The first and second trimester of my pregnancy completely flew by!  As I quickly trudge through the third trimester, I wanted to do a overview of some maternity must haves that are making for a more comfortable pregnancy.  Being pregnant is such an amazing experience and we should enjoy it.  Sometimes when nausea, hip pain or whatever-else-ails-you decides to rear it’s ugly head, it’s hard to fully enjoy some phases of pregnancy.  I’ve put together a few items that have helped me out while growing my little bundle of joy!

Pregnancy must-haves and essentials for all moms-to-be! | Life's Tidbits

Pregnancy Must Haves

Ovia Pregnancy App // Somehow I find it easy to forget exactly how far along I am.  Not sure if it’s just a case of the second pregnancy OR pregnancy brain.  Either way this app helps track pregnancy stats (gestation, weight, doctors appointments and more) as well as providing updates on baby’s weekly growth throughout the pregnancy.

Water bottle // It’s important to stay hydrated throughout pregnancy and I’ve always struggled with drinking enough water.  I find it easier to track how much water I need to drink when I can count how many times I’ve refilled the water bottle.  Silly as it may sound, I’m more likely to drink from a cute water bottle.

Oyster Crackers // Every morning of the first trimester and a few weeks into the second I woke up feeling nauseous and queasy.  Every.Single.Morning. And, unfortunately it stayed that way for most of the day.  The only thing that helped was to eat a small handful of crackers every once in a while.  I could barely stomach a full meal and the crackers helped keep me from hurling.  Gross, but true.

T-shirts // These t-shirts are flattering, comfy, hold up well after multiple washes and, the.best.part, they last the entire pregnancy.  I had a couple from my first pregnancy and bought a few more for this pregnancy.  My favorite part about these t-shirts is no matter how big my bump gets it’s always fully covered.  No mid-drifts for this pregnant Mama!

Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth // This book is divided into two parts.  The first part contains various birth stories.  The second part is very informative with information on pregnancy and birth, forms of interventions, mantras and mindsets.  I really wish I had read this book during my first pregnancy.  I found the positive birth stories coupled with substantive birthing information to be very helpful.

Raspberry Leaf Tea // Raspberry leaf tea is thought to tone the muscles of the uterus and help it to work better during labor.  Read more about it here.  I started drinking the tea around the 24 week mark.  What surprised me the most was it doesn’t taste like raspberry {mind blown!} instead it tastes more like a black tea, which is right up my alley so I enjoy my daily cup!  This should go without saying, but talk with your healthcare provider to decide what’s right for you before drinking the tea.

Snoogle & Boppy Wedge // Moving from the second trimester into the third I have found sleeping to be more of a struggle.  I prefer sleeping slightly on my stomach or on my back.  With a growing bump it is was basically impossible.  The snoogle body pillow is very comfortable, but sometimes I just not in the full body pillow mood.  The boppy wedge is the perfect solution.  Pop the wedge under the belly, throw a regular pillow under my head and between my knees and goodnight!  While I’m still feeling a bit like an insomniac I’m as comfortable as possible doing it.

Check out my pregnancy essentials list from my first pregnancy!  What are your pregnancy essentials?

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Oh pregnancy.  I forgot how you are both glorious and yet terrible all at the same time!  I’m hear to tell you ladies that pregnancy amnesia is the real deal.  There are so many things I forgot happened when one is pregnant … both the physical and emotional changes.  I was reading Jellybean a bedtime story and got all chocked up.  It took everything I had not to turn into a blubbery mess in front of her.

We were fortunate to have a two ultrasounds during the first trimester.  It was beyond exciting to see Kiwi {nickname for baby #2} on the ultrasound machine.  I can’t say for sure what Kiwi was doing in the first scan because the baby kind of looked like a little blob, but Kiwi was very active during the second scan.   And seriously, there is nothing like hearing your baby’s heartbeat for the very first time!  GAH love that little swishing sound!!

