Weeks 13-23 & My Prenatal Supplement Routine (Second Pregnancy Update)

October 4, 2021

Learn more about my second pregnancy from weeks 13-22. In this blog post I’ll share how I’m feeling, how I’m getting over comparing my current pregnancy with my last, and a deep dive into my current prenatal supplement routine.

Weeks 13-23 & My Prenatal Supplement Routine (Second Pregnancy Update)

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by HUM Nutrition. Thank you for supporting the brands that make the Chelsey Amer Nutrition blog possible.

Like I did with my first pregnancy, I’ll be sharing some pregnancy updates on the blog, and specifically how pregnancy relates to nutrition. I am not a prenatal dietitian, just sharing my personal experiences. I know pregnancy is a sensitive subject and these types of posts can be triggering for some people, so please take care of yourself first and foremost.

It’s that time again… for a little pregnancy update! I love reading about other women’s pregnancies, so I’m excited to share my own experiences as well.

Pregnancy is such a beautiful time, but it’s also a challenging one… especially the second time around! Being pregnant with a toddler is no joke! But one thing I’ve had to confront this pregnancy that I didn’t have in my last, is body image obstacles. I’ll share more about how I’ve been comparing my current pregnancy body to my last one… but first… some more general updates…

Entering the Second Trimester

I feel SO grateful that this pregnancy my nausea seemed to dissipate by 13 weeks. When I was pregnant with Lex it lingered for almost 17 weeks and it was awful! However, the exhaustion has yet to let up this pregnancy (and I don’t think it ever will until my babies go off to college!)

So as I’m now in my second trimester, here’s what’s been going on for the past 8 weeks:

I’ve popped! I’m officially showing and really stretching my non-maternity clothes into maternity clothes
I’m in my larger bras much quicker
I’m hungry all the time or not at all it seems
It’s harder to fit in working out with a toddler at home

I also had a slight scare about having placenta previa. At my 16 week scan my placenta was sitting a little too close to my cervix, so I had to take it easy to ensure everything was OK. By my 20 week scan my placenta moved further from my cervix, so I’m no longer at risk and everything is OK with both myself and the baby.

How’s the baby doing?

According to my doctors, the baby is doing great! Apparently he or she (we haven’t found out the sex) is already measuring on the larger side, but I’m not holding my breath because they said that about Lex too!

Why are you not finding out the sex?

There’s no real answer. We didn’t find out with Lex because we wanted it to be a surprise and it’s so fun having it be a surprise this time too. We’re already trying to keep things equitable amongst our children! I kid, but there are rare true surprises in life, and this is a fun one.

Boy or girl, we’re just hoping for a healthy and happy baby come January!

Differences Between my First and Second Pregnancies

One aspect of pregnancy that I didn’t even consider before getting pregnant this time is how my pregnancy would be different. In the back of my head I think I knew it would be harder because I now have a toddler to take care of who is so exhausting, but that’s where I thought it would end.

I didn’t realize how much more physically demanding pregnancy would be this time compared to last time (at least for me). Compared to my first pregnancy, this second pregnancy I…

Started showing earlier
Feel pregnant more (like the baby feels heavier in my belly)
Am hungrier (this could also be due to a lack of sleep!)
Have more food aversions and specific preferences (hi tortilla chips!)
Have nonstop exhaustion
Feel less confident in my pregnancy body
Compare my pregnancy body to my previous pregnancy body

So let’s talk about a few of these…

As a registered dietitian I talk to my clients all the time about not comparing their bodies to their previous selves. When I stopped comparing my own body to thinner versions of myself (before I got pregnant), my body confidence spiked. But it’s been MUCH harder to take my own advice during my second pregnancy.

Last pregnancy I felt SO confident about my body. I loved seeing my growing bump (and boobs, let’s be honest!) every week.

This pregnancy, likely because my pelvic floor is weaker from my first pregnancy, I definitely feel heavier all around. And not heavy in terms of weight. My belly feels heavier to lug around (in addition to a 30+ pound toddler who loves to be held). Overall, this has me feeling more down about my body because I don’t feel as strong.

Plus, it’s no secret that your body has insane muscle memory so you tend to “pop” faster. I was juuuust starting to show at 22 weeks last time. This pregnancy I’m full on bumpin’… and while I love it and will definitely miss it when it’s gone, it’s somehow harder this time.

So what am I doing to instill body confidence throughout my second pregnancy?

I’m doing my best to take care of my here and now body… but also not obsessing, micromanaging, or beating myself up over my body.

This includes:

Exercising when it feels good, even if that’s just getting out for a few short walks/day
Adding more color to my plate when I can (so if I’m craving nachos, great, but I’ll also add sliced veggies on the side)
Staying hydrated even though I have to pee 4,999 times per day
Sleeping and resting as much as possible with a tiny human who wakes up at 6am
Upping my supplement regimen to cover any loopholes in my diet and lifestyle

So on that note…

My Second Pregnancy Prenatal Supplement Routine

Pregnancy is one of the most important times to focus on your supplement routine. SO many things are out of your control when you’re pregnant – nausea, exhaustion, food preferences and aversions, heartburn (perhaps), less room in your belly for full meals – the list can go on and on.

