The Crunchy Mom's Second Trimester Guide: A To-Do List for San Antonio Moms from a Two-Time Boy Mama
- Jul 8
- 10 min read
Updated: Aug 21
Welcome to your second trimester, mama!! Affectionately known for the "pregnancy glow" that follows. Hopefully your nausea is clearing up and maybe any crazy acne that came with the first tri hormone changes (speaking from experience here!). I've loved the second tri with both pregnancies. It's when I started feeling baby much more and really wasn't too uncomfortable! If you’re finally past the first trimester trenches and searching for a second trimester guide that offers real, practical advice, cozy up mama, you’re in the right place!
In this post, I’ll share all my tips on navigating your second trimester including nesting, building your non-toxic baby registry, finding a care provider or midwife you love, and staying healthy for both you and your baby as you approach the third tri. Keep reading to have my second trimester to-do sent to your email! My hope is to encourage and support you as you navigate your own second trimester.
But first, did you check out Crunchy Mom's First Trimester Guide?
Your second-trimester roadmap
You’re finally feeling a little more human and suddenly there are approximately 47 things you feel like you should be doing before baby arrives.
Don’t worry. You don’t need to do everything at once.
I’ve put together the things I actually found helpful during my second trimesters, plus a simple checklist you can save and come back to as you move toward the third trimester.
Want the checklist?
Save my Second Trimester To-Do List
A simple, printable checklist covering:
Prenatal care
Baby registry
Birth preparation
Nesting
Postpartum preparation
Nutrition + movement
Maternity & newborn portraits
Table of Contents:
My Second Trimester Guide
Second Trimester Nesting Insight
Nesting is more than just cleaning; it’s a deep urge to prepare your home, heart, and mind for baby’s arrival! Nesting looked like a wide range of things for me between my two pregancies. It really came down to what made me feel safe and supported to prepare my homebirth space and also fortify my postpartum nest! There were many cleanings tasks I had set for myself, but especially in my second pregnancy, I invited Jesus so intentionally into the final weeks through visual reminders around my house. For me, nesting looked like:
Deep-Cleaning, de-cluttering and organizing: I found a random home deep clean checklist on Pinterest that I could knock out in a month and stuck with it! Everything from baseboards to curtains to folding tiny laundry again.
Preparing a nursery corner in our room: Bassinet, Swaddles/Blankets, Nightgowns/Onesies, Burp Rags, Diaper Caddy
I never intended for either of my babies to leave our room until they outgrew their bassinet! This gave us 6-ish months to get the baby's room situated and gave me a lot of peace about not having everything "perfect" for baby's arrival. If you've been thinking about newborn photos and are stressed about the nursery - your bedroom or living is the perfect place to hangout & love on your baby for photos!
Your home does not have to be perfect for newborn photos: You don’t need a perfectly styled nursery, spotless house, or magazine-worthy living room. Some of the most meaningful newborn photographs happen in the places where your family actually lives, your bedroom, nursery corner, couch, or the little spot where you spend your mornings together.
Dreaming up my birth space: scripture encouragement cards, twinkle lights, low lighting options, & room for the birth tub!
For my first son, I was due in early December and felt like I really just could not give birth without our Christmas tree set up in the living room! And of course we are a fresh tree family so I went a little nutso in mid-November working on our 8 foot tree while 37 weeks pregnant. Ha ha, it's a funny memory to reflect on but it absolutely created the most dreamy & magical birth space. Laboring in the living room with the glow of lights on our christmas tree right behind me! Dreaming up your birth (or postpartum) space in your home is another way to start getting excited for the hard work of labor ahead of you and the reward of enjoying your hard work with a newborn snuggled up on ya.
Packing my postpartum station for the bathroom: Stocking my postpartum essentials! Here is what I've used & re-used in my bathroom caddy for each baby:
Frida Peri Bottle (Fill this with herbal sitz & spray after each trip to the bathroom!)
