Third Trimester Essentials
Please keep in mind these are my personal reflections and experiences and each and every pregnancy is different.
Oh, the third trimester…I really did enjoy a very easy second trimester and even most of my seventh month was blissfully symptom free. Month eight brought a whole different ballgame. From aches and pains to swollen legs and ankles, all those pesky symptoms you hear about made an appearance for me. Some days, come evening the only thing that seemed to get me out of my discomfort-induced funk was to indulge in a very thorough skincare routine, put on my favorite pajamas and lie down on the couch or get into bed with a book. For even a self-proclaimed bookworm, I read a lot this trimester! I will also say that staying active, lifting weights, yoga and pilates and tons (and tons) of walking really helped as well.
Here are a few items and recommendations that helped me stay as sane and comfortable as possible.
Fashion Finds:
These are my favorite workout pants around and amazingly they have stretched right along with me. My normal pairs are still hanging in there at eight months pregnant. I did snag a maternity pair just in case as well. I’ve also been loving their bike shorts for a summer alternative.
I have raved about them before but Lake pajamas are hands down the best around and worth every penny. (Though I do try and stock up when they have a sale!) I had purchased a maternity set during a sale a while back and have this pair on hand for my hospital bag. This long pair and these with shorts for warmer evenings are everyday favorites and in heavy rotation.
This dreamy looking jumpsuit has been sold out for quite a while but I am very much hoping it comes back into stock as it looks so comfy and chic (a difficult thing to achieve!) for hot, lazy summer days!
For footwear, these sneakers, these casual tennis shoes ($13!) and these sandals from Everlane have been great.
Other maternity fashion essentials.
Miscellaneous:
Pre-pregnancy I would almost always workout on an empty stomach but these days that hasn’t been working so well. These chia bars have been the perfect fix. They only have 3g of sugar and don't make me feel too full before working out.
I’ve also been dabbling with my morning coffee routine and have been adding marine collagen peptides and occasionally a bit of MCT coconut oil as well for some extra healthy fats.
Third trimester heartburn is real. Swearing off hot sauce and spicy food has helped but I still need a few Tums on a regular basis.
Third trimester aches and pains are no joke. From round ligament pain to sciatica to random cramps, I’ve found that keeping a yoga mat and a few stretching props (foam roller, lacrosse balls) handy is very helpful.
Staying hydrated is always important but especially during pregnancy. I’ve found myself getting incredibly thirsty during the third trimester and having an Aarke sparkling water maker at home has helped quench my thirst. When at home I typically drink out of reusable glass bottles like these, and when at work I have a Bkr bottle in the one liter size that I love.
These are recurring favorites and must-haves: Bio-oil, Mama Mia tummy butter.
I haven't invested in one yet, but I’ve heard great things about this pregnancy pillow.
Resources: