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My second trimester of pregnancy favorites

August 11, 2017 By Ashley 16 Comments

Greetings, friends! I hope you’re having a fabulous week. I’ve been back home safely from my trip to Florida for a couple of nights. It’s so good to be reunited with Dave and Rudy, but I miss my Mom already!

Anywho, I’m well into my third and last (woohoo) trimester by now, but I didn’t want to miss the chance to share with you some of my favorite items from the second trimester of pregnancy. Because I’ve found that you need a few things to get through this whole world of pregnancy.

My Second trimester of pregnancy favorites

My second trimester of pregnancy favorites by A Lady Goes West

And yes, as they said it would be, the second trimester of pregnancy was a bit of a honeymoon stage. I rarely felt sick. I had great energy. And I wasn’t too big. I also learned a lot about babies and child-birth. And my workouts remained strong. You can check out way more details on my pregnancy up until now, by going back to any of these posts …

  • A Baby Goes West
  • My first trimester of pregnancy favorites
  • My take on what it feels like to go through your first trimester of pregnancy
  • My take on what the first half of your second trimester of pregnancy feels like
  • What I ate Wednesday: Second trimester of pregnancy edition
  • How to modify a BODYPUMP class when you’re pregnant
  • My journey to get pregnant and how I overcame hypothalamic amenorrhea
  • Announcing my first ebook “Fit and Fertile”
  • 15 things you should know about working out when you’re pregnant
  • My take on what the last half of your second trimester of pregnancy feels like
  • My weekly workout recaps for 26 to 29 weeks pregnant
  • My beautiful baby shower in Florida

Now, let’s get to the second trimester of pregnancy favorites … 

Bringing Up Bébé by Pamela Druckerman

This book, “Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting” arrived to me as an early pregnancy gift from my friend in Florida, and I was immediately intrigued. It’s all about an American woman, who has three babies and raises those children while living abroad in France. She studies the way that the French people treat pregnancy and raising a child, and she compares that to what we do here in America, more specifically, to her other home of New York City. It’s eye-opening. The book is full of first-hand research, cited studies and plenty of personal anecdotes from Pamela Druckerman, who is a real mother and a former big-time journalist.

Bringing Up Bebe book favorite by A Lady Goes West

While I have no idea what it will be like to have a newborn baby at home, I do know that I like the way she talked about the French method of “waiting” just a few minutes to let babies readjust themselves in between their sleep cycles rather than picking them up after a single coo. It’s definitely NOT a crying-it-out method, it’s more of a reading-the-baby patience thing. I also liked how she gave some loose methods for teaching babies and kids to be on a more regular eating schedule early on, based on sticking to the times that adults eat — a far cry from the always-snacking-eating kids of America.

Overall, this book was informative, enlightening and just enjoyable to read. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in French culture, babies or pregnancy and alternative methods of raising well-behaved children. We’ll see if I can put any of it into practice or not. Who knows!

Perfect black cotton maternity maxi dress

A couple of my girlfriends suggested I purchase this black cotton maternity maxi dress after I told them I was ready to start looking for maternity wear, and boy am I glad I did. It’s super comfortable, fits well no matter what size you are, and can be either casual or slightly dressed up, depending on what you pair with it. And after wearing tight jeans in the first trimester, it was a little slice of heaven to slip into this.

Ashley at 22 weeks holding a birthday cupcake by A Lady Goes West

Rumor has it that this dress will be a great thing to wear during the nursing phase too. And by the way, the price is right! Perhaps the best $40ish I’ve spent all pregnancy. I’d get it in more colors if I could.

Olly Essential prenatal multi-vitamins

Because I wanted to get pregnant for so long and was always hopeful, I’ve been taking prenatal vitamins for years. About a year ago, I switched to the Olly brand, and they are tasty and have additional omega-3s and the right dose of folic acid, which is what doctors recommend.

Favorite prenatal vitamins by A Lady Goes West

I happen to love chewable vitamins, and even though these have a little sugar, the ingredients aren’t scary at all. They are like a mini-dessert I get to enjoy after breakfast every morning.

Blanqi High-Performance Maternity Support Leggings

I didn’t buy a single piece of maternity clothing until around 15 weeks of pregnancy, and boy was I missing out. On a whim, I ordered these high-performance maternity support leggings from Blanqi, and I have worn them no less than a thousand times over the past few months.

