Let me start this off by explaining that I did not have your typical second trimester. The first month of it was pretty chill, but due to my cute little incompetent cervix, I was put on modified bed rest from around 19 weeks on. Modified bed rest meaning that I do not have to sit in bed all day but need to take it easy — “If you have to ask if you can do it, the answer is no.”
So this post is more about what you can do for a friend on bed rest for whatever reason and less about what you need to stock up on for the run of the mill second trimester.
Target Pajamas
I wrote about these in my “First Trimester Necessities for the Third Go ‘Round” post. But, when I wrote about them then, they were just cute. Now they are dang near necessary. If you have visited me, you know that I wear them every single day, shower at night, and put on a new pair for the next 24 hours. Uniform does not even do them justice. I love them dearly, and I hear from my LAFMB new mamas that they work great for nursing a babe in the middle of the night. Good thing, because I do not plan to give these up any time soon.
Beauty Counter Lip Conditioner
I landed myself on bed rest after a surgery and brief stay in the hospital. My lips were SO dry. I am not sure if they just did not recover or if being indoors with the AC pumping has continued to dry them out, but this stuff has been a necessity. I put it on every morning and every night. I love it. And the word on the street is that it makes an awesome nipple balm when you start nursing.
Waitr and Shipt
When our first babe was about a year and half, Waitr joined our scene in Lafayette. It created some of our best date nights. We would put the babe to bed, order a good meal from one of our favorite restaurants, and have it delivered. I have thought since then that a Waitr gift card would be an AWESOME gift for new parents. This was all before bed rest and before I only left my house for doc appointments. Waitr has now become a lifeline. Not only for us but for us with our friends too. Waitr has allowed us to have date nights in with friends without it feeling super out of the ordinary. We have also tried some new restaurants that we maybe would not have driven across town for if I were not on bed rest. Moral of this story is that is you have a friend with a new baby or a friend who needs any sort of pick-me-up, send them some Waitr. They will love you forever. And Waitr, if you are reading this, I am happy to be your new spokesperson.
Even better than Waitr, though, is Shipt. While we have had so many wonderful family members and friends shop and offer to shop for us, there is just something about being able to shop for yourself. Sometimes you settle when someone else is shopping for you because you do not want to be a diva. But, Shipt is different. Shipt allows you to pick and choose and be choosy while grocery shopping from your bed. My Shipt shoppers are not my friends, so I totally do not mind being a diva with them. Shipt has given me the ability to have control over my grocery shopping from my bed. You can give your friends or family members 6 months of Shipt as long as their orders are over $35. Best gift ever.
A really good robe
I ended up with this robe and I regret not spending a little extra for this robe. The one I purchased is a bit thin. But regardless if you get either of these or a Target special, you will need (or your friend will need) a robe. It helps when those groceries are delivered or when visitors pop in. It helps cover day-old pjs and just mixes it up. It also helps when the belly starts peaking out of the Target pjs. And if my husband is reading this, maybe you could surprise me with the other robe? Size Large. Thanks. Love ya.
A really good husband … a mama … and a mother-in-law
I hope you already have these in your arsenal if you land yourself on bed rest. Or if your friend ends up on bed rest, the least you can do is pick up some of the slack of a hard-working husband. I legit WOULD NOT have made it through this trimester without my people. Thank you God for my people. Especially for my uber patient and supportive husband. Thank you.
