Sharing all the must-have pregnancy items I couldn’t live without during my second trimester of pregnancy in 2023!
I’m officially through my second trimester of pregnancy (for the third time)! I feel like I’ve tested out all of the talked about maternity products out there so I’m sharing all of my top second trimester pregnancy must-haves! Pregnancy can be so overwhelming, especially if you’re a first time mom, so hopefully this list of must-haves makes knowing what is worth buying easier for you! There are sooooo many products out there marketed to pregnant women and you really don’t have to go overboard, but there are some that are very helpful!
I’ve also tested and used alllll of these products that I’m listing below and sharing my personal experiences with them, so you can trust that these products are worth it!
I’d love to hear from you in the comments below if I’m missing anything that helped you through your pregnancy as well!
Make sure you check out my 1st Trimester Must-Haves if you missed it!
I’ll update this post once I publish my 3rd Trimester, Postpartum, and Newborn Must-Haves as well!
This post contains affiliate links, which provide me with a small commission from each sale at no extra cost to you; see the full Disclosure here. Thank you for your support!
Second Trimester Pregnancy Must-Haves
Belly Creams and Stretch Mark Oils
Belly Cream and Stretch Mark Oil is one of the most talked about must-have products for pregnancy! I honestly believe that stretch marks are mainly genetic – you can do everything you can to avoid them and some people will get them and some won’t. But, with all of my pregnancies I’ve had super itchy skin as my belly grows, and staying hydrated and moisturized is so important! So, my main advice is to ignore the “this oil will prevent stretch marks” claims and instead focus on a good quality, non-toxic oil or moisturizer that relieves the itch and feels good on your skin.
I came across this natural belly oil this pregnancy and really love how it feels! It soaks in pretty quickly and makes my skin very super soft. I actually use it all over (especially on my legs after shaving) because the oils in it, like Vitamin E, are so good for your skin!
I’ve linked a few other belly creams and oils below that I’ve also tried and liked!
Pregnancy Pillow
There are already so many things that make it hard to get a good night’s sleep while you’re pregnant, so you want to be as comfortable as possible! A pregnancy pillow is definitely a necessity for me once my belly starts getting bigger!
For my previous pregnancies I used a large u-shaped pregnancy pillow. I found them really comfortable, but I didn’t love how I couldn’t use my own pillow with it and after a while it started hurting my neck. They also take up sooooo much space on the bed! But they are definitely worth trying out and are great for stomach or back sleepers that need help staying on their sides.
This pregnancy I’m using the Baby Bub pregnancy pillow. I like how it’s smaller and I can use my own pillow with it. It is a little less supportive than the large u-shaped pillows though and I find myself waking up on my back a lot. They do offer a 90 trial though so again it is definitely worth trying out!
EDIT: Now that I’m in my 3rd trimester, I wish I would have gotten a u-shaped pregnancy pillow! The Baby Bub maternity pillow is comfortable but it’s not supportive enough to keep me on my side so I wake up on my back multiple times a night. Luckily Baby Bub offers a 90-night trial so I can return it for a full refund.
I’ve linked a few more popular pregnancy pillows below –
Leggings, Joggers & Sweatpants
I’ve been pretty much living in comfy leggings, joggers and sweatpants this pregnancy! Very thankful athleisure styles are so popular right now, haha! With my other two pregnancies I had summer babies so lived in dresses and shorts, but this time it’s winter and freezing here in Colorado so I just want to be bundled up!
It can be frustrating how expensive maternity clothes are, especially since you can only wear them for a short period of time, so I love when I find non-maternity items that work with my bump! The Lululemon Align Leggings are hands down my favorite leggings for pregnancy!! They are honestly more comfortable and fit better than any other maternity legging I have tried, and I don’t have to constantly adjust or pull them up. And they are “normal” leggings so I can wear them postpartum and beyond.
You can size up if you want a little more give, and know that even the size up will still fit you once you are back to your pre-pregnancy size because they are so stretchy and forgiving. I wear mine either pulled up over my bump or rolled down under my bump. you can also try the “super high rise” version that is sold online-only if you want them to cover more of your bump.
If you’d prefer a supportive maternity legging I suggest trying the Blanqi Everday Maternity Support Leggings. They are offer compression support around your hips, belly and back but are still comfortable. Keep an eye out for sales too!
For budget friendly maternity leggings check out these from Amazon! They fit well and I love the pockets.
I’ve also been wearing a lot of non-maternity sweats and joggers! They sit comfortably under my bump and again I love that they will fit beyond pregnancy. I love these joggers from Target and they come in a few different colors.
I also love the Athleta Salutation Joggers and the Athleta Venice joggers, if you are looking for something a little nicer. I have had these for years and they have held up so well.
Here are a few more of my favorite leggings, joggers and sweatpants that work well for pregnancy –
Maternity Jeans
When I want to get out of my sweats and feel a little more put together, I switch to maternity jeans. I’ve been really impressed by Gap Maternity jeans! They fit really similar to normal jeans and are stretchy and comfortable. The full belly panel is supportive and comfortable. Gap also has sales all the time so you can usually find them at a great price! I did find that they run a little short, so go with the long length if you are over 5’4″…you can always roll them up if they are too long.
Here are a few more popular Maternity Jean Options:
Maternity Underware
This is actually the first pregnancy that I’ve boughten maternity underware for, but they are surprisingly comfortable! These from Kindred Bravely have the best ratings and are very comfortable.
These are great for maternity and postpartum!
