This is your ultimate second trimester checklist. Full of everything you need to do in your second trimester of pregnancy.

The second trimester is usually the easiest part of the pregnancy journey: morning sickness has subsided, you have a boost of energy and you can even enjoy your burgeoning bump!

Congratulations of making it through the first 13 weeks of your pregnancy! Here is a list of 25 things that you can keep busy with for the next three months.

25 THINGS TO DO IN THE SECOND TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY

1. Finish First Trimester List  

Didn’t get round to finishing your First Trimester Checklist? It is not too late mama! You can still get it done.

 

2. Plan A Baby Shower 

If you decide to have a baby shower or a sprinkle, take advantage of the energy boost in this trimester to plan one. If you have a strong support system around you, you may be lucky to have your family and friends help with the planning and execution. Take all the help you can get, and then some!

 

3. Book A Maternity Shoot 

Now is the time to decide if you are going to have a maternity shoot or not. If you do decide to have one, now’s the time to research photographers and book it. It might be an added bonus to find someone available around your due date so you can book them for your birth and/or newborn photos. Starting now gives you ample time to budget and fit it into your baby budget.

 

4. Start A Baby Registry 

Now is the time to start a baby registry. I love Amazon for this because if you are like me and live far from your family, they can still buy and ship directly to you, things you want from your list quite easily.

 

5. Start Buying Maternity Clothes 

A lot of people find this part of pregnancy uncomfortable. Although logically we know we are growing a baby and there’re bound to be changes, one can’t help feeling uncomfortable when that favorite pair of pants doesn’t fit anymore. The fun part about maternity clothes is, they are always in stock. The downside is, they can be drab and there aren’t that many options. But if you want to be comfortable, do invest in a few.

 

 

 

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6. Research Postpartum Options 

Start thinking about what you’d like to do after your baby is born. Go back to work after your maternity leave, stay at home and quit your job? Are you financially prepared for either option? This might be the time to mull over and weigh the pros and cons of whatever options you may have.

 

7. Start Making A List Of Baby Names 

Choosing baby names that both you and your husband can agree on can be a tiresome process. Whether you start early or wait till the very last minute, you and your partner will go through a long list before agreeing on anything so you might as well start now. I find it easier to have names for both genders just in case.

 

8. Officially Announce Your Pregnancy 

Now that you are in the safe zone of your pregnancy, you can shout it off the rooftops if you decide you want to announce your good news to the world. Pinterest is a great place to look to ideas for cute pregnancy announcements.

 

9. Find Out Baby’s Gender 

If you are like me and like to know your baby’s gender, this is when you’d find out. Between 15 and 20 weeks is when your baby’s gender can be accurately seen ( closer to the 20week mark). You usually get a scan around this time so you can ask your doctor/midwife if you want to know, or for them to write it down so you don’t get a peek.

 

10. Start Getting Nursery Ready

Now that you have a boost of energy in the second trimester, you can start on your baby’s nursery. You most likely don’t have everything you need yet but you can start to plan the layout of your nursery, decor and putting other things in place as you go along.

11. Plan Gender Reveal

Whether you are planning a small or huge event fit your gender reveal, it requires planning and now us the time to do just that. Take some of the stress off your plate by having a friend or family put it together so you can also be surprised.

 

12. Sign Up For Breastfeeding Class 

We don’t really do this in Denmark. Within the first few hours of birth and until you are discharged, there’s a midwife and/or nurse on hand to help you through this and then you have a home nurse who visits frequently over the course of the first year to give you all the help and support you need. However, if you live in a place where this is on offer, do take advantage of it and sign up for a class. Effective breastfeeding is more than just putting your baby up to your breast. There is also a lot of free advice and videos on the internet on breastfeeding, pumps, etc.

 

13. Decide On Birth Plan 

This isn’t new to moms who have been through the rodeo. If this is your first child, however, you’ll need to start thinking about and putting together your birth plan now. Does your hospital allow filming during the birth process? Can your partner be with you? Can you have your older kids with you in the delivery room? water birth? Epidural? There are lots of decisions to make that come down to what is allowed and what your personal preferences are.

14. Get Rid Of Clutter 

With your energy boost, you can now get to decluttering and organizing your home. We tend to hold on to things and if you are a pack rat like myself, you might need the entire 3 months to declutter. You aren’t as big as you will be in the third trimester and so hop on to it now while you can.

 

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15. Take Weekly Bump Photos 

The weeks may seem to be flying by and you may forget to take weekly bump pictures. You will come to treasure them / regret not taking them later. They are worth the effort. There are many cute and innovative ways to document your pregnancy and your growing bump. Take a gander at Pinterest if you need some inspiration.

 

16. Research Pediatricians 

Now is the time to start looking for a pediatrician. If this is your first child, it might take a while to find someone you trust and/or respect. Rely on recommendations from family and/or friends. You also have to take into account what insurance is accepted and if they are taking on new patients.

 

17. Do Things On Your Pre-Baby Bucket List 

If you’ve taken a peek at my first trimester checklist, you might have created a pre-baby bucket list. If you haven’t, it isn’t too late. Start making your way through the list and do as many of them as you can.

 

18. Sign Up For A Birthing Class 

Does your hospital or midwife offer birthing classes? This is the time to look for one and sign up for it. If you want to.

 

19. Go On Babymoon 

The second trimester is the beset time for a babymoon. You aren’t as wrecked with morning sickness as the first trimester and you aren’t feeling huge and tired as the third trimester. You don’t have to do anything extravagant. But do try to do something that you might not be able to do for a while after your baby comes around.

 

20. Plan Maternity Leave 

If you are already working, it is time to start planning your maternity leave. Even if you are already a stay at home mom, you will still have some planning to do. Meals, chores, errands, etc.

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21. Apply Belly Balm Every Day

Applying belly balm in the first trimester is good prep for your belly. Don’t worry if you haven’t started yet. You’ll want to now though. Although you might not have a number by the end of the first trimester, you definitely will have one during the second trimester. It may or may not help. Genetics plays a big role. But it doesn’t hurt to try. Moisturizing your skin is always a good thing.

 

22. Notify Your Insurance Provider 

If you pay out of pocket for insurance (like most people in countries like the United States), you will need to notify your insurance company of your pregnancy. Some insurance companies offer free resources and services to pregnant women and some may even cover the cost of a breast pump.

 

23. Keep An Eye On Your Symptoms 

This is important no matter what trimester you find yourself in. Sometimes it’s hard to differentiate between what’s normal and what’s not. For example, cramping can either be a worrisome pregnancy symptom or a sign of dehydration/overexertion. Pay attention to everything and talk to your doctor/midwife about anything you find concerning.

 

24. Research Hard Decisions 

Circumcision? Piercing? Let’s talk about it.

 

25. Deep Clean

You may think it might be too much work to deep clean but doing so now will be easier on you than closer to your due date. You can focus on getting the house into tip top shape for the baby. Break out the mop and scrub up a storm if you feel up to it because you wouldn’t be able to once you are bigger in the belly. I recommend switching to all natural cleaning materials if you haven’t already. Your health and that of your baby’s will be all the reward you need.