Congratulations on your upcoming bundle of joy! As you navigate your final trimester before birth, I would like to share with you my 3rd trimester essentials list.

It is so easy to just focus on preparing for the baby during this time as they can come anytime. However, it is also important to take care of yourself.

As I mentioned in my other blog posts, it’s so important to take care of you so that you can take care of others.

In this blog post, I will share with you some essentials that I found helpful for myself as I am going through this last trimester before giving birth. As a soon to be mom of 2, I learned lots from my previous and current pregnancy.

It is so important to take care of yourself, even in the last few months of pregnancy as you’ll need the rest and energy before your bundle of joy comes.

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Here are 7 3rd trimester essentials you must have:

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1. Pregnancy Belt

At the end of this pregnancy, I felt a lot of pressure on my pelvis. It started to feel sore to get up, turn to my side while lying in bed, and also sometimes to walk.

This was because my baby dropped and is putting lots of pressure on my pelvis.

I’m not sure if this may be because it is also the second pregnancy that my muscles are not as strong down there.

My midwife suggested that I try using a pregnancy belt.

After doing some research and reading the reviews, I decided to get this pregnancy belt. Be sure to measure your bump before getting the pregnancy belt so that you can get the right size.

I do feel a bit of difference when I wear it. It helps alleviate some of the pressure that is placed on my pelvis when I’m sitting down.

If you do experience some soreness or intense pressure down there, ask your OB or midwife to see if they would suggest for you to wear a pregnancy belt. It’s slightly different from a belly band as it provides more support for your bump and also your back.

2. Pregnancy Pillow

Another item that is part of my 3rd trimester essentials that I got this pregnancy that I regretted not getting the last time is a pregnancy / body pillow.

It is so important to get good rest at night, especially when your body is growing another human.

I found that hugging a body or pregnancy pillow really makes things more comfortable to sleep.

We bought our body pillow (similar one here) recently and I am loving it. During the previous pregnancy, I wanted to save money and not get one. Instead, I had multiple pillows on the bed with me.

This time, I decided to spend the money to make things more comfortable for me. Of course, having a toddler who might come to our bed in the middle of the night (for whatever the reason is that woke her up), having one pillow instead of multiple ones make room for her to sleep with us.

Be sure to read the reviews before you buy your pregnancy pillow. Also, do note the firmness of the pillow as everyone has their own preference.

3. Comfy Clothes

Comfortable clothing is another one of the 3rd trimester essentials you need.

Yes, not everything you own is going to fit you. I cannot zip up my winter jacket over my bump, but that is okay.

Find clothes that do fit you and are comfortable – wear those (repeat outfits are totally fine!).

I found that oversize sweaters, dresses, and loose tops with leggings are quite comfortable when going out and about. While I am at home, you will find me in my sweat pants and hoodie or t-shirt.

If you are used to wearing more fitted clothing, you might want to consider buying maternity clothing or just larger or loosely fitted clothing. Being comfortable at this stage of the pregnancy is an essential. Clothing that is comfortable will be important for this stage of your pregnancy and also for postpartum as well.

If you are buying clothing online, be sure to check out Rakuten to get some cashback. If this is your first time, you can get $5 extra for the first $25 you spent buying clothes on top of the cashback.

4. Hydration

Keeping yourself hydrated is so important throughout pregnancy.

Sometimes when we are so busy, we forget to drink water or keep hydrated. It’s good to remind yourself to drink water.

Constipation is something that we might face in pregnancy. By drinking more water, it’s supposed to help your bowel movements be more consistent.

I also find that I am more lethargic and unmotivated when I don’t drink enough water.

What type of liquid do you prefer during your pregnancy? Are you more of the plain water or juice type?

To learn more about how much water you actually need, I’ve linked a post from What To Expect and they’ve explained more about the benefits and the amount of water you need during pregnancy.

Related: What to expect: How Much Water Should You Drink During Pregnancy?

5. Compression Socks

Another essential item for your 3rd trimester might be compression socks.

I’ve heard from others that compression socks really helps when it comes to the swelling of the feet. Thankfully, I do not have this for both my pregnancies, but I can imagine how uncomfortable it must be.

A solution that I’ve read, to make things more comfortable, one can try wearing compression socks. Again, please check with your health care provider whether these would be beneficial for you during this stage of your pregnancy.

This may be one of your 3rd trimester essentials, especially if you have really swollen feet due to pregnancy.

6. Snacks

Just like you need to keep yourself hydrated, you also need to have snacks with you.

I find that in the last trimester, I get hungry easily even though I just had a meal half hour ago. Growing a baby, especially during the last few months, require more energy from us. This could be why you could get hungry quicker, at least it was the way for me.

I am hungry as I am typing this (and I just had dinner).

Having snacks around you is a good way to keep your belly satisfied and keep your energy going.

Sometimes, we can so focused on our work and what we need to do that we forget to feed ourselves. Then, we will feel jittery and then just stuff ourselves with whatever we can find at that moment.

I find myself in that situation more often than I like to.

If you want to make healthier choices in your snack choices, you can also prep them beforehand and bring them around with you to eat whenever. Pinterest is a great place to search for recipes for healthy pregnancy snacks.

7. Belly Oil or Body Lotion

Last but not least, as your belly gets bigger, putting belly oil or body lotion is essential in your 3rd trimester.

To avoid or lessen stretch marks, remember to put the lotion or body oil in your tummy. For my first and current pregnancy, I bought Bio Oil to put on my stomach whenever it starts to feel itchy.

Do your own research to see what type of belly oil or body lotion you want to put on your belly, especially when it starts to get bigger.

Also, it’ll be helpful to be consistent in putting it on so your skin will get the hydration that it needs as it is being stretched for this little baby.

These are my 3rd trimester essentials list. Do you have anything you would like to add that is essential to you? Let me know on Instagram @makingdayscount.

Related:

• 5 Maternity Leave Tips Moms Must Know
• Self Care Ideas as a New Parent
• Push present: 8 Unique Ideas For You

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