More Maternity Favorites

As of this past Monday, I am officially in my third trimester - the home stretch!  It's been flying by, and I really can't believe it.  A blog friend of mine recently announced she was expecting too (yey!), so she's been reading up on all my tips and baby-related posts.  She's just starting out, and I remember how overwhelmed I was feeling - what do I need?  What should I expect? and all that....

Since I am a bit further along, I have added some of the pregnancy "necessities" to my first favorites list, now that I have more "pregnancy experience".

1.  Maternity Spanx.  I have found these to be so fantastic.  Now that my belly is a little larger, I feel like my body is growing in every which way.  Spanx are a real lifesaver.  They really hold me in all over, and support my growing belly.  I just feel more "put together" when I have them on.  Plus, they slim me down just enough, so I can still slip into a few non-maternity dresses, or {combined with my Bella Band} a pre-pregnancy pair of pants.

2.  NARS Milk Cleanser.  At the beginning of my pregnancy, my skin started to freak out a bit, and always felt super dry.  I used to get away with most cleansers, but now I have to stick with my mild, soap-free favorites.  I have written about this NARS cleanser before - and it is still my favorite.  After that initial face break-out session, my skin has totally returned to normal, and I have this tried and true product to thank.

3.  Assets Tights.  Thank you again Sara Blakely.  You sure know how to help out a knocked-up woman!  I love these tights for a few reasons.  They are slimming, while still allowing for a shapely figure.  They are super opaque, so they help hide any scary veins.  They also helped to expand my wardrobe, allowing me to wear non-maternity dresses and skirts in cool weather, that I might have otherwise retired for the season.  Anything that helps me expand my wardrobe, and limit the number of maternity clothes I have to buy - that's a winner in my book.

4.  Gap Super Soft Leggings.  I have been wearing a lot of tunics and dresses to work since my belly started to expand. {It's an acceptable look in my office - thankfully!}  These leggings are actually really comfortable - the fabric is so soft and so stretchy.  And even for a tall girl like me, they fit perfectly.  Plus, I have washed them countless times, and they still look brand new.  So although they are leggings - they are pretty dressy and can be totally work appropriate when paired with the right top.

5.  The Bump.com website.  I think I mentioned in my first Favorites post that I was staying away from pregnancy books.  Well, this is still true.  But every now and again, I have an "is this normal?" moment.  And when I do, I visit The Bump forum, and they always have an answer to my question.  And now that I am starting my baby registry, I wanted to make sure I had all the appropriate gear {and left off all the unnecessary gear}, and that everything I chose was safe and BPA free.  I found all my answers through friends and through The Bump.

But what do I still use from my first list?  I still love the 40+ weeks journal {absolute necessity in my book!}, the gummy vitamins, and I still wear my Bella Band at least once a week.  Not to mention the ruched tank - I'm wearing the one in black as I write this.  These are definite "must haves" in my book.  And how could I forget my gym membership - working out a few days a week still keeps me sane.

To read my first Favorites on Friday: Pregnancy Products write-up, click here.