As I continue musing on my 2nd trimester, I find it amazing how many more discoveries I’ve had since I got pregnant. Having been very prepared for pregnancy, there were still things I was finding out and figuring out in the first trimester, and just when I thought there was nothing new to find or learn, I’d stumble upon something else that is better or something I haven’t thought about, things that I wish I had known about in the 1st trimester.
So I thought it’d be fun to write a little bit about the 4 new items that I found very useful or helpful or better than anything else on the market during the 2nd trimester. And, our generous sponsors will actually give you an opportunity to win 3 out of 4 items I’ll be talking about, so don’t forget to enter when you’re done reading, if it’s something you like.
Table of Contents
Mama Mio Skin Care
If you’ve been reading for a while, you might remember that I thoroughly researched pregnancy safe skin products and was going into pregnancy using only what I considered safe and having eliminated anything harmful. At that moment I was using Belli Skin Care line, which is a good and effective line of pregnancy products that is 100% teratogenically tested (teratogen= substance that causes birth defects) . Some time in my 1st trimester as I continued reading and researching chemicals in food and beauty products, I started realizing that what I was using previously, while teratogen free, is not exactly 100% safe and natural. The fact that something doesn’t cause birth defects doesn’t mean it won’t make other less obvious changes in your baby. Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS) for example, isn’t considered a teratogen, however it mimics a hormone, called oestrogen, and may be responsible for health problems, such as menopause, PMS, breast cancers, low male fertility, aside from the fact that it can be contaminated with dioxane, a known carcinogen. And nothing that mimics hormones is a good idea to use during pregnancy since the whole pregnancy is lead and governed by the correct expression of hormones. Well, SLS is literally everywhere. If it’s some sort of cleaning or foaming product, like a face wash, you’ll see Sodium Laurel Sulfate as one of the top ingredients.
I don’t know how about you, but while pregnant, I really didn’t want to risk it. So I’d spend hours trying to find products that didn’t have these lesser known or not so obviously harmful chemicals.I did find a good product in each necessary category and you can see the line up here. However, the issue was while they were 100% safe and good for you, I wasn’t crazy about how well they worked or smelled. But I figured I’d survive with limp hair and stinky oily stomach until my baby is born! ( I couldn’t help but post this picture on the left. We took it for ourselves because we thought it was funny, but I think it really shows how big my belly has gotten, much more than you can see in a static picture. It amazes me sometimes: I have a big firm belly with our daughter inside!)
So that was until I bumped into Mama Mio products. By now 
you can tell, I am very serious about safety when it comes to pregnancy- any new product I buy, I dissect all the ingredients to make sure they’re acceptable to me. Their products clearly state that they are ALL paraben free, petroleum free, phthalates free, sodium laureth and sodium lauryl sulphate free, colourant free, synthetic fragrance free and xenoestrogen free. Sounds amazing, doesn’t it? However, I was still concerned about the fragrance. See, the word “fragrance” is where most skin care companies can hide all the nasty stuff, since fragrances are protected by copyright law ( or whatever it’s called when it comes to beauty products). You’re not required to disclose the content of the fragrance(perfum). So whenever you see that on your bottle of cream, you could be slathering yourself with parabens, petroleum, carcinogens, etc, unless the package says otherwise. So after looking more into what Mama Mio’s fragrance was all about, I found the best answer I could expect. Gravida is Mama Mio’s “amazing essential oil fragrance; a blend of 10 pregnancy-safe, pregnancy-specific natural oils which smells gorgeous to even the most sensitive of noses”. Sounds great! I also didn’t stop there. Once I got the products, I went over the ingredient list to makes sure there was nothing else I didn’t like the sound of and everything was perfect.
So I’ve been using them for almost 2 months now and I gotta tell you, there’s No Natural Skin Care Line I’ve used that compares to their products! I am a customer for life!
I’ve been using the BBB Kit (Boobs, Bellies, Bottoms), that includes Tummy Rub Oil, Boob Tube and O-Mega Wonder-Full Balm.