Maternity leggings favorites by A Lady Goes West

(Source: Nordstrom)

I wasn’t sure if I would like the high-waisted fit, but it totally feels supportive and not in a constrictive way. I’ve worn these with a plain red tee, sweaters, jackets and even blouses. They feel good on the bod, they are nice and long, and they go with everything. And they are definitely a maternity staple and a piece of clothing that I would suggest to a pregnant girlfriend in need.

Gap PureBody Printed Modal Jogger Pants

Are you sick of hearing me talk about comfortable pajama pants? True story — I didn’t think that I would grow out of my sweatpants, but I did. I’m SO thankful that I made a couple of orders off Gap.com to outfit myself in some super soft jammy pants with forgiving waistlines. In my first trimester of pregnancy favorites, I shared the black ones that I am still loving.

Gap modal jogger pants favorites by A Lady Goes West

(Source: Gap)

Well this time, I’ve got the navy and white striped ones which are slightly different, have a drawstring and are even looser and softer. They are truly my happy pants. I wear them an embarrassing amount.

Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy by Mayo Clinic Doctors

This book, the “Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy: From Doctors Who are Parents Too,” was super long, but super informative. I almost wish I had received this book sooner in my pregnancy. My insurance provider actually sent me a copy toward the end of my first trimester. The book talks about everything you need to know from the day you get pregnant through the post-partum phase. It also includes a week-by-week breakdown of pregnancy and tips on how to care for a newborn. 

Mayo Clinic Guide to Healthy Pregnancy Book favorite by A Lady Goes West

Before reading this book, I didn’t really think I had any idea on what to expect with a new little baby at home, and now I feel slightly more prepared — or as prepared as someone can be. I’ll probably refer back to this book a few times here and there as I need more information.

Overall, because the only other pregnancy books I read were fun stuff (Belly Laughs) and cultural stuff (Bringing Up Bébé), I feel like getting through this text book was a good idea. I wouldn’t exactly call it a thrilling read, but I was at least interested in learning everything that I could from the hundreds of pages. 

Other honorable mentions 

A few other things I enjoyed during the second trimester … 

  • REGISTRY: When it came time for me to create our baby registry, I did a ton of research on BabyList.com. It’s a site with reviews and top 10 lists of all the baby products you may want to know about. I have referred back there many times and was able to understand better what we may need and then get that stuff on our registry. I also got a lot of help on my registry from friends, so never underestimate the power of those around you who have experience. Fun fact: I’m registered at BuyBuy Baby, and they have just about everything under the sun! 
  • PERSONAL: I wasn’t sure I would ever mention this on the blog, because it’s gross. But I’m doing it. Get one of these, people. Don’t walk, but run, to purchase. We’ve had one for a while, and well … it’s good. Maybe I’ll talk about it in more detail one day. Needless to say, it’s extra beneficial during pregnancy.
  • PODCAST: Still loving the Pregnancy Confidential podcasts for short tidbits of information, which are perfectly digestible during brief Rudy walks.
  • FOOD: As far as eating — lots of ice cream is happening, and sourdough bread with almond butter, banana, pumpkin seeds and chia seeds is still my breakfast of choice. And lentil pasta with scrambled eggs is my dinner of choice during the week, with grass-fed burgers on the weekends. I’m the queen of repeating meals and also the queen of carbs.
  • SELF-CARE: Lotions and oils for my tummy! I’ve been rubbing a coconut oil blend belly butter or almond oil on my tummy after every shower for weeks and weeks. Although, rumor has it that whether or not you get stretch marks is genetic, so all the lotion in the world may not help. But still, because the skin is stretching so much during the second and third trimesters, it can get itchy, and moisturization is key. I’ve always loved almond oil for multiple uses on the body, and you can read more about the ways I use it here.

And those are the second trimester of pregnancy favorites! Hope you have a wonderful weekend, my friends! Thank you for stopping by the blog today, and I’ll see you back here soon! 🙂 

Fun #pregnancy stuff! Check out these #secondtrimester favorites by @apstyle ... Click To Tweet

By the way, my friends, there are some affiliate links in this post, and I appreciate your support! 

Questions of the day

What’s something you’ve been loving lately?

What’s your current favorite podcast?

Filed Under: Friday Favorites, Pregnancy Tagged With: books, Bringing Up Bebe, favorites, maternity leggings, pregnancy, second trimester, second trimester of pregnancy

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I'm a mom and fitness instructor in Charlotte, North Carolina. And A Lady Goes West is where I share fitness, wellness and clean beauty tips, as well as stories from my life.
 
