Pregnancy Journey \ second trimester

05 09

Second Trimester Details

Hi y’all! I can’t believe I’m already in my third trimester. Less than three months until we meet our baby boy!!

I’ve posted two other pregnancy posts about my experience: preparation + first trimester and my birth plan. I will continue to share my journey on the blog with this second trimester post, maternity fashions 101, a third trimester rundown, birth story and probably a few more. My hope in doing so, is to be open about MY experience and hopefully help a few of you along the way. Please note, these are the things I have chosen to do and they may not be for everyone. Do what works fo you!

Once I hit 14 weeks, just after getting into my second trimester, the constant sickness feeling went away and my energy was back! SO thankful for this. I felt like myself again, began to workout more, eat better and be more productive at work. At 20 weeks Luke and I opted to get the standard ultra sound for baby. It was so cool to see HIM in there and verify all of organs were healthy and growing! Around the same time, I began to feel him move… like, a lot!! It has been non-stop the past two months and I love it! He’s legit practicing karate in there! LOL 🙂

Below I wanted to break down all of the things I’ve learned, supplements I’m taking and why, products I’m using, exercise routine and what I’m eating. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment. I hope this helps!


Supplements

Athletic Greens – I took this all-in-one supplement prior to becoming pregnant and continued once I found out I was expecting. It is essentially a powder mixture of 75 ingredients of real food, plus probiotics and digestive enzymes to help your body absorb and synthesize. I take it every morning by stirring it up with a glass of water. Find out more about the ingredients here.

Prenatal – Throughout pregnancy it is recommended to take a prenatal. As I discussed in my first trimester post, I was so nauseated that I couldn’t keep a pill down. I had to cave and take gummies. Since feeling 99% better in my second trimester, I could finally keep prenatal vitamins down. I found the Thorne brand I am currently taking from listening to a podcast with Dr. Rhonda Patrick. She discusses her pregnancy and a lot of supplements. If you’re interested in having a listen, check it out here.

Fish Oils – I take this as most humans don’t get enough omega-3s (EPA & DHA) in their diet. Research has confirmed that adding EPA and DHA to the diet during pregnancy has a positive effect on visual and cognitive development of the baby. Studies have also shown that higher consumption of omega-3s may reduce the risk of allergies in infants. Increased intake of fish oils has been shown to prevent pre-term labor and delivery, lower the risk of preeclampsia, and may increase birth weight. All great things for mama and baby! Along with my prenatal, I also get my Fish Oil with Super EPA from Thorne.

Vitamin D – This is not only good for the mama’s own personal health, helping with supporting immune function, healthy cell division, and bone health, but it’s also important for bone development of baby. I take this vitamin D supplement.

Magnesium – It’s said a deficiency in magnesium during pregnancy may cause increased risk of hypertension and premature labor. I take a powder called, Calm Magnesium, every evening mixing it with warm water. It relaxes my mind, helps me sleep and stay regular. Ya, maybe TMI for some, but during pregnancy constipation is an issue! I haven’t had any problems thanks to my diet and magnesium.

Pregnancy Tea – My midwife gave my a homemade blended tea that I take every day. The purpose of it is to prepare my uterus for labor and lessen the bleeding. I can’t recommend a specific one as I haven’t tried any but it’s worth looking into if you’re curious.


Products

Pregnancy Pillow – So I’ve tried a few and come to find I do NOT prefer the Snoogle body pillow everyone raves about. It is massive and not comfortable for me. I switched to a smaller pillow to support my lower back and belly as I sleep on my side. I put a standard pillow in between my knees to balance my hips and continue to have my silk tempurpedic beauty for my head. Ya, it’s definitely a situation in my bed, but totally worth it! Being comfortable while sleeping is SO important for mom.

Belly Oil – I first tried a few balms and they were breaking out my tummy and chest area with little red bumps. I then switch to the Zoe Organics oil and I’m loving it! I lather it on morning and night and anytime I feel a bit dry and/or itchy. Your skin is stretching, so don’t be shy with the oils!

Belly Band – A girlfriend of mine told me about this magical band. As you grow, the weight on your front side can take a toll on your lower back and put pressure on your bladder. As my bump has started to get bigger… and bigger, I’ve worn this band during the day. It’s definitely worth it and I know I will be wearing it much more in my third trimester.

Back Massager – Fortunately I haven’t had too much neck and lower back tension as I’ve gained weight. I do think this is because I’ve continued to stay active – more about this below. If I am feeling a bit out of wack, I turn on my handy dandy massager from Amazon. It’s legit, incredible and if you’re pregnant you will probably find your husband stealing it from time to time! 😉 Shop it here!


