Pregnancy Guide Pt 2: Tips, Tricks, Oils, and Must Haves for the Second Trimester

Pregnancy Guide: Tips, Tricks, Oils and Must Haves for the First Trimester. All the pregnancy need to know to survive the first trimester!

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This post has all the pregnancy things. TIPS, TRICKS, ESSENTIAL OILS, and all the must-haves. Plus I talk high-risk pregnancy info and incompetent cervix stuff too. So this Pregnancy Guide has everything and I hope it blesses you in any way you need!

General Feelings, Cravings and Symptoms

The second trimester. The best trimester. All the energy, all the growing bump pictures. None of the exhaustion or pain yet. It’s my favourite! All the baby kicks and movements. This time around the pain started a little earlier. Sore legs, hips and back, grew twice as fast, but still sleeping well, so there is that. It is still definitely the best trimester. Anyways, here it is, my Pregnancy Guide: Tips Tricks Oils and Must-Haves for the Second Trimester

Second Trimester

Overall this trimester is my favorite. I started doing a little more because I had more energy. The boys talk to my belly all the time, it’s J’s little nighttime routine now. All the little kicks picked up around 14 weeks – very external this time and boy is he active! Around 20 weeks he got crazy and my husband could notice him kicking and flipping and dancing away! It really helps ease my anxiety when he is moving all the time and I just love it. Lots of Braxton hicks, pelvic pain and of course, heartburn started early this time around, again. All in all, it was a good trimester.

Tips and Tricks

Do the most baby prep stuff while you’re feeling your best. Get the nursery painted or decorated. If you’re doing any DIY stuff, get that done! Baby registries and budgets are a good idea too!
Take a trip/babymoon while you’re still feeling great
Keep up with your water, supplements and nutritious eating.
Start moisturizing that baby bump as it grows to help your skin with the itchy and stretch marks
Buy those maternity clothes and a good maternity/nursing bra!
This last tip is more if you’re an oily mama but prep your oils. Make your oil plan. Research, which oils for what. Labor Oils. All the things! Be prepared before you’re too tired to even try! You won’t regret it.

High Risk + Incompetent Cervix (IC)

My anxiety was still pretty high during the beginning of my second trimester, 2nd baby after loss. Viability isn’t until after 24 weeks. And even then I still was so worried something would happen. I didn’t want to spend months in the NICU if something did happen. The thought of being away from the boys that long. So I was still quite anxious, and that doesn’t really go away, I don’t think anyway. I’m 28 weeks as I write this, and I still have quite a bit of anxiety, but it’s definitely a lighter feeling. Essential oils and prayer – got me through!

I still have that blood antibody in it which could affect the baby. You can read more about that HERE. My pregnancy basically became even more high risk. I needed bi-weekly blood tests to keep track of the antibodies. Frequent ultrasounds to make sure the baby is growing well, and they deliver 2 weeks before my due date, J came exactly 2 weeks early on his own, so were hoping for the same this time! My cervix wasn’t an issue at all during the second trimester. You can read more about my Incompetent Cervix stuff in the First Trimester Guide HERE.

I didn’t share much about the surgery part, but if you have any questions please email or comment below and I’d be happy to answer any questions.

General info. I had a spinal for the surgery, I was awake for it. It took about 30 minutes in all. Nothing crazy or fancy.

Oils

As you may know – if you’ve been here a while. I love essential oils and during my pregnancies especially! I first started using oils with my first pregnancy so I can’t say what the difference would be without it. A week or so after my surgery I started using them again.

*Obviously there are a lot of questions around it and whether it’s safe. I found the best resource has been this Betsy Bosom Book. And Google – always do your research, google makes it super easy! But I’ll share my routine/some of the favourite ones I used.

Oils to Avoid or be Cautious of

*oils in blends are at different concentrations and therefore don’t pose as big of a risk

*diffusing also doesn’t pose as big of a risk as applying the oil topically

Do some research and be cautious of the oils you do apply. Again the Betsy Bosom book was a great resource.

Single and Blend Oils:

Clary Sage is the biggest oil to avoid
- It can bring on contractions, so people just avoid it altogether until about 37 weeks.
Wintergreen
- Oils high in methyl salicylate can act as blood thinners and therefore aren’t the safest to use during pregnancy
Panaway
- I just avoid this one altogether. Some people use Deep Relief (which is similar) throughout their pregnancy. I just didn’t feel comfortable with that so I didn’t.
Basil
Cinnamon
Rosemary
Thyme

*These oils are found in blends – which also means their concentrations are different. And then once diluted, even more so. Use caution. I don’t apply any of these oils neat (no carrier) or by themselves. But I do have rollers that have these oils in small concentrations. And I diffuse Cinnamon once in a while. Do what you are comfortable with and research is your best friend!

Favorite Single Oils

Gentle Baby: Again – every day I used this oil!! A complete must! A couple of drops in your palm with some coconut oil on your belly does wonders for the itchy feelings!

Digize: Heartburn was so rough this time around

Lemon: This also helps with heartburn – just a drop rubbed across your breastbone.

Valor – Confidence, and bravery, just create such a positive environment

Peace+Calming – keeping everyone chill

Stressaway – Another huge one, especially for me this time around. It just helps calm those emotions. And just helped me stay relaxed.

Peppermint – Helps with constipation; put a drop in the toilet before going. Any nausea you might still have. Stomach problems. Peppermint is great! Always DILUTE if you are applying it!

Lime – I was just obsessed with the scent. No specific reason

Favorite Oil Recipes

Belly Bump Lotion:

This stuff is amazing – even after just as a regular lotion!

Directions:

Melt the Shea butter and coconut oil together in a double boiler. Let cool slightly when it’s all combined
Add Avocado and Vit E oil, as well as Gentle Baby, Lavender, Frankincense – let it cool until fairly solid – make sure to mix the oils in good!
Add it to a mixer and blend until whipped!
Voila!

Alkalime: pH balance powder from YoungLiving for heartburn

Digestion/Tummy Roller: Digize and peppermint; helps with bloating, upset stomach and heartburn

Favourite Diffuser Blends

Emotions: Lime + white Angelica: Mood boosting, positive atmosphere and inspires feelings of security and optimism

Relax Mama: Stressaway + Lime: Just keeping mama and babe and toddler calm

Sleep: Lavender + Valor + Cedarwood: Great for mama’s sleep; My favorite go-to blends for bedtime

Favorite Maternity Clothes

I did a huge maternity clothing haul from Shein. I did it during my second trimester because my old maternity clothes started not fitting so well. I got good stuff for the third trimester and even to wear afterwards. You can shop them HERE.