Pregnancy tracker, first trimester, baby bump progress, 13 weeks pregnant | Life's Tidbits

**Note: This post was drafted in early September**

First Trimester in Review

Craving …

Fruit and green veggies! Watermelon and strawberries specifically are my favorites.  I admit craving green vegetables is definitely a strange ones.  Asparagus, yum!

Food Aversions …

Meat of any kind.  While it won’t make me sick to eat meat, I really don’t want it at all right now.  I could also do without eggs.  Do eggs count as a meat or just a protein?  Either way, yuck.

Feeling …

Nauseous ALL DAY LONG and headaches are the biggest first trimester culprits. The morning sickness has been pretty bad and unfortunately eating doesn’t fix the problem (with Jellybean I would eat carbs and feel okay for a while at least).  We did so much traveling in August, it was hard to tell what was exhaustion due to pregnancy and what was jet lag.  Either way, recovering from jet lag was a lot more challenging while simultaneously growing a baby.  Shocker.  I know.

Missing …

Wine. There.  I said it.  I missed wine for about the first 4 weeks of my pregnancy and then I decided all alcohol smelled nasty — with a capital N!

Wearing …

All my normal clothes.  Wardrobe go-to’s include: shorts, yoga pants and baggy t-shirts.

Random Tidbit …

The dog absolutely knows I’m pregnant.  Fairly early on – we are talking maybe a week after I found out – we were expecting Sophi started becoming extra clingy.  Though she has always followed me around the house she is now, well, attached to me.  She sits on me or next to me on the couch, always.  If I leave the room she’s never far behind and, dare I be so bold as to try to use the bathroom alone, she looses her mind.  It’s gotten so bad Jellybean has been telling Sophi to get off me because I’m ‘HER mummy’.

Excited About …

The nausea being over. Being done with the first trimester also means we’ve been telling people about our little bundle of joy that’s on the way.  The more people we tell the more exciting and real it feels that we will be a family of 4 in just a few short months.  Also, I’m looking forward to finding out if this little munchkin is a boy or a girl!

Nervous About …

Zika.  When we found out I was pregnant I was a bit concerned about traveling to the States where Zika was more prevalent than it was (or at least as I understood it to be) here in Bangkok.  No sooner had we arrived back in Bangkok did reports start surfacing indicating Zika had made its way here.  I’m trying to stay calm and lather the whole family in bug spray, but generally I feel very paranoid about it.

First vs. Second Pregnancy …

So far the my pregnancy with Jellybean was very different than the current one with Kiwi.  The only real similarity has been I was nauseous with for both pregnancies, though this time around has definitely been rougher.  I often hear each pregnancy is different, but it wasn’t until I experienced it myself did I truly understand it.  A review of my first trimester with Jellybean can be found here.

How does your first trimester compare? What was the best and worst part of your first trimester?

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Each pregnancy is different and everyone has their own list of must haves for being pregnant.  I really appreciated all the tidbits my friends, coworkers and family shared with me on what I need or will need to help me enjoy being pregnancy.  Let me be honest; I have good days and bad days.  Sometimes I LOVE being pregnant and other times December can’t come soon enough.

It’s a roller coaster ride for sure, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  It took some trial and error in the first trimester, but I slowly identified what “stuff” was essential to a “happy pregnant Nicole”.

So here are my pregnancy essentials … at least so far! :)

Pregnancy Must Haves and Essentials for all trimesters |  Life's Tidbits

{1}  Snoogle Total Body Pregnancy Pillow with Jersey Knit Cover
After sleeping SO well the first trimester I was shocked at how uncomfortable I was in the second.  While maternity clothes shopping, my mom made friends with another grandmother-to-be and her daughter.  The woman swore by this pillow and after a 5 minute conversation on “why this pillow is a-mazing” I was sold.  I LOVE this pillow … I’m not sure the husband does though as he keeps joking he has been “replaced”.  I should have invested in a pregnancy pillow sooner!

{2}  Kashi Chewy Granola Bars
I keep at least two granola bars in my purse at all times. I learned the hard way in the first trimester that if I skip a meal or wait too long to eat I start to feel horrible. Granola bars have been a life saver when we are on the go!