I’ve also tested out a few more affordable styles from Amazon and love them, especially for sleeping in –
Bras
I need super comfortable, stretchy, and supportive bras during pregnancy. I also like to make sure they are affordable – since your cup size can change quickly. And also easy to wash – I put belly oil / lotion all over my chest as well so don’t want to worry about getting oil stains on the bra.
This super affordable option has been my favorite!! It’s so comfortable and smoothing, and I love that the pads aren’t removable (I can’t stand when the removable pads shift and fall out in the wash).
I’ve also been wearing these affordable nursing bras from Amazon. They come in a pack of 3 and are comfortable and stretchy.
Here are a few more of my favorite bras for maternity and nursing –
Humidifier
Colorado winters can be really harsh on your skin, so a humidifier is a must here! They also help prevent dry noses / mouths at night while you’re sleeping, and can boost your immunity during cold and flu season (by adding humidity to the air germs can’t travel as easily).
I recently got this Canopy Humidifier and love it so much! It is more expensive than others, but it is definitely worth it! I can’t tell you how many cheap humidifiers I have gone through; I wish I purchased one of these from the start. The best feature is the anti-mold filter and technology – the humidifier runs until there is no water left in the tank or chambers, inhibiting mold growth and making clean up soooo easy! I also the love diffuser puck that sits on the top. You can use their aromas or your own essential oils so it is like a humidifier and diffuser all in one!
I also have the Canopy Diffuser and it’s by far the best diffuser I’ve ever owned! It doesn’t use water so again it is mold free and easy to clean. You can either put a few drops of essential oil on the diffusion puck that sits on the top for short term aromas, or place a whole bottle inside the diffusion well for an aroma that lasts 2-4 weeks! I love that I can set it up and it runs for weeks!
Comfortable Shoes
There comes a time in pregnancy where you can no longer bend over to comfortably put on your shoes – fun times – so easy to slip on, comfortable shoes are a must! Shoes with good arch support also help prevent back pain! Since it is currently winter in Colorado, I’ve been wearing my UGG boots almost every day. They are comfy and easy to get on.
I also love my Birkenstock clogs (when the snow isn’t too deep)! Slides and clogs are definitely the easiest to slip into and Birkenstocks have great arch support.
When I was pregnant during the summer months I wore my Birkenstock sandals daily! Again they have great arch support so helped with my lower back pain, and they come in so many cute colors and styles now!
If you prefer sneakers / tennis shoes, the ON brand are my favorites! They are so comfortable and supportive, and they make a few slip-on styles as well so you don’t have to worry about lacing them up.
Cloud Slides
My cousin introduced me to these when I was complaining about my lower back pain one day. Now I wear them around the house all the time and they have helped my back pain so much! I shared them on Instagram as well and had a good amount of people message me that they love them as well!
Ice Roller
The Skinny Confidential Ice Roller is definitely the best one on the market! I use this ice roller all the time and for many different reasons. I roll it on my face in the morning to help with puffiness and inflammation (its great to promote circulation and drain the lymphatic system). I use it on my head or neck when I have a headache. And lately it’s been a life saver for an itchy rash that I have on my stomach! I keep mine in the freezer but you could also store it in the fridge if you don’t like it as cold. Or if you just leave it out on the Kitchen counter it stays pretty cold as well since the roller is made of metal. This will also be helpful in the 3rd Trimester to relieve swollen ankles and feet.
Bath Products
Taking a (warm) bath has become one of my favorite nighttime rituals during pregnancy! It really helps relax me before bed (helps with pregnancy insomnia) and has been great for my dry skin as well. I alternate between epsom salt baths, and colloidal oatmeal baths.
Epsom salts are not really salt, but are a naturally occurring mineral compound of magnesium and sulfate. The benefits of epsom salt baths include –
- relieving pain and inflammation in the body (including sore muscles and joints, nerve damage, swelling, and even migraines)
- promotes relaxation and eases stress
- makes insulin more effective (can help lower the risk of gestational diabetes)
- helps prevent hardening of arteries and blood clots
- relieves constipation (and helps with existing hemorrhoids)
- eliminates toxins from the body.
Look for pure Epsom salts without added artificial fragrance (natural fragrance is fine, or add your own essential oils!) or other ingredients –
I started taking oatmeal baths regularly after coming down with a severely itchy rash on my stomach during this pregnancy (might be PUPPS but still not sure what caused it). The colloidal oatmeal baths have been so good for my skin!! I’ve also started giving them to my kids to help with their dry itchy skin. You can buy packets of colloidal oatmeal, but I’ve been making my own to save money. All you need to do is grind oatmeal (use high quality, gluten free rolled oats) into a very fine powder using a food processor or blender. I add about 1 cup of the oat powder to my baths.
The benefits of colloidal oatmeal baths include –
- Provides a protective barrier by binding to your skin to hold in moisture
- Reduces inflammation
- Soothes skin irritation and itchiness including severe dryness, eczema, psoriasis, rashes from PUPPS and other skin issues
- Balances skin pH by fighting infection and free radicals
- May protect against UV damage
- Cleans skin and helps clear acne
I hope that this list of Second Trimester Pregnancy Must-Haves was helpful! Like I said this list is much more personalized than any other pregnancy must haves list you will find because I’ve tried allll of these items!
Again I’d love to hear in the comments below if I missed anything that you loved during your pregnancy!
Make sure you check out my 1st Trimester Must-Haves if you missed it!
Leave a Reply