Here I am pregnant for the fourth time and I’m currently in my second trimester which happens to be my favorite out of all three!

Let’s be honest here, pregnancy isn’t a piece of cake and the first and last trimesters of pregnancy can be long and difficult!

How long is the second trimester?

The second trimester begins around 14 weeks and ends at 26 weeks. The best part about the second trimester of pregnancy is that you have more energy and are hopefully past the morning or all day sickness! 

There are different pregnancy essentials you need during the second trimester that you wouldn’t need in the first.

Here are my pregnancy second trimester pregnancy must haves that I used to get me through all four of my pregnancies that I couldn’t live without!

I hope these second trimester pregnancy favorites help out some of you mamas as well! Let me know if there are any second trimester essentials that I missed that you used and loved!

This post is all about Second Trimester Pregnancy Must-Haves

Stretch Mark Cream

Yes, I’m still using this! To be honest, I will continue to use this throughout my pregnancy. Your body continues to grow throughout your entire pregnancy so this is a must have! 

Not only does cocoa butter help prevent stretch marks but it also helps soothe that itchy belly!

For some reason, in this fourth pregnancy, I’ve been more itchy this time around than ever before! I’m only itchy where my skin happens to be stretching so I know that the cocoa butter is definitely needed there! 

Here is what I’ve always used and will continue to use below:

In some spots where I happen to be itchier than in other areas and need a little extra help, I’ll reach for this as well:

Both the oil and the cocoa butter helped with my itchy belly and also help me have a stretch mark free pregnancy!

For more information on how I prevented stretch marks in all 3 pregnancies, click here or the photo below!

Maternity/Sports bra

This is a must have for your second and third trimesters and beyond!

I had a few old ones that feel comfortable to wear but I had to go out and get a few more new ones. Regular bras just don’t cut it anymore.

My girls are much bigger with this pregnancy and I need something I can comfortably wear all day long! 

Here are a few of the favorites that have kept me supported and feel like heaven to wear!

Kindred Bravely Maternity Sleep Bra: This bra is not only comfortable but is great for nursing after you have the baby and will help keep you supported day and night! You will live in this bra it’s so comfortable!

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Bali Maternity Bras: Bali bras are so comfortable and cute and also underwire free! I loved this bra! Depending on your bra size, if you are a bit bustier, you may want to go with the Bali Comfort Revolution shaping bra.

Both fit like a glove and you’ll be happy you got them!

Here are some others we love that are also nursing bras:

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Constipation Relief for Second Trimester

Constipation during your second trimester is no joke!

This is incredibly common during pregnancy for a few reasons. Your prenatal vitamins contain iron which tends to back things up a bit. Also, the pressure from your expanding uterus on your intestines tend to relax your intestine muscles which in turn can cause constipation. 

So what can a pregnant woman do to help relieve constipation naturally? 

Besides drinking more water and upping their fiber intake, adding more magnesium or a natural constipation tea may just do the trick!

Here are a few things that have worked wonders for me throughout my four pregnancies when I have been constipated!

Add more magnesium to your diet or daily routine!

By using magnesium oil, adding magnesium salts to your bath, or even taking a magnesium supplement can not only help with morning sickness and headaches but it can also relieve constipation!

Remember, I am not a doctor, always be sure to check with your doctor first for any questions or concerns. You can read more here about treating constipation during pregnancy as well. 

Magnesium is a staple for me throughout my pregnancies!!!

Magnesium spray and supplements

Magnesium bath salts: add these into your bath every night if you prefer this over the oil

If you love to take baths but are wondering if baths are safe during pregnancy, read here for more details about Baths During Pregnancy. You’ll find out what precautions you may need to take, the use of bath salts or bath bombs, and so much more! 

Constipation Relief Tea and Probiotics

Stay hydrated!

Of course, staying hydrated will help keep things moving as well! Drink plenty of water and when you’re sick of water, reach for some coconut water! 

Coconut water is packed full of antioxidants and the rich dietary fiber content in coconut water enhances digestion and prevents constipation!

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Prenatal Vitamins

Obviously, continuing to take a great prenatal vitamin is super important! Here is the vitamin brand that I take below.

Be sure to get a prenatal vitamin that’s right for you!

There are so many on the market today so do your research and find one that has folate instead of folic acid! 

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Deodorant During Pregnancy

It is mid-summer at the moment so I’m sweating anyway but I swear during pregnancy, I seem to sweat even more than usual!

Oh, those pregnancy hormones!

I don’t want to use anything toxic on my body especially at such an important time in my life, yet I need a deodorant that smells great and does the job!!

Below are two of my favorite deodorants that I’ve been using and even bought some for my young daughter to use! It’s safe, natural, and effective! I love the coconut pineapple scent they carry!
Another favorite of mine is a made by Soapwella and you need to apply it with your fingers. It works great and is also all natural!

To learn more about the 5 best deodorants to use during pregnancy, click here! 

Dental Hygiene During Pregnancy

Your dental hygiene is very important during pregnancy.

Most of us mothers with more than one child to run after, are so exhausted at the end of the night that our nightly dental and skincare routine isn’t what it used to be!

I can’t tell you how many nights I’ve fallen asleep while putting a toddler to bed and not making the extra time to brush and floss my teeth. This isn’t good to do, especially during pregnancy!

