely stress-free. I had a bit of anxiety during the first few weeks of pregnancy, but that went away pretty quickly. I’ve been very happy and taking everything as it comes. I used to feel super restless, but that has gone away. I think my body wants me to chill out now and then.
How did your 1-hour glucose testing go?
I don’t know why I was so nervous about taking this test. I’ve heard so many awful things on the internet about it. First off, I chose the orange flavor. It was DELICIOUS! You have to wait an hour after drinking the glucose before getting your blood drawn, but I had an appointment directly after with my OBGYN, which helped make up for some of the time sitting in the lobby with a sugar high. Like many people warned me, I didn’t get dizzy, have a headache, or have a wild sugar crash afterward. I was more tired later that afternoon, but I think it’s because I didn’t have my coffee, and I slept terrible the night before.
I got my results back a day later and had passed. I was shocked because so many people said they failed the first test (i guess they make it easy to fail just to make sure they don’t miss GD), and I was surprised because my blood sugar was low. I think the range is 65-139, and I was at 62. The doctors said that is completely fine. I go on many walks, drink a lot of water, and get a good amount of sleep at night, all of which contribute to managing high blood sugar levels.
If you’re worried about your glucose test, don’t be! It was a breeze, and if you fail the first time, most people pass the second test! I’m upset I worry about a glucose test based on internet opinions. But again, everyone is different, so your experience may differ from mine!
Is Your Nursery Finished?
Just about! We have everything done that needs to be finished before the baby arrives. The only thing we’re waiting on is wall art and the roller shades. I thought I wanted to get it done now, but I think I’ll wait until we know the gender. It’s been the hardest thing to pick out. I may even have someone install wallpaper. I did buy a few wall pieces we’ll be hanging this weekend. It’s so cozy and calming in there! Even though the baby will be sleeping in our bedroom for the first few months, we’ll hang out in the nursery often. The room gets super dark and cozy! I’ve been working on organizing everything in there!
I will do a nursery blog post soon!
Do You Have Your Bags Packed?
Yes! After finishing everything else, it was the only thing I had left to do. I love that there are so many hospital bag recourses out there, and I loved hearing what people used and didn’t use. I’m keeping it pretty simple since I know the hospital provides a lot of things, but during our birthing class, the RN gave us a list of things we definitely should bring. I’ll do a separate post on that with everything I’m packing! This will give you experienced moms the chance to tell me what I’m missing and what I don’t need!
What Baby/Pregnancy Books Have You Read?
I have LOVED diving into pregnancy books. I feel like I cannot get enough information. I even read the Newborn 101 book twice.
Newborn 101: Secrets from Expert Nurses on Preparing and Caring for Your Baby at Home
The Newborn Handbook: Your Guide to Bringing Home Baby
Pregnancy Day-by-Day
Lactivate!: A User’s Guide to Breastfeeding
I’m ready for my next book, so please leave recommendations in the comment section!
Will You Have a Doula?
No. The only person I want in the delivery room with me is Kyle. We will do a lactation consultant before birth and after birth, but that’s as close as we’ll get to having anyone else help. I think the nurses do a good job coaching you through delivery, and sometimes it’s a bit much when people are in their way (I’ve heard this from many nurses.) I’d probably consider a doula if I didn’t have such a supportive husband! I know a lot of people who have loved having doulas, though.
Do You Have a Birth Plan?
I’ve learned that having a birth plan can set you up for many disappointments. I have a few things I’d like to happen at birth, like epidural, skin-to-skin, and a few other small requests, but I understand that anything can change, and there are uncontrollable moments, and I’m ready to take them on. I will prepare myself for anything to come and hope for the best. I feel so calm about giving birth and weirdly excited for that moment. I’m feeling ready!
Are You Going on a Baby Moon?
We decided not to go on a babymoon. I’m kind of regretting it because I could use a warm vacation right now, but trying to find a getaway in January and February seemed impossible. All of the hotels are booked up and insanely overpriced. We also decided not to go with omicron and the flu being highest in early January. We are planning a big beach vacation in late summer, and I know the purpose of a babymoon is to have a final trip without kids, but I’m more excited to have a vacation with our baby.
Things You Miss Now That You’re Pregnant?
I miss my endurance. It’s crazy how slow and out of breath things make me now. I still keep up with my walks and doing things around the house, but it takes me twice the time to do them. I’m huffing and puffing when I get to the top of the stairs. I love walking Leo 3 miles a day, but now it takes me over an hour and a half to do it. I used to be able to knock out a three-mile walk in 45-minutes.
I miss gardening. I’m still doing a few gardening things here and there, but I’m nervous about getting toxoplasmosis. The chances are low, but we have a neighbor with two outdoor cats who often like to hang out in my garden. I can’t enjoy it when all I can think about is toxoplasmosis. I did some rose pruning yesterday, which is fine since I’m just cutting down the roses and staying out of the dirt. My mom is coming this weekend to help me do more in-ground things to prepare for spring. Thank goodness for her!
Let’s be honest. I miss fitting into cute clothing! Every time I see my clothes in the closet, I just want to squeeze into them, but I’m grabbing my leggings and stretchy shirts for the time being.
I can’t wait to return to my tennis group and do hot yoga! Kyle works from home three days a week, so I’ll use those mornings to escape to hot yoga. Walking and hot yoga will be my postpartum plan to get back into shape. I don’t mean getting my body back, but just that endurance and some muscle strength I’ve lost.
I miss turkey sandwiches, sushi, and a few other off-limit foods! Oh, and sleeping on my back!!!
I appreciate you all stopping by to read my 2nd-trimester recap blog! If I missed any of your questions, feel free to leave those in the comment section below!
