The Crunchy Mom's Second Trimester Guide: A To-Do List from a Two-Time Boy Mama
- Jul 8
- 7 min read
Updated: Jul 9
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.
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!
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.
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!
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
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.
Here’s your official second trimester to-do list to stay on track:
Research and connect with your midwife or care provider
Schedule and attend prenatal appointments
Book maternity & newborn portraits
Start or update your baby registry
Begin an online birth preparation class (Learn about physiologic labor, how your partner can get involved, & labor positions)
Plan your diet and exercise routine
Start nesting!
Start thinking about postpartum care by gathering supplies and learning about post-birth care & breastfeeding
Remember, every pregnancy is different. Trust your instincts, seek support, and enjoy this special time. If you're looking to have your pregnancy & newborn season documented to preserve every precious moment, I'd love to photograph this season for you!
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