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Comments

  1. Susie @ Suzlyfe says

    August 11, 2017 at 4:25 am

    I need a new podcast. I’ve put off listening to pregnancy podcasts so far, but Pregnancy Confidential is supposed to be really good! I’m already having edema in my legs and feet–I have no doubt that compression socks are very much in my future…
    Susie @ Suzlyfe recently posted…Racing for Donuts: Friday Catch Up 8/11My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      August 11, 2017 at 9:05 am

      Hi Susie! The good thing about Pregnancy Confidential podcast is that it’s a week-by-week, and they EASE you into everything you need to know heheh — so you can start from the beginning. Don’t be scared. And sorry to hear about the leg and feet issues! More issues to come! ohhhh the beauty of growing a child hahah! Happy Friday, lady!

      Reply
  2. Emily @ Pizza &Pull-ups says

    August 11, 2017 at 5:20 am

    I recently discovered Strong Opinions Loosely Held and have been enjoying it. Hope you have a great weekend!
    Emily @ Pizza &Pull-ups recently posted…Yeah Friday! – Favorites from the weekMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      August 11, 2017 at 9:06 am

      Hi Emily! Oh cool! I haven’t heard of that podcast — sounds interesting! Happy Friday, lady!

      Reply
  3. Carrie this fit chick says

    August 11, 2017 at 6:38 am

    I nee those black Gap pants! Olly vitamins are HUGE right now. I see them everywhere– love their packaging!! Congrats to moving into the 3rd trimester!
    Carrie this fit chick recently posted…What I’ve Been Eating WednesdayMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      August 11, 2017 at 9:13 am

      Hi Carrie! Watch out — if you get the Gap pajama pants, you won’t want to take them off hahah! Happy Friday to you, lady! Three cheers for the weekend and chewable vitamins heheh!

      Reply
  4. Beth says

    August 11, 2017 at 10:50 am

    I second that Mayo Clinic pregnancy book. I liked it better than What to Expect. My baby also approves–she was playing with the Mayo Clinic book when I was recording a podcast interview this morning, actually. 🙂

    Glad things are going well for you!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      August 11, 2017 at 3:48 pm

      Hi Beth! hahahha! So cute! Love that she was playing with the book. It is definitely a good one. And I actually skipped reading the “What to Expect” book, because I heard mixed reviews. Happy Friday, my friend!

      Reply
  5. Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious says

    August 11, 2017 at 11:44 am

    I’m totally intrigued by the potty stool! You have to share for those of us who’ve never had kids, we really have no clue what happens.
    Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious recently posted…Blogger to Author PodcastMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      August 11, 2017 at 3:47 pm

      Hi Megan! I am so surprised that you don’t already have a Squatty Potty — it doesn’t have anything to do with kids — it’s more of a health person thing. I learned about it from a fellow trainer back when I used to work at Orangetheory almost two years ago — she swore by the Squatty for its help keeping her tummy flat hahah. You should get one!! 🙂 More details on that to come …

      Reply
  6. Amy Kaye says

    August 11, 2017 at 11:45 am

    All the moisturizer!! I did Bio-Oil my first pregnancy and only got two tiny marks on the side. Second pregnancy I thought I didn’t need to bother since I already stretched out once without issue, I was wrong!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      August 11, 2017 at 3:46 pm

      Hi Amy Kaye, Oh man — bet you wish you had repeated your commitment to oil the second go round hahha. Well, I appreciate you sharing that. I will continue to lotion up! 🙂 Hope you’re doing well!

      Reply
  7. Marielle says

    August 11, 2017 at 6:19 pm

    I’ve had my eye on some cute jogger pants for awhile and those Gap ones look super cute and comfy … Even for the non-pregnant people! 🙂 I’m such a big podcast person….I love the coffee & crumbs podcast and the balanced blonde podcast!
    Marielle recently posted…The Sometimes BloggerMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      August 12, 2017 at 8:36 am

      Hi Marielle! Totally! The Gap joggers are not maternity, and they still work! 🙂 I haven’t heard of Coffee & Crumbs podcast — I’ll have to look into it. Hope you have a great weekend!

      Reply
  8. Hina says

    October 1, 2017 at 5:08 pm

    Ok..I need those jogger pants NOW!

