Surviving the Second Trimester | Pregnancy Tips
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Read on for my top advice for surviving the second trimester; including things you need to prepare for, and some of my favourite products which will help you through!
When is the second trimester?
The first trimester includes the 4th, 5th and 6th months of pregnancy, from week 13 to 27.
Your second trimester to-do list
Congratulations on making it through the first trimester, which is usually the hardest part. Here are a few things to add to your to-do list for the second trimester.
N.B. Some of these I will go into more detail about below!
Shop for maternity clothes.
Make sure you continue to visit your midwife.
Book your anomaly scan.
Consider starting to attend antenatal classes.
Don't forget to keep taking pictures of your growing bump.
What happens in the second trimester?
YoU'll hear your baby's heartbeat for the first time
At around 16 weeks you will be booked in to see the midwife. At this appointment they will use a doppler to have a listen to your baby's heartbeat.
You'll have an anomaly scan
At around 20 weeks you will be given a second scan, where they will check the development of your baby. You will also have the opportunity to find out if you're having a boy or girl. For more details on what to expect at your different scans, I have a post here.
If you choose to find out the gender, you may want to tell people!
After your scan at around 20 weeks, you may know what you're having. Then it's time to decide whether you tell people or keep it a secret until the little one arrives!
John and I made the decision to tell everyone, and of course it was important we involved the girls too! You can read about Munchkin's gender reveal here.
You'll start feeling your baby move
If it is your first pregnancy, you may have to wait until around 25 weeks to feel those first kicks; but they are worth the wait. This time around I felt Munchkin from about 14 weeks, a lot earlier than with his sisters!
Your second trimester shopping list
Comfy maternity clothing
A maternity pillow
Sleep. Something we need more than ever when we are pregnant and yet can often elude us. It's recommended you lay on your left side once you reach the second trimester; but getting comfy can feel impossible. I cannot recommend getting yourself a maternity pillow highly enough. My go to during this pregnancy with Munchkin has been my Theraline, which I bought to replace one I first used during my pregnancy with Pickle over three years ago.
(Healthy) snacks
When you hit the second trimester, and the symptoms start to subside, you may start feeling the pregnancy munchies. As your baby grows, you'll also find it harder to eat full meals. Having a range of healthy snacks will allow you to eat little and often. I like to keep a variety of fruit in the house, alongside cereal bars!
A cosy dressing gown
Bits for baby
As you hit the second trimester, I think it's a great time to spread out the spending of your baby shopping (especially if it's your first and you don't have any hand-me-downs!) Why not check out my 2020 New Baby Gift Guide or 2020 Newborn Essentials? You may just find something to add to your wishlist or that you want to pick up yourself! In the mean time, here are a few items you could start shopping for.
Clothing, accessories and more
Now you've had a scan, and know all is well, why not spread the cost of the clothing they'll need.
Bear in mind you may have people buy you clothing as gifts, and babies very quickly grow out of everything. Always buy a variety of sizes from newborn to 3-6 months so you have a couple of outfits for each age at the ready.
As well as bodysuits and sleepsuits, which are baby staples; why not get a few alternative options too. Cute rompers, dungarees, dresses and more are awesome. Plus don't forget the accessories such as hats, scratch mitts, socks and more.
Nappies and wipes
Every baby needs nappies and wipes; and the cheapest way to buy them is to spread the cost and/or buy them when they are on offer. If you decide to use cloth (you can check out my guide to using cloth and other cloth related posts here) the initial outlay is expensive, but worth it in the long run. Spreading the cost is a great way to build your stash ahead of baby's arrival.
Travel, sleeping and feeding essentials
Some items such as bedside cribs / Moses baskets, car seat and prams may be better bought in the third trimester, closer to your due date. Having said that, they are also the most expensive essentials you will need for your baby. This means the second trimester is a great time to buy or at least start saving for them!
So, there you go. I hope my guide to surviving the second trimester will help you over the next few months. The best advice I can give you is to take each day as it comes, the countdown to your new bundle of joy is only just beginning!
For more blog posts about pregnancy, check out the category here. Do you have any other tips for surviving the first trimester? Let me know in the comments below.
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Check out when we popped down to Bassenthwaite with my camera to snap maternity photos as a family.