My dentist told me to take care of my teeth during pregnancy as best I can because many women tend to get more cavities during this time of their life. 

Aren’t we lucky?!! 

I’m a huge fan of using activated charcoal toothpaste to whiten my teeth and detox my mouth. Activated charcoal toothpaste is safe for pregnant women to use and studies even show that activated charcoal can reduce the bile flow which can cause cholestasis during pregnancy. 

It is recommended to use activated charcoal toothpaste 2-3 times a week so I’ll switch back and forth with my other toothpaste. 

Here are two brands of activated charcoal toothpaste I love!

Safe Sunscreen During Pregnancy

If you’re lucky like me and get to experience pregnancy during the hot summer days then you probably need a great sunscreen!

Sunscreens on the market today are not all safe and some can actually cause more problems than good for your skin!

Vitamin D is wonderful for pregnant women, however too much is never good for our precious skin! Also, many times pregnancy can make us more sensitive than normal to sunlight which means we need great protection!

The trick to choosing a safe sunscreen for your pregnant body is to choose something that’s safe for a baby’s sensitive skin.

You can always check the EWG website for more information or can read my post here about the safest sunscreens for babies and kids on the market today!

Here are a few of my favorite’s that are not only safe for your baby and other little ones but also your pregnant body as well!

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To learn more about which sunscreens are safe for your children, click the photo below! 

To learn more about the safest self-tanner to use during pregnancy, click here! 

Maternity Leggings & pants

Hopefully, you got some of these in your first trimester, if not, you will definitely need them for the second and third, that’s for sure! 

The best part about leggings is that you can dress them up if you need to or wear them around the house or even out for a jog! Either way, they are the perfect staple for every pregnant woman!!

You just have to find a pair that’s comfortable for you!

Click here for the top 6 maternity leggings on the market today! 

Maternity Dresses

I must admit, I’m not a big fan of wearing dresses. The only time my husband sees me in a dress is for a wedding, funeral, or something formal like a baptism. 

That is unless one thing….. I’m pregnant in the summer!!! 

Yes, if you are pregnant in the hot summer like I am at the moment, you will find some cute dresses to wear!

Here are a few of my favorites I have found that are cute and comfortable! You’re in your second trimester so you should be sporting a cute little bump, show that baby bump off with one of these maternity dresses!

Click on the photos below for more colors!

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Our favorite:

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Maternity Shapewear

Speaking of dresses, you’re going to hit that point of your pregnancy that a little shapewear underneath those dresses may be helpful! Especially for those tight fitting dresses!

Not only will maternity shapewear help you look great but it will also prevent the dreaded thigh chaffing most of us encounter as our pregnant bodies grow!

Stock up on this now because trust me, you’ll use it during your third trimester as well!

Here are two of my favorites by Belly Bandit and Belevation: 

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Maternity Underwear

I have a confession to make, this is my fourth pregnancy and I’ve never ever used maternity underwear and I could kick myself in the a$$ for it!

The reason I never bought it was because I stretched out my old underwear with my first pregnancy and always kept those and used them with each pregnancy after that.

However, we thought our third baby was our last, so I threw away all of my old stretched out undies and my husband surprised me with new ones which I have to admit were amazing! 

I’m obviously pregnant again and this was a big surprise for us and since I don’t have my old stretched out underwear to wear, I had to buy new ones!

And let me tell you, this was awesome! They fit so well, are so comfortable for my growing body and don’t make me itch since I’ve been an itchy mess the last few months! 

This underwear by Kindred Bravely have been amazing! 

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Pregnancy Pillow for Second Trimester

If you haven’t bought one of these yet and are uncomfortable at night, then don’t wait any longer! Trust me, you’ll need it!

Pregnancy sleep can get really tough during the second and third trimester.

Get all the sleep you can now because once that newborn comes, you won’t get much!

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Lavender Essential Oil for Sleep

Get yourself a diffuser if you don’t already have one and add a few drops of lavender essential oil to your diffuser at night. It will help you sleep so much better and smell wonderful!

Not only can you use lavender oil in your diffuser but you can add a few drops to your magnesium baths to help soothe sore muscles, relax, and calm nerves!  

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Dry Skin During Pregnancy

My skin has been pretty dry overall during this pregnancy. I don’t want to put a greasy stretch mark cream or oil all over my body.

I wanted to find a great lotion that would smell good and was also good for my skin without any harsh chemicals.

I found an amazing body lotion and moisturizer that’s top rated on the EWG website that I really love! You can read more about that here if you’re interested! 

Not only is Everyone lotion great for mama but you can safely use it to moisturize your whole family!  

Hope some of these second trimester must haves help you during your pregnancy!

Remember, you’re halfway there mama and don’t have much time left! Enjoy the second trimester as much as possible because the next one is a tough one!

If you have any other second-trimester pregnancy must-haves that you couldn’t live without and want to tell us about, let me know in the comments below!

You may also be interested in:

• 8 Pregnancy symptoms for a baby boy!
• Pregnancy signs you’re having a baby girl! 
• Top baby Registry Checklist and essentials for First Time Moms.

This post was all about second trimester pregnancy must-haves.