Second Trimester Q&A
I’ve been doing my best to unplug, prepare our home for our baby, and take care of my body, but I miss you guys and I wanted to say hi!
I AM 27 WEEKS NOW AND SLEEPING BETTER THAN A FEW WEEKS AGO.
This pregnancy pillow has been helping me sleep better, take pressure off my joints, support my belly, and protect me from rolling over on my back! My sister-in-law gifted it to me back in October, but I did not start using it until week 25/26.
PRENATAL VITAMINS, IRON & MAGNESIUM.
I started taking these prenatal vitamins in 2022 while trying to conceive and stopped when I found out I’d be needing surgery. I resumed them in August 2023 as soon as I learned that I was pregnant and I was glad to hear that they are my OB’s favorite vitamins because they have brain support with choline, folic acid, and omega-3. I plan on taking them through postpartum!
I tested low for iron at the end of my first trimester, so I was asked to start taking iron 45 mg slow release, one every night. I was familiar with iron supplements, as I had taken them before.
Due to severe migraines during weeks 10-17 of my pregnancy, I consulted a neurologist who recommended that I take magnesium 300 mg, one every night. I think they’ve helped, so I am still taking them! Before my pregnancy, I had not experienced migraines. For treating my 12-hour-long migraines I chose to avoid all prescription drugs, and also Tylenol, to reduce any potential impact on our baby.
Note: It is best to space doses of iron and magnesium 1 to 2 hours apart, to get the full benefit from each dietary supplement.
MATERNITY CLOTHING
For my pregnancy-related outfits, I’ve been using both regular and maternity clothes! These brands offer affordable pieces:
- GAP: for sweater dresses, both maternity and regular. I love how comfortably they fit, and that they are machine-washable, like this one!
- H&M MAMA: for affordable maternity options.
- UNIQLO: for winter layers, (not maternity, so I sized up), see what I purchased here!
WHAT HAS HELPED DURING PREGNANCY
I am the last of my friends to conceive, so the following has helped me navigate my pregnancy a lot:
- Joining a Local Mom’s Group: there are several in New York City, so I joined one back in 2020 and it has been life-changing.
- What To Expect App: my sister urged me to download this app that offers a week-by-week pregnancy tracker that details your baby’s development. What I like about it are the pregnancy, parenting, and baby forums, that you can join/participate in and are organized by ‘birth month!’
Sweater Dress | Bracelet | Shoes
BODY IMAGE & BODY WEIGHT
Since the start of my pregnancy, I’ve been told that “I’m gaining a lot more weight than normal” or that “My belly is much bigger than it should be” and this can be a little frustrating because there is not much I can do. I’ve read articles that explain that women who have undergone the same that I have, will show their pregnancy much earlier (since the uterus has been stretched out before), so that likely explains it.
I’ve had a few health scares during this pregnancy, so I have minimized my time at the gym. Instead, I have opted for two 30-minute long walks with my dogs per day.
SKINCARE ROUTINE DURING PREGNANCY
I’ve kept my skincare routine as simple as possible during pregnancy, and I’ve avoided retin-A, retinol, retinyl palmitate, oils, and serums to protect the baby from chemicals. Moisturizing is important to me (I’ve been applying moisturizer to my face/body daily since high school), especially during Winter in New York, so here is what I use:
- Burt Bees mama belly butter
- Cetaphil body moisturizer
- Lavanila’s natural deodorant is free of both parabens and aluminum.
TRAVELING AND BABYMOON
We traveled a lot during the first half of 2023, and we decided to pause traveling in August, as soon as I found out that I was pregnant. Since then, our traveling has been limited to New York – New Jersey only! My parents and siblings came to New York for our gender reveal and baby shower in December, and that was fun!
COPING WITH ANXIETY BETWEEN EACH OB VISIT
This is where my faith comes in, and how I get through the 3-4 weeks waiting period in between OB appointments… My husband and I also go to church every weekend, like we usually do. So staying positive, and remembering that our baby is in God’s hands!
BABY NAMES
We each have a few names on our list that we love, but we have not decided yet. We are trying to find a first name and a middle name that go well together!
BIGGEST PREGNANCY SURPRISES
Three things come to mind: how painful migraines can be, how fast pregnancy passes by, and Braxton Hicks ‘contractions’ that started during my second trimester!
Here are a few more of my maternity-related posts!