{3}  Manis and Pedis {I love the OPI colors!}
A little pampering for the Mom-to-be never hurt anyone, right?!?!

{4}  Cotton Lace Waist Thong
Comfy underwear is a must! I purchased these a size larger than I normally wear to give the tummy room to grow.  They have a good amount of stretch and I probably could have stuck with my normal size (at least so far … we shall see how the 3rd trimester goes).

{5}  What to Expect When Your Expecting
To quote myself from an older post … “This book is a classic.  It comes in handy when I have questions like “is this <insert pain/ache/feeling> normal?”.  Unlike Goggling it doesn’t give all these horror stories …”

A lot of moms and moms-to-be have mentioned Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Lotion is a pregnancy must.  I just started using it about two weeks ago when the belly started getting itchy.  Luckily my friend warned me this was on the horizon so the lotion had already been purchased before the itchiness began.  I’m not sure if it will make it onto my pregnancy essential list, but will definitely keep you posted.  :)

What are/were your pregnancy must haves?

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In case you missed the big announcement last week … I’m pregnant!  I thought it would be fun to catch you up on all the first trimester tidbits.

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Random Tidbits

December 23, 2013 – Baby’s Due Date

Sophi (our dog) – The first “person” I told I was pregnant.  Yes she “knew” before the husband that we were expecting.  I stupidly took the test while he was at work.  Then I had to patiently wait for him to get home.  He was SHOCKED I was able to hold in the BIG news long enough for him to change into comfy clothes and tell me about his day (which I barely listened – sorry hubby!).  I had him sit on the couch before showing him the positive pregnancy test!!

Jellybean – The baby’s nickname.  We were tired of referring the baby as “baby” or “it” so the husband quickly came up with Jellybean.  Jellybean has morphed into a variety of nicknames including JB, Jelly Belly and Jelly.  So our little one already has a number of nicknames and we haven’t even met him/her yet.

The Girlfriends’ Guide to Pregnancy – My doctor recommended this book at my very first “pregnant” appointment as well as prescribed prenatal vitamins.  This book is hilarious!  It’s written as though you are truly talking to your girlfriend.  I haven’t read it front to back, but I have enjoyed reading/skimming different chapters that apply to me.

What to Expect When you are ExpectingThis book is a classic.  It comes in handy when I have questions like “is this <insert pain/ache/feeling> normal?”.  Unlike Goggling it doesn’t give all these horror stories … ladies if you are newly pregnant DO NOT GOOGLE.  It was advice I was given … didn’t take … and well probably should have because it would have saved me a lot of time spent on stressing/worrying.  This book, my friends, and doctors are MUCH better references {I’m still working on remembering this myself!}.

Gender – The husband and I agreed quickly to find out the gender of the baby at the 18 or 20 week ultrasound.  The husband says I am too much of a planner not to find out the gender before the baby arrived — he’s definitely got me pegged!

Sharing the BIG News

For the most part we tried to tell close friends and family in person.  There were of course cases where we had to tell people over the phone/text/email because of geographical limitations.  We convinced the husband’s parents to sign up for Skype so we could “test it for our trip to Mexico”.  I’m not sure if they completely believed our story, but happily accommodated our request.  This was the only way we could tell them about becoming grandparents without getting on a plane 2 months earlier than planned.  Everyone’s reaction to the pregnancy was a little different, however excitement was a consistent theme.  :)

A few of my favorite reactions …

“Nicole, are you sure? I don’t want to get excited if you aren’t sure!” – My Little Sister

“I knew it, I knew it, I knew it” followed by jumping out of her chair and screaming so loud the dog started barking – My Mother

“Is there something you want to tell me?” – Our friend Evan (Holding up the What to Expect When your Expecting Book … apparently I had forgotten to put the silly book away before he came for dinner!)

