There may be affiliate links or adverts within this post. This means that by purchasing a product through this link, I will earn a very small commission. This is of no extra cost to you, and you are under no obligation to buy. All opinions about any products are my own and I only recommend products I am passionate about. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. For more information please visit our 'Disclaimer' page.
Hey there, second trimester Mumma!
You’ve made it, I knew you would. No more are those first trimester days and you’re starting to feel a bit more like yourself now. It’s also a time that you feel yourself relax into your pregnancy a bit more because the chance of miscarriage has dropped dramatically, your energy levels are returning and the sickness is disappearing (YIPPEEEEE). You may also be telling people of your joyous news at this point! A MASSIVE congratulations from me. You rock, you know that right?
Even though this is my second pregnancy I am still amazed at how our bodies can create a living, breathing, thinking and feeling fully functional human being…..how blooming incredible is that right? it just literally amazes me and baffles me all at the same time. I always think the second trimester is the best one. I actually have more energy than I usually do when I am un-pregnant…is that the right way to word that?….it is now.
The Second Trimester means shopping for maternity clothes.
Now your feeling more yourself and quite possibly starting to have your bump show, it’s probably time for some maternity clothes. Or more maternity clothes if you already have a few pieces. I know that when I got to 4 months, there was no way I could squeeze myself into my pre-pregnancy jeans anymore (even with the hairband trick). ASOS has the best selection of maternity clothes I have been able to find.They have a focus on current fashion and trends, for those of you that don’t want to have to compromise on your appearance, just because you’re pregnant and why should we right? They also have all simple staples you could need. jeans, tank tops, T-shirts. you name ASOS have got it. BONUS!! it’s very affordable.
Arranging maternity leave at work.
Now you’re starting to tell people, it’s probably time you tell your boss unless you already have. Maternity leave scares some employers because they think we aren’t ever going to come back to work. If you have only just entered your second trimester, then nothing needs to be set in stone with your employer yet. It is definitely something you need to discuss with them though. Starting this process early will cause less stress for everyone and it means you will have a date sooner rather than later. Your employer should be aware of any paperwork that they need to fill out with you.
In England, as long as you are an employee. You are entitled to take up to a year of maternity leave. You must tell your employer when you would like your maternity leave to start, at least 15 weeks before the week your baby is due. If you do this in writing, you then have a record of it.
Your employer can also ask to see your MATB1 form. You get this at your 20-week scan. There is lots of information about this on the citizen’s advice website, all explained really simply. [Source]
Talk to your partner about finances.
It’s time to talk about money with your other half or start to think about how you will budget and live if you are going to be a single parent. Are you entitled to maternity pay? how much paid paternity leave does your other half get? these are all things you are going to have to seriously consider. Babies, although the most amazing gift in the world, are expensive. They require stuff, and stuff costs money. There are of course ways in which you can save money when buying things for the baby and of course there are always things we can cut back on within our daily lives to save a bit of money.
Do a bit of research, have a discussion and go from there. You still have quite a bit of time before things are going to need to be bought and time till baby wants to make an appearance, but being a bit organised and setting some goals and expectations is never a bad thing. Again, use the link above for the citizen’s advice bureau, as they have loads of info that’s easy to digest.
Buy some cute baby stuff that you’ve been trying not to buy for 12 weeks.
I am now 26 weeks pregnant and have only just bought my first cute outfit! We are moving in less than 2 months so, I have been trying to hold off as much as possible so it is less to box up and move. Also, this is my second baby, so I already have a lot of baby stuff I will need. If this is your first baby, then now is the time you can go a little crazy with the baby things, Mamas & Papas and boots have lots of cute and practical baby things. It will really make you excited when you buy that first outfit and make it feel real, although we’ve known for at least 12 weeks that the baby is pretty real!
This is something you and your partner, or mum, or dad or friend can do together and share the excitement. My partner always laughs at me because I say everything is soo cute! Second Trimester nesting, bring it on!!
Take a babymoon.
I was not in the position to do this with my first pregnancy, but my partner and I also had no one else to look after, so we didn’t feel like we needed it quite as much. This time around we planned a 10 day summer holiday to Spain. It was then de-railed by my 2-year-old acquiring chicken pox and we couldn’t go (we rebooked for the beginning of August!). We both feel like we need some time away to have an adults-only holiday, that is away from everyday life. A chance to relax and unwind before the years of family holidays start in a couple of years.
