My Pregnancy Journey: 2nd Trimester Recap, Must Have Products!

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Hey Guys!

Today I wanted to share with you my 2nd Trimester and all the products I recommend to get you through it. The 2nd trimester has definitely brought along new feelings, new wardrobe needs, and a new energy level which I have enjoyed. I will have links to any products I recommend below as well as pictures to help you see them. If you haven’t ready my post about my 1st Trimester, Read it HERE.

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I remember being at one of my first appointments talking to the nurse about how tired I was feeling and she said, “Just wait until the 2nd trimester, you will have all this energy and be so motivated” and I laughed thinking she was crazy. But she was right!

Probably at about weeks 16 weeks or so, it was like a veil was lifted and I suddenly felt like myself again. The energy and motivation came back and I felt like my normal self again. I didn’t feel like I was pregnant for most of the 2nd trimester because my symptoms disappeared and I wasn’t showing. It was so weird!

Up until about week 22, I was wearing my normal clothes. Some days I would get randomly bloated and this pant extender from Amazon was a real lifesaver. It fit right through my belt loops and is adjustable so I can use it through my whole pregnancy. This helped me in the transition to full on maternity pants when my belly wasn’t big enough to fill them out just yet.

Speaking of maternity clothes, as mentioned above, I didn’t really start showing until about week 23, My belly popped one day and it was amazing! I love looking at it and seeing the baby grow. I don’t plan on investing too much in maternity clothes since I feel like I still fit into all my normal tops, but I did pick up a few pairs of pants. The belt extender is great but once you enter the world of comfortable maternity pants it is hard to go back. I prefer pants with the full panel vs just side panels. I feel they stay up better, offer more support and are more comfortable.

The first store I hit up for maternity pants was Target. I decided to purchase 2 pairs of jeans from the Ingrid and Isabel Maternity line, 1 plain and 1 slightly distressed. I got my normal size as indicated on the label and at first they were a bit big in the stomach area but as my stomach has grown, they are fitting better. They have great stretch and are so comfortable for all day wear. You can also fold down the panel if you don’t want to wear it covering your belly all day.


The second store I went to was Walmart. They have an extensive line of maternity wear online and it is all so affordable. I needed to get some pants for work so I purchased the most comfortable black pants, maroon pants, and olive pants. They are all full panel over the stomach, inexpensive but still look and feel high quality. I also purchased a 2 pack of t shirts in white and grey that show off the belly. I wasn’t planning on getting any maternity shirts since I wear mostly loose tops any way that still fit but I wanted a couple tight ones just to show off sometimes. These are so soft and stretchy and wash really well.

I also recently attended a casual wedding reception and wore a red striped maternity dress ( see below) that is also nursing friendly and I loved it. It was super comfortable, midi length and showed off my bump without being overly tight. It also comes in Navy which I might pick up next.. Also it is less than $10!


Aside from maternity clothes, I have been on the hunt for nursing bras. I hate wearing bras in general so I was looking for ones that are Underwire free, easy to use and comfortable. So far I have purchased about 7 different styles from Leading Lady and am loving all of them. Obviously I haven’t used them for their intended purpose of nursing but they all feel super comfortable and I love the variety that Leading Lady carries. I have gotten a couple “normal” looking ones, sleep ones, and even some lacy ones. They also carry regular bras, nursing tanks, maternity leggings and shape wear. If you want to see my haul check out my InstaStories under 2nd Trimester for a more in depth look. Leading Lady has amazing prices already but if you want to save more, feel free to use code “LL80SAVE30” to save an additional 30%.

The most fun thing about the 2nd trimester is finding out the gender of your baby if you choose! My husband and I wanted to find out since the day the test read positive so when we went in for our 19 week appointment we were really excited. I felt like it was a girl and his guess was a boy. Obviously we both didn’t care either way as long as it was healthy. But we are having a…..BOY! We are both so excited to meet our little man and are currently in the process of picking a name and decorating his nursery. We had a small gender reveal dinner with our parents where we purchased a balloon and confetti set off of Amazon and popped it for them. It was really fun and everyone was so excited.

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The other most exciting thing about the 2nd trimester is feeling him kick! I remember people telling me it feels like tiny gas bubbles, and you won’t know if it is the baby or not but I disagree. I remember feeling him for the first time and it felt unlike anything I have felt before. I was laying in bed and I felt this poke from the inside right next to my belly button. It caught me by surprise but I knew it was him. The rest of the night it was constant and ever since then he hasn’t slowed down. Many people told me it doesn’t get big enough to really see or feel through the stomach until the 3rd trimester but I have been catching him on camera and my husband has felt and seen him kick since about 20 weeks. Even at this moment he is kicking. He is one active boy! I love it though and any chance I get to touch him or watch him move around in there I do. It is amazing!


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Now that I am at the end of my 2nd trimester I am slowly starting to feel the tiredness creep back in. I also have been getting Braxton Hicks contractions which feel crazy and tight but not painful. I find that if I stay hydrated they don’t come as often.

I have gained approx 10 lbs and my Dr. said little man and I are growing right on target. I haven’t been the best at doing my workouts but I do take at least 2 walks a day which is good.

Since my belly is finally starting to show, I have begun the transition from sleeping on my stomach to my side and it stinks! I don’t know how people sleep like that. I find that I am most comfortable on my back now which I have heard can be bad but I also heard the baby will let you know when it is time to roll over. Sometimes I wake up and my stomach is tight so I roll onto my side and then it feels fine.

Now I am in the process of organizing the nursery, preparing for my shower, taking birthing classes, and making my registry. I plan on writing a blog post about these topics so please leave your questions below. Also, let me know if you want me to write about anything else.

XOX Channing