Rael Diapers (for the first couple days post-birth)
Frida Witch Hazel Foam (I used both wipes and foam)
Earth Mama Perineal Healing Spray (I rotated between this & witch hazel)
Frida Disposable underwear (for when bleeding slows and you want to switch to a pad)
Nesting helped me feel a little more in control with each baby and in touch with my environment leading up to the new baby's arrival.
Second Trimester Prenatal Fitness & Diet Tips
Once the nausea eased, I shifted my focus to nourishing my body and staying active. Here’s what worked for me:
Eat whole, unprocessed foods - This is hopefully a no-brainer, but the "eat whatever you want, mama" and "eating for two" mentality is so toxic and it's not supporting your pregnancy. It's so important to prioritize fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats like avocado and nuts. Protein can also come from beans, eggs, and wild caught fish! Reading Real Food for Pregnancy changed my entire perspective on nourishing my prenatal body.
Stay hydrated, mama!! I try to stay away from Stevia when I am TTC or pregnant because I've seen some questionable study results of how Stevia affects fertility. That's not meant to scare you! But here are the minerals I add to my water in those seasons! Staying hydrated keeps you and your baby healthy and also combats constipation - iykyk!
Exercise gently but consistently - I will singgg the praises of my Built to Birth, birth course. When I purchased the birth course, it came with so many other modules to educate me in my transition into motherhood. I've used the Prenatal Fitness module both times and truly LOVED it! It feels so good to move your body in ways that are also training you for labor and teaching you laboring positions.
Rest when needed & honor your body - If there was ever a time to truly tune into your body and start noticing how you really feel, trust me that it is during pregnancy and postpartum. Carrying life is an incredible experience that we get to do! And resting when you need to is so important. If you don't rest when your body is asking for it, it may force you into it during the later weeks of pregnancy.
Don’t forget to reserve your maternity portraits
The second trimester is one of the best times to start planning your maternity session.
I typically photograph maternity sessions around 28–34 weeks, so reaching out during your second trimester gives us plenty of time to choose your location, plan your wardrobe, and create a session that feels relaxed rather than rushed.
Already know you want newborn portraits too? We can plan those alongside your maternity session.
Your Photography Timeline
2nd Trimester
Research + Reserve your photographer
28-34 weeks
Maternity Session
Before Baby Arrives
Baby's First Year
Reserve Newborn, 6 Month Milestones, 1 Year Milestones Portraits
You don’t have to figure out the whole journey today. I’ll help you take it one step at a time.
My Experience Working with a Midwife
Choosing to trust a midwife with my prenatal and postnatal care was THE BEST decision I made during both pregnancies. You absolutely do not need the trial run of your first baby out of the hospital before working with a midwife! Midwives offer highly personalized care, focusing on natural birth and overall, holistic health.
I never had an appointment outside of the midwifery care model, so I can't honestly speak to the differences. But what I can tell you is that my first experience with my midwife was a consultation appointment where my husband and I got to pull out our notebook full of questions that we had researched and she listened intently and answered thoroughly. She took time to explain her background and how she could serve me during the most transformative time of my life.
Midwives usually also offer a range of natural birth options! From home births to birthing centers, midwives can help give you a safe out of hospital birthing experience if that's what you're looking for! Natual birth may not be for every mama, so it is really important that you understand your own expectations and desires for your birth, and really lean into those! Don't choose a midwife because it's the trendy/crunchy thing to do, choose her because deep down you crave a deeply supported and intuitive birth experience.
My prenatal appointments were typically an hour long, filled with so much time to cover my questions and have key discussions about the care she was providing me with lots of hands-on guidance! Pregnancy can be overwhelming with the amount of changes it is introducing to your family and having a care provider you actually trust with you and your baby's life can make a huge difference! She shared so much valuable information about what to expect for labor and postpartum, and more than anything instilled so much motherly confidence in me.
If you’re considering inviting a midwife into your birth space, start early and build a relationship. It’s a partnership that can transform your pregnancy experience!
Your maternity session doesn’t need to feel like another appointment on your pregnancy calendar. We’ll plan it around you, your family, and the season you’re in.
Want to document more than one chapter?
Pregnancy is only the beginning of this story.
