Happy Friday friends… we made it… the first full week after the holidays is officially in the books!! We don’t have much planned for the weekend ahead… since it’s supposed to rain quite a bit + TJ leaves for a business trip Sunday morning. So we’ll be laying low and getting last minute touches done for the home renovation. I hope you all have something nice and relaxing planned at some point during the weekend!
It’s hard to believe that I am almost out of the second trimester of pregnancy… and moving into my final trimester in just a couple of weeks. I can’t fully wrap my head around the fact that in several months the little room we now just refer to as “sister’s room” will actually have a being who will be occupying it (well, not for the first few months….)… and even harder to believe that my belly will actually get bigger than it is now. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, but I feel as if I’m already as big as I was when I delivered Harper…. so I’ll likely just be rolling myself into the delivery room this time around! All that to say, I wanted to share my “Pregnancy Must Haves” from the first two trimesters before I move into the third… since I know from experience that the third trimester typically requires some special items to make sleeping, and general living, a little easier on the body!
I also know that today’s pregnancy post won’t be applicable to everyone, so apologies on that front… but it’s a requested one, so I wanted to share in the hopes that it helps any of my fellow pregnant ladies out there!
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1. Bellaband: This was given to me by one of my best friends when I was pregnant with Harper, and was a lifesaver. I always find maternity pants hard to find… for me, personally, they tend to have a fit that is overall too large so I am constantly pulling them up. The bellaband allows me to wear my pre-pregnancy jeans with relative comfort. In my last pregnancy I ended up purchasing regular jeans, one size up, and wearing the bellaband with them in my last trimester. I found the fit of regular jeans, with the band, to be more comfortable than constantly pulling up my pants. All that to say, I’ll likely try to purchase another pair of maternity jeans in several weeks and see how the fit it.
2. Jockey Bralette: I shared these bralettes in my “Favorites of 2018” post…. but they have been amazing during this pregnancy. For a gal who was very small chested pre-pregnancy, the growing chest is something I have to adapt to… and, if I’m being honest, is sometimes uncomfortable. Yet these are the perfect alternative to a regular bra when I want something comfortable to toss on under a sweatshirt or tee. They provide sufficient coverage and support. Highly highly recommend.
3. Splendid Waffle Knit Thermal: (featured above) I own this waffle knit in 3 colors… which might seem a tad excessive, but when you’re pregnant, and you find something that fits really well, it’s so worth it. It has just the right amount of stretch to cover a growing belly (I bought them in size S), have no side ruching (not a huge fan of that), and I love the snap button front details. They’re super well made, and can easily be worn post pregnancy as well.
4. SPANX Leggings: I pretty much live in these leggings… and should probably consider getting another pair just in case something happens to these (like, they need to be washed). They hold in all the right places and look great on everyone. I currently own the high waisted option, and it’s just now starting to roll under the bump, so I’ll likely be purchasing the maternity pair in the next several weeks…. I highly recommend sizing up in these, since they are very fitted.
5. Lounge Pants: (featured above) I actually purchased these at the Nordstrom Anniversary sale last year… and they are seriously so comfortable and easily sit right below the belly. Some sweat/lounge pants fit oddly when they sit that low, but these feel great, and look really nice too. They’re super soft and come in a lot of different colors as well (I own a blue too).
6. Saje Wellness Stretch Mark Cream: I honestly didn’t use a stretch mark cream the first time around and didn’t end up having any post pregnancy, but I decided that since my stomach skin was feeling so itchy as it grew, it couldn’t hurt to use a speciality cream. I’ve been very happy with this one…. it’s made from all clean + safe ingredients, and is a thicker consistency, so it really lathers on the skin. I can tell a difference when I don’t use it…. my skin feels dry and itchy. Happy to report that I don’t have any stretch marks yet….
7. OSEA Malibu Face Wash: I needed to switch up my face wash, temporarily, while pregnant and this one from OSEA was the winner. Clean ingredients, all safe to use while pregnant… smells, and feels, amazing as well.
8. ALO Yoga Cut-Out Sports Bra: I was in desperate need of a new sports bra and when I stumbled on this one, I loved the style… so I decided to try and see if it was functional as well. Yep, it is. Holds those babies in place, and I’ve worn it for jogs, spin, and strength training. I sized up one size and it seems to fit really well…. it will also be great post pregnancy as well.
9. Eyelash Wrap Top: Another excellent top option… and without ruching. It’s a true wrap top, so you can adjust it was your belly grows. Super soft and a beautiful neutral color as well. I bought mine one size bigger and it has room to grow (it also has great length to it).
10. Saje Wellness or Dotera Peppermint Essential Oil: These are the two oil brands that I use… but the peppermint oil helped me so much with my first trimester sinuses, headaches, and any nauseousness. My doctor gave me the green light to use peppermint oil, but always check with yours to confirm. I also put a few drops of it in a diffuser at night when we were sick to open up the nasal passages naturally.
11. Beyond Yoga Spacedye Leggings: I actually bought these a while ago… as in two years…. and have always recommended them. Yet, I highly recommend them during pregnancy as well. They’re incredibly soft + stretchy and feel so good on the skin. They easily fit over my bump, since they’re high waisted… and if you go one size up you’re in even better shape (I just bought another color, one size up, that’s how I know). I’ve had so many people tell me they’ve been very pleased with the purchase.
12. Summer Fridays Jet-Lag Mask: My skin has been so off this entire pregnancy, and the dryness has been out of control. This jet-lag mask has really helped to infuse the moisture it needs, and it’s clean/safe for use during pregnancy. I use it 1-2xs a week, in the evenings before I go to bed. I actually just rub it in after the allotted amount of time and go to sleep with it on my skin.
13. Rainbow Light, First 90 Days Prenatal Vitamins: I started using this brand of prenatal vitamins right after I found out I was pregnant (I was using another brand when we were trying). What I really like about the line is that they have a set of prenatals formulated for each trimester you are in, based on the body + baby’s specific needs. In the first trimester they have ginger in them to help combat nauseousness, which I felt was incredibly helpful.
14. Apple Watch- Heart Rate Portion: This might seem like a random item to have here, but the heart rate portion of the apple watch has really helped me with my workouts. Since I see so many benefits to remaining active while pregnant (and have been given the green light by my doc), I wear this watch during all workouts to ensure that my heart rate + exertion levels are within a healthy range for myself and little baby.
15. Distressed Maternity Jeans: Ok, so I know I mentioned above that I’m not a huge fan of them, buuuut, this is the one pair I do have from this pregnancy and I do wear them at least 1-2xs a week… for those days when I want the look of boyfriend jeans, and the comfort of joggers combined. They’re not as expensive as designer maternity jeans, so if you’re on the fence about whether or not you want to try maternity jeans out, I do recommend giving them a try. Every body is different, so they will fit each woman (and belly) uniquely.