But a reliable supplement routine with high quality supplements can be your safety net.

Even if you can’t fill half of your plate with veggies, you’ll know you’re getting the vitamins and minerals you and your baby need.

If dairy isn’t agreeing with you and kimchi causes heartburn, you can rely on a probiotic to help promote bowel regularity and good gut health.

And I’m sure many pregnant women can relate to this one… if fish doesn’t sound appealing, a high quality, pure fish oil supplement can ensure you and the baby get the DHA omega-3 fatty acids that you need.

Prenatal nutrition is highly individualized so although I”m sharing what my personal supplement routine looks like and why it’s important while I’m pregnant, you should always check with your doctor before beginning any supplement while pregnant or nursing.

So what does my prenatal supplement routine look like? I’m currently taking…

Prenatal vitamins
HUM’s Gut Instinct probiotic
HUM’s Here Comes the Sun vegan vitamin D3 supplement
HUM’s ultra-pure OMG! Omega the Great fish oil supplement with EPA and DHA

It’s no secret that I’m a HUM dietitian and a huge personal fan of the brand. I love HUM’s transparency in their supplements and the fact that every customer is paired with a registered dietitian (like me!) to ensure you’re getting the supplements you actually need (instead of what you see some random person promoting on the internet). You can get started by taking HUM’s quiz HERE to get your personalized report and recommendations.

Why are prenatal vitamins important?

Prenatal vitamins are an insurance policy that you and your baby get the nutrients that you need for a healthy pregnancy. It’s actually recommended that you begin taking a prenatal vitamin before you conceive.

Personally, I never stopped taking my prenatal vitamins since my first pregnancy. I took them throughout nursing, and then I knew I’d want to get pregnant again soon so I never switched.

Your nutrient needs increase during pregnancy and it’s sometimes hard to eat all of the nutrients you need because of nausea, food aversions, or a hectic everyday life.

Specifically, you need more:

Folate: to prevent neural tube defects and proper brain development
Iron: to transport red blood cells to the fetus and mom’s expanded blood volume
Calcium: to build strong bones and teeth
Vitamin D: for baby’s bones and teeth, plus skin and immune function for mom
Choline: for baby’s brain and spinal cord development
Omega-3 fatty acids: for baby’s brain development
And more

But not every prenatal supplement contains all of these nutrients, so it’s always important to check with your healthcare provider when choosing a prenatal supplement that works for you.

Furthermore, it’s essential that your prenatal vitamin agrees with your body. Some require multiple pills or doses throughout the day, which just isn’t feasible for some women.

How does a probiotic help expectant mothers?

Probiotics are beneficial gut bacteria that help support overall good gut health and balance your microbiome. Your microbiome influences so many aspects of your overall health from digestion to your immune system and more.

Although probiotics are great to help a mother’s digestion and microbiome, your baby’s microbiome develops all throughout pregnancy. Helping it along by improving your gut microbiome helps.

Sure, you can eat more probiotic-rich foods, including:

Kimchi
Yogurt and kefir
Sauerkraut
Miso
Other fermented foods

But you can also rely on a supplement, like HUM’s Gut Instinct. Taking a prenatal probiotic supplement is generally recognized as safe. Gut Instinct contains 10 strains to support a balanced microbiome.

Even more, pregnancy constipation is no joke. Supporting a healthy gut can help keep things moving along too.

Why are omega-3 fatty acids important during pregnancy?

Most Americans (pregnant or not) do not eat enough omega-3 fatty acids. Even more, there’s growing research (even since my first pregnancy) about the benefits of adequate omega-3 fatty acid intake during pregnancy. Specifically, DHA is essential for baby’s brain and eye development. Furthermore, inadequate omega-3 levels are associated with an increased risk for preterm labor.

You can rely on foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids, but this can be difficult for some expectant moms. If you’re not eating the recommended 2+ servings of (low mercury) fish per week, supplementing can be crucial… and not all prenatal supplements contain omega-3 fatty acids (mine does not).

HUM’s OMG! is an ultra-pure fish oil supplement that contains both EPA and DHA (with the latter being most important during pregnancy). With so many food aversions this pregnancy (especially in the beginning), I love that OMG doesn’t have a fishy aftertaste.

Why is Vitamin D so important during pregnancy?

Last, in my prenatal supplement routine is vitamin D3. So why is it so important? Most people worldwide are deficient in vitamin D, but it is essential for your baby’s bone, teeth, eyesight and skin development. Plus, vitamin D is important for your immune health (and getting sick when pregnant absolutely sucks!).

Even more, food sources of vitamin D are limited, which is why supplementation can be helpful. I’ve been using HUM’s Here Comes the Sun since pre-pregnancy as a way to boost my immune system and love that it’s a vegan vitamin D3 softgel. D3 is the active form of vitamin D so your body can put it to work.

Remember, it’s always a good idea to confer with your OB before starting a new supplement routine.

If you’re pregnant, congrats! How are you feeling? If this is your second pregnancy too, I’d love to hear if you’re having similar thoughts about comparing your body to your first pregnancy.