For families who want to preserve several seasons of motherhood, LKP Portrait Collections pair portrait sessions with heirloom artwork.
Legacy Collection
1 session + artwork
Family Collection
2 sessions + artwork
Milestone Collection
3 sessions + artwork
We can plan your sessions around the moments that matter most to your family—from maternity and newborn portraits to baby’s first year.
Building a Crunchy Registry in Your Second Trimester
Creating a baby registry that checks all the non-toxic boxes can feel overwhelming, and to some extent it may be unnecessary! I focused on items that support the natural lifestyle I aim to achieve and reduce exposure to chemicals. You can find my comprehensive baby registry on my Amazon Storefront here! But here are the essentials:
Organic cotton onesies - GAP has adorable onesies, you can find more here!
Cloth diapers and wet bags - (I used a different brand, but wished I had these) Cloth diapers are eco-friendly, gentle on baby's skin, and can save lots of $$$ not using diapers!
Wooden toys and natural rubber teethers - You truly only need a handful of baby toys, and trust me you will not want a huge collection to store after the first year
Microbiome safe baby "soap" - The only "soap" I have ever used on my babies! You're gonna wanna put this one on subscription
A quality baby carrier! Truly a motherhood must-have, ESPECIALLY if you plan to have multiple babies.
Glass Bottles - The pros of using glass bottles outweigh the cons of using breakable glass lol
More resources for your second trimester
Building your baby registry?→ My Crunchy Baby Registry
Thinking about birth preparation?→ My Third Trimester Guide
Planning maternity photos?→ When to Take Maternity Photos
Looking for beautiful San Antonio locations?→ Best Maternity Photography Locations in San Antonio
The Crunchy Moms Second Trimester To-Do List
Pregnancy’s second trimester is a unique time to nurture yourself and prepare for your growing family. This second trimester guide and second trimester to-do list reflect my experience as a crunchy two-time boy mama, offering practical steps and heartfelt insights. If you’re expecting, take these tips to heart and tailor them to your needs. Your body and baby will thank you.
Health + care
☐ Choose your care provider
☐ Keep up with prenatal appointments
☐ Begin birth preparation
Baby
☐ Start your registry
☐ Begin preparing baby’s space
☐ Research newborn essentials
Home
☐ Declutter + organize
☐ Create your postpartum station
☐ Begin nesting
Motherhood
☐ Prioritize nourishing food
☐ Find movement you enjoy
☐ Rest when your body asks for it
Photography
☐ Reserve maternity portraits
☐ Reserve newborn portraits
☐ Begin thinking about your maternity wardrobe
☐ Start saving locations you love
You don’t have to finish this list today.
Your second trimester isn’t meant to be a race toward the finish line. Let some things be simple. Let some things wait. And make room to enjoy the season you’re actually in.
When should I book my maternity photographer?
If you’re in your second trimester, you’re in a great window to start looking.
I typically recommend reaching out around 16–24 weeks and scheduling your maternity session for approximately 28–34 weeks.
Booking early gives us time to:
Choose your location
Plan your wardrobe
Discuss your vision
Coordinate your family
Build in flexibility around your due date
“But I’m not comfortable in front of the camera…”
You don’t need to know how to pose.
I’ll guide you through the session with gentle direction while giving you space to interact naturally with your partner and children.
You don’t need to perform or know what to do with your hands. You simply need to show up as yourself.
Hi, I’m Lauren!
I’m a San Antonio motherhood photographer and a two-time boy mama. These guides are based on the things I’ve personally learned through pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and motherhood, not a perfect checklist of how pregnancy “should” look.
I created Lauren Kay’s Photography to document these quickly fading seasons for other mamas, too.
You’re entering a beautiful season...
You don’t need to have everything figured out yet.
If you’d love to document your pregnancy, your baby’s first days, or the first year of your growing family, I’ll help you plan each session intentionally and create photographs you’ll be able to hold onto long after this season has passed.
Planning maternity portraits?
Already thinking about newborn photos?
Want to document the whole journey?
Serving San Antonio, Boerne, New Braunfels, Bulverde, and surrounding Texas Hill Country families.
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