We slowly started telling all of our immediate family and very few close friends at about 7 weeks.  The rest of our family, friends as well as co-workers we told after 14 weeks.  A lot of people were surprised we waited so long to tell them.  Some of it was us being superstitious and the other part was wanting to get the thumbs up from the doctors for all those first trimester tests.  Let me just say though it was EXTREMELY hard not to share it with all our loved ones right away.  As the husband will attest I hate keeping “good secrets”.

Symptoms

Morning sickness / nausea – and let’s be honest this really needs to be renamed to ALL DAY sickness.  Or … how about pregnancy hangover?  I never actually got sick, but had that feeling I could get sick at any moment for most of the day.  Carbs quickly became my BFF.  I also started eating small snacks in between meals, which helped, but didn’t completely alleviate the issue.

Fatigue – At first I would attempt to relax {read sleep} on the couch after work.  It didn’t take long before I started getting into my sweats, grabbing the dog, pulling down the blackout blinds and climbing into bed.  The hubby was at times surprised to come home from work and find me in bed, asking “why are you in bed?” … my response, “I’m pregnant and tired and if I’m going to sleep I figured I should be comfortable!”  LOL.  At first I was worried I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night after an early evening nap, but 10pm would come and surprisingly I was more than ready to climb back into bed.

Heartburn –  I have never been one to get heartburn.  In fact the first time it happened I didn’t even know what it was.  While explaining the “feeling” to my husband and he just looked at me and said “Nicole, it’s heartburn”.  I was pretty surprised and after confirming with a couple friends and the doctor (twice) I started taking Tums to combat the heartburn.

What I Miss

I’m not going to lie, at first I really missed having a glass of wine when out to dinner.  Though I quickly got over it.  The thing I missed the most in the first trimester (heck the second too, so far) was not having to worry about what I was eating.  Until I was actually pregnant I didn’t realize how many restaurant dishes have raw egg, soft cheese, “raw” meat or other food on the no-no list for pregnant women.

Maternity Clothes

Around week 13 I gave in and started rocking some maternity clothes.  While I still “fit” into my non-maternity clothes they just weren’t comfortable.  The funniest part was that my shirts would have fit a lot longer if the “twins” had taken on a life of their own.  LOL!  In any case, my friend {love you Rebecca!} was kind enough to let me borrow her maternity clothes.  Although she didn’t have  a ton of warm weather clothes it was just enough to hold me over until I made it to the store.

I think that pretty much sums up the first trimester.  Did I miss anything??

Any tidbits from your 1st trimester you care to share?  I’d love to hear them!

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It was a whole 16 weeks since I last blogged until last week  … *hangs head in shame*.  I have been thinking about blogging and I even had a few posts 90% completed, but just couldn’t muster up the energy to complete them.  BUT here is the thing … I am back and have some great new tidbits to share with you.

For starters I guess I should provide you with my REALLY GOOD excuse for being an absentee blogger … wait for it … wait for it … are you ready?!?!

I’M PREGNANT!!!

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{Sorry for the bad camera phone photo … and as you can see from the tags I was trying to some new maternity pants}

Oh wow, oh my, yup, I just put that out there on the world wide web for the world to see!!  The husband and I are beyond thrilled to be adding a new member to our little family.  I’m not so sure Sophi, our dog, is going to feel the same way come December.  Poor little pup is about to have her world severely rocked.

At 22 weeks, I am just a little over 1/2 way through the pregnancy and it has been a wild ride so far!!!  The first trimester took a lot out of me.  There was morning sickness that lasted all day and “power naps” after work that were always 2-3 hours.  Luckily the second trimester is treating me a lot better than the first!  I feel like myself again … except that my clothes no longer fit and when I look down I can see my belly sticking out.  LOL.  So there you  have it … my excuse for not blogging.   Baking the bun in the oven briefly took precedence over blogging.  =)

I have a number of fun stories, tidbits and baby related projects to share with you in the coming weeks so I hope you will forgive me for being an absentee blogger.

If you enjoyed this post, please add your tidbit by commenting below.  Don’t forget you can follow us on PinterestInstagramFacebook and Twitter.

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