The second trimester rocks. You will feel the most normal during these months and if you're lucky not get too many negative side effects. You will also be able to find out the sex (if you want too) and start to feel your baby kicking which if I'm honest is pretty much the only redeeming feature in pregnancy!!
Now I'm not going to moan too much. I know it is a miracle and I am extremely grateful everyday that everything is going smoothly and that me and the baby are healthy. HOWEVER, I have not been one of those women who enjoy pregnancy excessively. Some girls love being pregnant. I don't. It feels very much like I'm waiting for the birth rather than enjoying the journey. Like my body is completely occupied and my life is on hold until she is born. I bet when I've had her I will miss it. Miss the kicking and general feeling of having a person living inside me which is pretty exciting. I guess I quite like people being nicer to you as well. But it does take over your life and for 9 months so it's OK to feel a little overwhelmed at times but there are some great parts.
Mainly if you don't want to do something/go somewhere/not feeling up to something no one gives you a hard time. You're pregnant and ultimately that's the most important thing in the world right now. You need to put yourself first and unfortunately that means cancelling on a few plans if you're not up to them, but the good thing is everyone is very understanding when you're pregnant.
So looking back on the second trimester I don't remember needing anything too desperately but a few things got me through. It was more passing the time the second trimester so use it wisely and if you're impatient like me try not to focus on hurrying through your pregnancy but appreciating the time to get prepared!
Firstly my holiday, it gave me something to look forward to for a good few months before and then it was nice and relaxing being able to chill out for a week. If you want to have a holiday while pregnant I'd say go before you are 30 weeks. I had already booked our holiday before I found out that I was pregnant so it was an all inclusive deal. Slightly regret that now as I couldn't take advantage of the alcoholic beverages. Probably if I could go back I might have chosen a different type of holiday but actually a relaxing beach holiday is probably the way to go but not anywhere too hot. We went to Cape Verde which was hot but not unbearable. You also won't be able to do some of the activities, quad biking etc so keep in mind it is going to be a tame break. This probably will be the last break you take for a while minus your baby so make the most of each others company.
Secondly, we used these months to sort out most of babies room. We did the painting and cot putting up and generally got a few things round the house sorted. You have your energy back for a while in the second trimester so enjoy it! If you decide to find out the babies sex it really puts a different spin on your pregnancy and I know a lot of people love it to be a surprise but I really didn't. Finding out she was a girl was probably the high point of my pregnancy and to be honest I will be so happy when she's born that an extra surprise on the day of delivery seems irrelevant to me. Also I wanted to decorate the nursery one way or another, not neutral. It's completely up to the couple I guess but for me I would definitely recommend finding out. If you set your heart on the gender one way or another it could be a shock on the day. Also after we knew she was a she, we named her and can talk to her like she's already with us. I feel like we've bonded with her more by being able to name her and start to imagine what she will be like.
Names are a nightmare as well. Its so hard for you to decide on a name you love then for your partner to love it too. If you start running it past your friends and family for approval then its just a nightmare. Don't listen to anyone else choose a name that YOU both love and everyone else just has to get over it.
Basically use these 3 months to get prepared and also to enjoy all the stages. You get both your scans in these months and putting them on your mantelpiece makes you overwhelmingly proud. Every time I see my scan pictures I get this feeling like butterflies in my stomach, like - that's my baby. Its amazing.
Also make the most of being able to wear most your clothes still because when you hit 30+ weeks, you will not fit in them.
Now I'm not going to moan too much. I know it is a miracle and I am extremely grateful everyday that everything is going smoothly and that me and the baby are healthy. HOWEVER, I have not been one of those women who enjoy pregnancy excessively. Some girls love being pregnant. I don't. It feels very much like I'm waiting for the birth rather than enjoying the journey. Like my body is completely occupied and my life is on hold until she is born. I bet when I've had her I will miss it. Miss the kicking and general feeling of having a person living inside me which is pretty exciting. I guess I quite like people being nicer to you as well. But it does take over your life and for 9 months so it's OK to feel a little overwhelmed at times but there are some great parts.
Mainly if you don't want to do something/go somewhere/not feeling up to something no one gives you a hard time. You're pregnant and ultimately that's the most important thing in the world right now. You need to put yourself first and unfortunately that means cancelling on a few plans if you're not up to them, but the good thing is everyone is very understanding when you're pregnant.
So looking back on the second trimester I don't remember needing anything too desperately but a few things got me through. It was more passing the time the second trimester so use it wisely and if you're impatient like me try not to focus on hurrying through your pregnancy but appreciating the time to get prepared!
Firstly my holiday, it gave me something to look forward to for a good few months before and then it was nice and relaxing being able to chill out for a week. If you want to have a holiday while pregnant I'd say go before you are 30 weeks. I had already booked our holiday before I found out that I was pregnant so it was an all inclusive deal. Slightly regret that now as I couldn't take advantage of the alcoholic beverages. Probably if I could go back I might have chosen a different type of holiday but actually a relaxing beach holiday is probably the way to go but not anywhere too hot. We went to Cape Verde which was hot but not unbearable. You also won't be able to do some of the activities, quad biking etc so keep in mind it is going to be a tame break. This probably will be the last break you take for a while minus your baby so make the most of each others company.
Secondly, we used these months to sort out most of babies room. We did the painting and cot putting up and generally got a few things round the house sorted. You have your energy back for a while in the second trimester so enjoy it! If you decide to find out the babies sex it really puts a different spin on your pregnancy and I know a lot of people love it to be a surprise but I really didn't. Finding out she was a girl was probably the high point of my pregnancy and to be honest I will be so happy when she's born that an extra surprise on the day of delivery seems irrelevant to me. Also I wanted to decorate the nursery one way or another, not neutral. It's completely up to the couple I guess but for me I would definitely recommend finding out. If you set your heart on the gender one way or another it could be a shock on the day. Also after we knew she was a she, we named her and can talk to her like she's already with us. I feel like we've bonded with her more by being able to name her and start to imagine what she will be like.
Names are a nightmare as well. Its so hard for you to decide on a name you love then for your partner to love it too. If you start running it past your friends and family for approval then its just a nightmare. Don't listen to anyone else choose a name that YOU both love and everyone else just has to get over it.
Basically use these 3 months to get prepared and also to enjoy all the stages. You get both your scans in these months and putting them on your mantelpiece makes you overwhelmingly proud. Every time I see my scan pictures I get this feeling like butterflies in my stomach, like - that's my baby. Its amazing.
Also make the most of being able to wear most your clothes still because when you hit 30+ weeks, you will not fit in them.