pregnancy must haves : first & second trimesters.

jack visited last week and i finally had the opportunity to trade in my usual awkward selfie belly pic for a real one haha. i'm getting huge!!

there have been a few essentials that have made this pregnancy easier than it could have been, so i thought i would share them for any of you girls that just got that overwhelming positive test for the first time {or just want one, soon}!

i'm only through the second trimester. i'm expecting there to be a different survival list for the third trimester as my symptoms become more obviously relating to my huge whale body, but we'll see.

thank you for your comforts, first world america.

pregnancy essentials | first & second trimesters

• two king sized pillows : {and possibly two more standard pillows} i never knew that preggo sleeping {or sitting or laying} was so tricky! once hitting the second trimester, i haven't been able to sleep on my back because my whole body goes numb and i can't breathe {totally normal blood flow issue - apparently you need to be on your left side because otherwise baby crushes your cute little vena cava}. a lot of people buy those pregnancy pillows and swear by them, but i'm a poor med student wifey and refuse to spend money & valuable storage space on a huge hideous pillow. so, i just make a pillow fortress on all sides. king pillows in front and in back to keep from rolling during sleep.

• trader joe's refrigerated & frozen section : the last thing i've wanted to do over the last 6 months is cook, or assemble food in general. the smells just slap me in the face, and i can't bear to do dishes. the only way i've been able to eat anything decent is when it comes from wonderful trader joe's. they do a pretty darn good job at minimizing artificial ingredients, so i feel better about eating such "fast" food. my favorites have been the caesar salad {dressing and cheese are pasteurized}, fresh tabbouleh with added feta cheese {pasteurized}, fresh tuna salad wrap, frozen egg rolls, & frozen paneer tikka masala.

• body oil & lubriderm cocoa butter body lotion : the oil helps in the torso area for the itching associated with stretching, and the lubriderm is so nice and smells like summer - it sinks right in instead of sitting on the surface and keeps my skin super soft until my next shower. as for what brand of oil, there are a few i like: my girlfriend got me the body shop's beautifying oil in olive and it's lovely; and i also love bio-oil {no scent} & burt's bees {smells like lemons}. after a shower, i do oil first, then follow with the lubriderm. no stretch marks yet, but {a) i hear genetics matter more than the potions you use, and {b} i'm not in my third trimester yet. we'll see!

• bath & body works wallflower plugins : new to pregnancy, i abhor all kitchen smells including food, refrigeration, and pantry. i have the max socially acceptable amount of baking soda in my pantry, fridge, & freezer, but that hasn't been cutting it. these wallflowers from bath & body works smell so cozy and mask all of those "unpleasant to me" odors. i stocked up on the fall scents last season because those are my fave.

• motherhood maternity full panel leggings : just, yes. these are perfect for lounging around the house, and for when you are over your waist band cutting into your tummy. while you are there {and you are at least 16 weeks}, get fitted for a new bigger bra {nursing, so it will last postpartum}. trust me, you will probably be in denial like i was until you put a bigger one on, and you already need it. i love this one, and this one.

• paige denim under belly skyline maternity jeans : i have been wearing these literally almost every day that i actually get dressed since 14 weeks. designer jeans are a bit of a splurge, but they are so worth it. they fit & hold up well, material is soft and stretchy but holds shape, and they are so so so comfy. you won't feel like you've had to sacrifice your cuteness, and you only need one pair. i feel like if you save money and buy cheapy ones, you end up buying several pairs that fall apart or don't fit quite right to find something that works...and then you've spent about the same amount as you would have on one awesome designer pair! i haven't had a problem with these under belly ones staying up like some preggos complain about, but i'm naturally cut a little bigger in the booty, so they have something to hold on to if that makes sense haha. order your pre-pregnancy size, because these are cut a little bigger than non-maternity and have some stretch to make room for your growing body.

• all natural calm : i guess any magnesium supplement will do, but i've really enjoyed making a nightly hot tea out of this stuff. it helps me relax, sleep better, and be more regular - all things a pregnant momma needs. read this for an overview of the benefits of getting extra magnesium during pregnancy.

• starbucks via decaf : the saddest & hardest part of my preggo diet change has been giving up coffee. partly because i miss my morning coffee buzz {liquid motivation}, but also because my seattle roots just freaking love coffee. i gave it up entirely for the first trimester because i didn't want the acidity and caffeine to harm the babe. there have been studies showing that caffeine & coffee consumption during early pregnancy increases instances of colic in newborns. of course, there are an equal number of studies saying that caffeine consumption under 200mg/day is perfectly fine. for me, it just wasn't worth the risk - i'll do anything i can to minimize chances of colic and maximize a happy baby. as time went on into the second tri, i reallyyyy missed my coffee. i sort of caved and started reintroducing decaf coffee a few times a week as a treat {still steering clear of all other caffeinated teas & coffees}. these little single serve packets from starbucks are perfect for a one cup decaf splurge. i actually only use half a package per serving because they are so strong {and do not taste one bit like instant}!

• preggo pilates dvd : you guys, this dvd is amazing and is a must have for pregnancy. depending on your energy level, you can customize the workout ranging from 10 to 50 minutes. it's gentle, but you'll be surprised that you are a little sore the next day! even being in decent shape to start, i've had my fair share of body aches and pains so far associated with lower back & pelvis, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, and stretching hips & belly. this dvd helps stretch me out and get my blood moving, especially on days where i don't feel like leaving the couch or apartment. if you want a little more intensity & sweat, summer sanders' preggo workout dvd is awesome, too - you can customize it by trimester to make sure you aren't overdoing it! just mix these sessions in a few times a week with walking and eating right and you'll be on your way to a healthy pregnancy! ...make sure to check with your doctor first, though!

hope this helps!