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      October 3, 2017 at 5:26 pm

      I LIVE in these joggers!! So comfy! Hope you find some, Hina! 🙂

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Ashley. I'm a mom and fitness instructor living in Charlotte, North Carolina. I love to help you live a balanced life with no extremes, making sure you never skip a rest day. A Lady Goes West is where I share my workouts, simple meals, clean beauty tips and wellness insight with you. Find out more about me and stay awhile!

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-“How do you deal with comparing yourself to others on social media and not feeling like everyone is doing things better than you?" (spoiler alert: everyone has their issues that you don't see)
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The answers are long, they come from my heart, and I hope they can provide some value to you! If this is something you're interested in, head over to A Lady Goes West today to check it out, and you can submit a question for the next edition.
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HOME! We closed on and moved into our home in Char HOME! We closed on and moved into our home in Charlotte over the weekend, and we're so excited to get settled in our new neighborhood, city and state after many weeks of transition. In honor of this momentous occasion, I thought it would be fun to look back at the places Dave and I have lived together over the last 12 years. Here's what it has looked like -- and each place has been special for different reasons:
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-2009-2012 in a high-rise condo in downtown Orlando, where we lived when we got married.
-2012-2013 in a one-bedroom apartment in South of Market in San Francisco, which was always freezing no matter the time of day or year.
-2013-2014 in a tiny studio apartment in Nob Hill in San Francisco, which was only 550-square-feet, but we could hear the cable cars out of our always-open windows, so that was cool.
-2014-2017 in a two-bedroom townhouse in Walnut Creek, where we brought home both Rudy and Brady and had many sleepless nights.
-2017-2021 in a house that we owned in Pleasant Hill outside of San Francisco, which was across the street from a Starbucks so we went there way too often.
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And now we're here in Charlotte. It's good to be home! I'd love to know: Where do you call home?
Soulmates. ❤️ Whether you’re loving on other Soulmates. ❤️ Whether you’re loving on others or just yourself today, my little crew is wishing you a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
Good additions! Even though I'm all about simplify Good additions! Even though I'm all about simplifying life, I also like adding more good, if there's room for it. And the last year has given me ample opportunity to make some changes and add a lot of good. Here's my super-random list of things I've added to my life in the last year that I now love:
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-Using oat milk as my milk of choice (it's literally the creamiest, and I can’t go back to others now)
-Choosing to be outside as much as possible (can't believe I stayed indoors so much before, never exploring the beautiful Bay Area and now Charlotte until the last year)
-Teaching and taking virtual fitness classes (I was a gym rat for years, and now I actually love to work out at home with my virtual fitness friends)
-Wearing my Apple watch for notifications so I don't always need to be on my phone and tracking some beneficial metrics (I've only had my watch for about 9 months, and I love to check my heart-rate and close my rings)
-Appreciating the ability to work for myself and giving myself friendlier deadlines (I've been my own boss for several years and used to be so strict with my deadlines, until I realized it was stressing me more than it needed to, so now I say no to a lot of things and only do what works well in my life, without adding too much unnecessary stress)
-Shorter workouts (full-hour workouts are a thing of the past for me)
-Wearing more colors (no more black uniforms every day)
-And more!
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I wrote a whole post about this topic on A Lady Goes West this week if this is of interest to you, and you can head on over and check it out. I'd love to know: What's something (random or not) that you've added to your life in the last year that you now love?
Over the weekend, I stepped foot into a big-box gy Over the weekend, I stepped foot into a big-box gym for the first time in more than 11 months. How did I feel about it? Mixed ... When we left California, gyms were still closed, and once we got to North Carolina, I was so used to not going to the gym, I didn't even think about going. After being here a month, I finally decided to get a guest pass at a gym near me, and I went twice. Here are my thoughts on the experience: 
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At first, I felt so excited to drive up and go in and work out in a big space with a lot of equipment and not be at home. But then reality sank in: Even though masks were required and there were signs everywhere reminding people, about half the folks in the gym had their masks off or had them down around their chin. Ummm, not cool. I get it, working out with a mask on sucks, but rules are rules, folks. I also didn't like that it was busier than I expected, and quite a bit of the equipment I wanted to use was occupied. That never happens at home.
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Overall, I'm glad that those who need to get to the gym are getting the opportunity, but right now, I think I'll go back to sweating safely at home for a little while longer. But at least I got my first locker-room selfie in almost a year. I'd love to know. Have you been back to the gym yet?
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