Spend some good quality time with just your partner.
This relates back to the previous point. A babymoon is a perfect time for some quality time with your partner. If a babymoon isn’t on the cards for you, then try a date night each week. This could be done at home, or physically going out. It doesn’t always have to cost money, but quality time is something you may feel a bit short on once the baby is here. So take advantage of this time now, when you can just focus on each other for a few hours.
Think about the nursery.
Are you going to prepare the nursery before the baby arrives? Will you wait until they are old enough to sleep in it? These are questions you will have to ask and agree on. Painting and furnishing the nursery is a very fun and exciting part of preparing for the baby to arrive. What colours will you paint it, will they have a cot, that then turns into a bed, or a rocking crib? I spent hours on Pinterest searching for ideas. It’s great for some inspiration. Lucky for you, I created a board of nursery inspiration to get you started on this exciting time during your second trimester. Click below to view it.
Think about and discuss if you want to have a birth plan with your partner and/or midwife.
I am a big believer, that having a birth plan isn’t necessarily for everyone. However, I found that because I am stubborn, and once I have my mind set on something it is very hard to change it. I chose the let’s see what happens plan. What if I didn’t actually need the epidural I said I had wanted? ( I screamed until they gave me one). I didn’t want to have my heart set on a natural delivery, in case that couldn’t happen ( I had a c-section).
The only thing I was adamant about was that I wanted to breastfeed. After the birth of my son, I was even more glad that I hadn’t written a birth plan because everything that happened was so unexpected. By not having a birth plan I was ready for anything to happen and I was ok with that.
I understand that some people will want a birth plan. I agree that it will help you feel you have a bit more control over a situation that in reality, you have no control over. It can also help you and your other half or birth partner communicate rationally with the midwives and doctors because a screaming woman who is in pain….well…..they just aren’t easy to get proper answers out of (at least I wasn’t). If you do decide on a birth plan, I suggest laminating it or keeping it in a plastic wallet. That way it won’t get ruined by any sort of fluid.
I’m making this sound really bad, aren’t I?
Just to clarify I handled the pain very badly, as I found out I have the lowest pain threshold known to humankind. I am positive that you will all handle it so much better than me. I was that woman that scared all the other women on the ward. Yep, I was a screamer. So I may be exaggerating this for some people, but for me…well I can laugh about it now. All the pain was instantly forgotten as soon as my boy was placed in my arms, and really, thats what its all about.
Just have that discussion during your second trimester. This time is about finding out what you and your partner both hope and want for during the rest of the pregnancy, the birth and the start of your new lives as a family together.
The second trimester of pregnancy bring different emotions and feelings, but the biggest one is JOY! #secondtrimester #happiness #joy #blogpost #blog #lifestyleblog Click To Tweet
Take advantage of your increased sex drive.
This doesn’t always happen to everyone, but I’m sure its a mixture of feeling crappy for 12 weeks, hormonal overdrive and just generally being able to stay awake later than 8 pm. If it happens to you, take full advantage of it! This goes back to spending some quality time together **wink wink**. Take it from me, when the baby gets here. The bedroom will be a place for passing out from lack of sleep. Do it while you can. While it’s still comfortable for you, while you still have the energy too and you don’t have a beautifully teeny tiny human commanding your undivided attention 24/7. I feel that’s all I need to say about this particular point. I know you get the idea and I don’t think your partner will complain either.
Exercise in your second trimester.
EXERCISE?!?!?!? I hear you gasp and shout in disbelief and horror.
I do not mean hitting the gym or going for a 5-mile bike ride. Unless you still can and have been throughout your pregnancy. Always check with your doctor or midwife before you start any new exercise regime.
When I say exercise, I mean some pregnancy yoga or walking (within your limit of comfort), swimming, and I’m going to say that pelvic floor exercises count as well (they might?). Haha! I can tell that some people are going to disagree with that last one.
I’m not a huge exercise fan, however, I do walk a lot. Just staying mobile and active during pregnancy will help you with labour, help with the backache and help to prevent varicose veins as well. There are many more benefits to some gentle exercise in pregnancy. Exercise in your second trimester will make the next 6ish months a lot easier on you.
If you missed my post about the first trimester be sure to check it out, especially if you are just embarking on the wonderful and joyous journey of pregnancy.
What did you experience during your second trimester? or what are you experiencing right now? share with us in the comments. Can’t wait to hear them!