Second Trimester Essentials: What Actually Helped Me Survive Months 13–27 of Pregnancy
Through migraines, pregnancy-induced eczema, ruling out cholestasis, and countless sleepless nights… we have officially made it through the second trimester.
Per your request, I’m sharing my real-life second trimester essentials, the things that truly carried me through these wild few months.
As always, this blog is not medical advice, and I am not liable for how this information is used. Amazon affiliate links are included throughout this post, and I may earn a small commission if you shop through them.
1. The #1 Second Trimester Essential: A Legit Pregnancy Pillow
If I could only recommend one item to get you through the second (and third) trimester, it’s this pregnancy pillow. It has been the only way I can get comfortable enough to sleep. Honestly, I started using it even before the second trimester, it is hands down my top pregnancy must-have!
2. Unexpected Second Trimester Essentials for Pregnancy Eczema
This pregnancy brought on the worst eczema of my life! Pregnancy-induced eczema had me awake all night scratching and required multiple dermatologist appointments.
Things that helped me survive the itching:
The rash and itch were so severe that I was tested for intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy to rule out complications for both me and baby. Thankfully, everything was normal, and the symptoms resolved around 24 weeks.
I still don’t know the exact trigger, but I now have a new level of empathy for anyone living with chronic eczema.
3. My Daily Pregnancy Supplements (Based on Labs)
My essentials still included my supplements, which are all chosen based on my own lab work and reviewed with my provider:
Low iron can have negative health impacts during pregnancy, so taking it daily was crucial for me. I also focused on eating iron-rich meals, since pregnant women need 27 mg of iron per day.
This specific iron supplement was the one I tolerated best, but again, please discuss all supplements with your doctor. I am not your provider, and this is not medical advice.
4. Second Trimester Skincare: What Helped My Pregnancy Acne
I did not get the pregnancy glow. I got pregnancy acne! Stubborn, persistent, and immune to everything I tried.
Dermatology recommendations that were helpful:
- Azelaic acid (discuss with your provider before taking my recommendations)
- Barefaced products, after a safety review with my dermatologist (review with your provider!)
I am extremely cautious about skincare ingredients during pregnancy, so I encourage discussing your routine with a board-certified dermatologist.
5. My Hyper-Fixation Pregnancy Snacks
Food was a huge part of staying energized during this trimester. A few standouts:
- Mush protein bars (I was gifted a box of these and did not share these with my family… zero shame). The macronutrient composition is incredible and the taste/texture are chef’s kiss)!
- Kindling Protein Pretzels, especially the dill pickle flavor. If you are craving carbs but need some protein – these are the pretzels for you.
While I don’t think toddlers need high-protein snacks, these were incredibly helpful for me this trimester.
6. Whole-Food Meals + Snacks I Reached for Constantly
These were on repeat every single week:
- Salmon salad (with wild-caught canned salmon) + Simple Mills almond flour crackers
- Scrambled eggs with cottage cheese
- Cottage cheese with pomegranate arils
- White bean, spinach, and tomato skillet, my boys devour this one too
- Veggie-loaded ground beef chili
- Roasted Brussels sprouts with avocado oil
- Apples + peanut butter + hemp seeds
- Mediterranean chickpea salad (now craving this again)
7. Second Trimester Clothing Essentials: Comfort Only
My uniform this trimester:
Amazon yoga pants + oversized sweaters.
Nothing else fits. Nothing else feels good. Nothing else makes me feel human.
I’m still on the hunt for maternity jeans that don’t require constant readjusting. Even the belly band extenders for my pre-pregnancy jeans were a fail.
If you have maternity jean recommendations… I’m listening.
Final Thoughts: On to the Third Trimester
Now that I’ve written all of this out, I hope these second trimester essentials are helpful for anyone navigating this season. Every pregnancy is different, and sharing what worked for me is my way of making this journey a little less overwhelming for someone else.
Third trimester… Here we come!
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Cinthia Scott is a Registered Dietitian (RD) and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) with over 10 years experience in the field of dietetics. Cinthia focuses on ensuring optimal nutrition in the first 1000 days of life to ensure optimal growth and development as well as set the stage for long-term health. Cindy is an author, starting solids expert, and advocate for caregivers receiving evidence based education and support surrounding breastfeeding and starting solids.
Cinthia is co-author of the 101beforeone Starting Solids Book, “101beforeone -baby-led feeding cookbook,” and is the founder and owner of The Baby Dietitian LLC which is her private practice built to provide virtual 1:1 services for caregivers surrounding infant nutrition, toddler nutrition, and breastfeeding support. Cinthia is also the creator of the Starting Solids 101 Program which provides caregivers 1:1 support from a Pediatric Dietitian on how to provide optimal nutrition from the start and create healthy eating habits that will last their whole lifetime. To work with Cinthia, you can access her services here.
Cinthia provides tons of free information for parents on her social media accounts as well.
- Instagram: @The.Baby.Dietitian
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