The second trimester was definitely the honeymoon phase of my pregnancy -- I had tons of energy, minimal swelling, and felt all of those baby kicks. Particularly special was the mid-pregnancy scan, which revealed that we would be having a healthy baby girl! Even though the second trimester was mostly magical, there were some rather uncomfortable moments. Below are some of the essentials that helped me thrive from week 13 through week 27.
1. Storq Leggings: Storq is by far my favorite maternity brand. They make soft and simple basics that go with everything and are designed to fit during pregnancy and postpartum. Until Dylan was born, I lived in Storq leggings and still have not been able to find a pair of non-maternity leggings that lives up to the comfort and quality of Storq.
2. Tandem Coffee: While I gave up coffee in the first trimester, I decided (with my doctor's permission) to reintroduce one cup of coffee per day at the start of my second trimester. Tandem Coffee Roasters is a quaint coffee roaster located in Portland, Maine and has some of the best coffee around.
3. Eileen Fisher Wool Cardigan: Non-maternity, button-up cardigans are a no-no in the second/third trimesters, so after my baby belly could no longer be hidden, this Eileen Fisher wool cardigan was a great way to layer.
4. Ingrid & Isabel Bellaband: Bellabands are a nice way to cover up when your jeans can no longer zip up and your shirts are too short. Since I downhill skied into nearly the end of my second trimester, I used a Bellaband to help keep my ski pants on.
5. Womb Music Heartbeat Music: Home dopplers certainly aren't for everyone, but I thought that it was so fun to check in on my baby and listen to her heartbeat whenever I felt like it.
6. Storq Dress: As I mentioned above, I am a huge fan of Storq. This dress fit perfectly throughout my entire pregnancy and was so comfortable. What I love about Storq is that their clothing line has zero side ruching!
7. Motherlove Nipple Cream: Possibly TMI, but throughout the second trimester, I had the worst chapped nipples. Using nipple cream provided some relief and helped heal the cracks.
8. Hatch Workout Leggings: I tried to keep active throughout my second trimester and was forced to make the switch to maternity workout leggings around week 26. These leggings have a wider flex and lined waistband that supports your sweaty bun in the oven.
9. Nike Roshe One Running Shoes: Towards the end of my second trimester, my feet started to ache and I had a little bit of swelling. Most shoes were starting to get uncomfortable, but my Nike Roches passed the pregnancy test by keeping my feet well-cushioned.