Complete Second Trimester Checklist: 10 Things You Must Do
Welcome to the sweet spot of pregnancy – the second trimester! With morning sickness (hopefully) behind you and that unmistakable baby bump making its grand debut, it’s time to tackle those essential tasks head-on.
During this stage when most people feel their best, it’s time to tackle tasks to prep for the baby’s arrival. Only one trimester remains, so let’s make the most of this energy surge and handle the tough stuff now. In this post, we’re laying out a practical checklist of 10 things you absolutely need to do during this exciting phase.
Let’s jump right in!
Finish First Trimester To-Do’s
First up! Finish up your first trimester to-do list. Have you checked out my Ultimate First Trimester To-Do List? Before diving into the tasks of the second trimester, ensure you’ve wrapped up any lingering to-do’s from the first trimester. Fortunately, the initial months are primarily about focusing on the essentials and most importantly, prioritizing rest!
Once you have that done, then we can move on!
Officially Announce Pregnancy
Whether you have decided to share the news early or wait until second trimester, now is your time to break the news! This part is so fun. Hopefully, you have already thought about how you’d like to announce to social media. Take those sweet pictures and share the excitement!
If you’re unsure what to do, Etsy has some really sweet digital download pregnancy announcements available. So be sure to check those out if you’re eager to share the news quickly!
Host/Plan Your Gender Reveal
Are you choosing to find out the gender? If so, why not have an excuse to have a party? I always start my party planning process by creating a new Pinterest board of inspiration. From there I decide a date/time, invites, and write down everything I need to plan ahead for. Gender reveals are such a fun and exciting time of pregnancy, especially because that means its time to shop! Once you find out the gender, so much changes and you finally get to know a little more about who you’re growing inside your body.
For both of my babies, I did two opposite types of reveals.
For my first, My best friend hosted an amazing extravagant gender reveal. I loved this because I could share my raw reaction with everyone at the same time! I invited all of my closest family/friends and it was the best time ever. We had everything from a balloon arches to champagne to tasty treats! I definitely felt that it was necessary to go all out for my first baby.
Since we had celebrated with a big party for our first, we opted for an intimate reveal the second time around. We wanted to savor the moment together before surprising everyone else in our own special way.
I really loved both styles of reveals, so it totally just depends on your personality and how you’d like to do it. I wish I could be the type of person to wait until birth to find out, but the planner in me could never!
Get Rid Of Clutter
Now is your time to enter your cleaning era and get rid of all that extra clutter. Tackle the closet clean-outs, drawer organizations, and say farewell to all the unmatched socks you’ve been holding onto in hopes of finding their missing pairs. While you have the second trimester energy, stay ahead of it now so that you’re not in a panic the last few weeks.
This process may require some time, so consider taking on one major task per week to tackle and complete. By breaking down your tasks into manageable chunks and accomplishing smaller tasks each day, you’ll find that the workload becomes much more manageable and less overwhelming!
By clearing out excess belongings and organizing your space, you’re not just making room for baby gear; you’re creating a sanctuary where you can relax, recharge, and focus on your growing family.
Invest In Pregnancy Essentials
As the second trimester of pregnancy unfolds, it’s the perfect time to invest in essential items that will support you through the remainder of your pregnancy journey. From maternity clothes to supportive pillows and skincare products, these investments are not just luxuries but necessities for your comfort and well-being.
By adding these items to your to-do list during the second trimester, you’re prioritizing your physical and emotional health, ensuring that you feel supported and cared for as you navigate the beautiful journey of pregnancy.
Luckily for you, I’ve already curated a list of the best pregnancy essentials in my recent blog post! This gives you a guide at an affordable price everything you could need, all under $25.
Start And/Or Finish Registry
Have you started your registry yet? I couldn’t tell you how many blogs I read and TikTok’s I watched over what I needed. And you know what? I must admit, as a first-timer, this task felt incredibly overwhelming. I had no idea what babies actually needed! And “needed” is emphasized here because, yes, the internet bombards you with a plethora of things you supposedly “need,” but many of them are entirely unnecessary.
Here’s my advice, start on Babylist. If you haven’t heard about this yet, Babylist is an online baby registry service that allows expectant parents to create a personalized registry of baby items from various stores and brands. Unlike traditional registries tied to a single retailer, it enables users to add items from any store on the web, making it more convenient and flexible for parents-to-be. Create an account, and slowly add items. Remember, there is no rush! Once finished, anyone can look up your registry online to gift you your essentials.
I’m in the process of creating a blog post about essential items for your registry. Once it’s completed, I’ll share the link here to assist you. With two kids of my own, I’ve gathered insights on what’s truly essential and what is overhyped. I would love to share that with you to help any way I can.
Plan A Maternity Leave
Planning for a maternity leave is a crucial step in your second trimester to-do list. This allows you to ensure that you have sufficient time off work to recover from childbirth, bond with your newborn, and adjust to your new role as a parent. By addressing this matter early in your pregnancy, you can avoid so much stress. Plus, having your maternity leave plan sorted gives you something to look forward to during the exhausting final weeks/months before your baby’s arrival.
I personally took a 10 week leave, if you have the option to do so, take as much time as you can. Your baby is only a newborn for 8-12 weeks, please don’t rush this unless absolutely necessary. You only get it once and they need you! It’s so crucial for bonding and development.
Schedule a 3D Scan
If you have a local 3D/4D baby boutique in your city, I highly recommend checking it out! I had the pleasure of experiencing this with my daughter, and it was truly unforgettable. These boutiques typically offer private viewing rooms where you can invite family and friends to join you for a live ultrasound scan, turning it into a special event. I cherished the opportunity to see my baby’s movements and facial features in real time, and you can even take home videos and pictures as keepsakes.
It’s best to schedule this experience during the second trimester when the baby is big enough, but not too large for best results. These appointments tend to fill up quickly, so booking ahead ensures you secure a spot.
Put Together Baby’s Nursery
So you know the gender and have officially decluttered… Now is the fun part! Time to decorate the nursery. Like party planning, I always head to Pinterest to gather inspiration and ideas for new rooms. It’s important to start this in the second trimester of pregnancy while you have the energy. Putting a room together can take some time! Hopefully by now, you know what you want, and now it’s time to execute and splurge on room decor.
First, begin by assessing the measurements of the space with your crib, dresser, and rocking chair. Create a functional nursery layout by considering the spacing between items for ease of use. For example, how far do you want your dresser/changing table away from the crib? How far do you want your rocking chair away from the crib? This will ensure the most functional and easy layout to make your motherhood life that much easier.
Go On A Baby-moon
Planning your baby-moon allows you to prioritize quality time together, strengthening your bond and creating lasting memories before your lives change with the arrival of your baby. Remember, you may not get this one-on-one time with your hubby for a while, so take advantage of it!
Additionally, traveling during the second trimester is the sweet spot. Morning sickness has typically subsided and you’re not yet too far along so this can be more comfortable and less stressful. I know right now it feels like a lot and that you couldn’t possibly find the time to have a vacation… but this is your sign, do it! No one ever regrets taking a well-deserved vacation.
Wrapping It Up
As you wrap up your journey through the second trimester checklist, remember that each task you’ve completed has brought you one step closer to welcoming your little one into the world. Remember, you’re not alone on this journey, and every item checked off your list is a testament to your strength and love for your growing family.
You’re halfway there, my friend! You’ve got this.