Exercise

I’ve found the key to keep my energy up and body feeling good, is by staying active. If that means just a little walk around the neighborhood, I’m doing it! I’ve been able to stay on my normal workout routine with the exception of the intensity level. My doctor did not recommend a specific heart rate to stay under as everyone has a different resting beat. Rather she said to keep activity level to where I could still speak. Basically you don’t want to cut off oxygen to the baby. If you’re like me, I can tell when I’m getting my heart rate too high, and know when to back down. I typically do something 5-6 days a week. If I’m not feeling good, I rest. Listen to your bod!

Peleton (bike) – I have received a lot of DMs on Instagram about my Peleton experience: riding while pregnant, classes I take and teachers I love. I will say, overall the bike is SO worth it! Luke got it for me for my birthday right around when I found out I was expecting. I was so excited to start using it, at my own pace and when I wanted to. It is really perfect to utilize during pregnancy and I know it will be helpful to loose the weight after. I love that I can cycle whenever I want, for the duration I choose and with an instructor that motivates me. I typically do a 30 min pop ride paired with a 10 min arms session OR a 45 min interval and arms ride. I find that to be the perfect full body workout and amount of time for my pregnant body to handle. It’s been a great cardio workout for me without going full-out as I can control the intensity. My favorite teachers are Cody, Robin and Ally! I typically ride 3 times a week paired with a few other activities.

Prenatal Yoga – I found a local doula who does prenatal yoga. It’s very gentle and a time for me to connect with how my body is feeling and the baby. I’m loving it! I do this once a week.

Pilates – I have been taking private pilates classes since I moved to Idaho a year ago. Since becoming pregnant I have continued weekly to get a great leg/arm workout and really stretch out my middle section. Pilates is typically more core focused so as the baby gets bigger many things are hard to do, so I don’t. She really tailors the class for my body. I wouldn’t recommend a mat class as it’s harder to modify unless your teacher is very attentive. Maybe wait until after baby. 😉

Hiking – This is one of my favorite things to do in the mountains and thankfully, this summer, I have felt up to hiking every week! My hikes have continued to get not as steep and long as I’ve grown, but I’m still getting out there. Being outside and in nature is my happy place!

Barre 3 – It’s important to me to keep my strength up during pregnancy so classes like Barre 3 have been a great addition to my exercise routine. You subscribe monthly and can stream as many workouts as you want right at home. All you need are a few props. They even have specific prenatal workouts. I highly recommend if you are pregnant or are in need of a quick workout at home!

The Every Mother – I just discovered this recently thanks to my pilates teacher. The program was initially developed for women that had abdominal tearing (diastasis recti) during pregnancy and were trying to repair it post labor. Now they have a program for prenatal women, with safe exercises to get your core and body in a healthy place. Like Barre, you can stream it online – 10 to 30 min sessions. Perfect to do in at home!


Eats

I definitely got my appetitive back in the second trimester, which is typical. Fortunately I haven’t been craving bad foods but rather staying away from items I once loved. I am currently sticking with the diet I ate prior to pregnancy, eating healthy, smaller meals throughout the day. I have been craving more basic, simple foods. Here are a list of the things I have been eating:

Breakfast / Lunch

1/2 cup of oatmeal made with almond milk. Toppings: fruit, almond butter, hemp seeds and chia seeds.

Sourdough toast with either almond butter or avocado, salt and pepper.

Muffins! One of my cravings 🙂 Since they aren’t always the best for you I’ve found a grain-free recipe which I’m loving. Find it here: almond flour blueberry lemon muffins.

Breakfast/Lunch burrito – 2 scrambled eggs and/or chicken, spinach, avocado wrapped in an almond tortilla (Siete).

Can of tuna mixed with dijon mustard and a tablespoon of hummus. I put it on a bed of lettuce or toasted sourdough bread.

Organic chicken noodle soup and crackers. Basic and delicious!

Dinner

Healthy taco salad – recipe here.

Healthy chicken lettuce wraps – recipe here.

Cauliflower pizza – greek chicken recipe here and frozen margherita here.

Grilled chicken, beef patty and/ or Fish (Omega 3s are SO good during pregnancy), salad with my lemon dressing (recipe here) and a potato.

Snacks / Sweets

Fruit!! This is probably my number one craving. I eat apples, peaches, grapes, strawberries and watermelon.

Dang Bars – lemon matcha flavor.

Almond flour pumpkin muffins – I use this mix.

Annie’s rice crispy treat bars.

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