Tummy Oil is by far my favorite! First of all the smell is HEAVENLY! Throw away your Mother’s Blend Oil, because it doesn’t stand a chance. I remember hating the smell of Mother’s Blend in the first trimester and putting up with it in the 2nd. With Tummy Rub Oil, I look forward to my nightly routine. Even my husband keeps commenting on how good I smell after I apply it and he’s not really a smell guy. I still don’t have a single stretchmark and my belly has been growing much faster this past month, going from almost nothing to a big baby belly. I’m almost out of the oil, but I know I’ll be ordering another bottle very soon. Sometimes, when I lie down to relax after a tiring day, I put a little bit of the oil on my wrists and pillow just to have the smell around me, it’s so calming!
Boob Tube smells just as good ( a slightly different fragrance) and I am not sure if I’m hallucinating but I could swear my boobs are firmer and have more tone. Even if it’s all my imagination, I know the skin around them has never looked better. I should probably start applying it around my upper chest and neck too, since it’s a Bust and Neck firmer (something I just realized lol)
Omega Wonder-Full Balm is a one stop rescue balm. I use it on my lips, my elbows, my knees, dry spots on my tummy, my belly button when it feels stretchy. It smells amazing (again), hydrates and heals the skin instantly. And the bottle lasts FOREVER.
Some other items worth trying are cooling Lucky Legs for tired legs relief ( don’t have problems with legs since I’m home most of the time, so I haven’t tried that yet), existing stretchmarks and scars remedies (will definitely buy those if it ever becomes an issue), cellulite cream ( A must for me after pregnancy, along with Toning Serum). You know how when you find the right company and the right products that work for you, you no longer care about the price, it just makes sense to continue using them- Mama Mio is that line for me. Luckily, their prices are reasonable.
I’ve been kind of neglecting the rest of my body, leaving it dry and unexfoliated, because I couldn’t find anything safe enough, but with my next order, I’ll be buying the Body Oil or Cream and the Exfoliator to take care my horribly dry skin in all places other than boobs and tummy. Will report later on how these worked out for me.
If you’d like to try some of these products, Mama Mio is giving away a full sized set of Mighty Moisture Day & Night Moisturizer, Goodbye Stretch Marks and a Boob Tube to 1 lucky reader ( enter at the end of this post)
MyBrestFriend Body Pillow
A few months ago as I was starting to have to sleep on my side and was feeling very uncomfortable, I started looking for a body pillow. I asked people on the blog, I read a few review on Amazon, I balked at the $100 price tag of some of the body pillows. So I slept with 5 different pillows for as long as I could until I got an actual pregnancy body pillow. One thing I was looking forward to in a body pillow is the little ledge for your belly. I felt like it was sagging down and pulling on my back, like it needed support. It made a HUGE difference to have the little wedge between the bed and my belly. It felt more supported and comfortable and the light dull backache disappeared almost overnight. Aside from that, I didn’t really know what to expect in a body pillow. It took me a few days to get used to it and find the perfect position for my body.
See, I like things between my legs (hahaha- that’s what got me into this pickle). No, seriously, when I sleep on my side I almost always need something between my knees and ankles. It started when I was modeling and was so thin, it was simply uncomfortable to have no padding (read: fat) between my bones when they lay atop of each other. At this point, I am not sure if I’m just used to hugging things with my legs or bones are still an issue, but I know I’ve always needed a pillow between my legs. I find that this pillow doesn’t give me enough surface area for my long legs when sleeping in a bent position, so I still have to have an additional standard pillow between my knees. However, if you’re the kind of sleeper who doesn’t like bulky things around you, this pillow will be utter perfection. What I do like is how it’s long enough to reach my ankles and support them and thin and light enough not to make me sweaty at night. It took me a few days to find a good position for my head and now I LOVE it. The little rounded pillow at the end is supposed to support your head and I find it so cuddly and comfortable.
So my current set up is as follows: big shapeless body pillow behind me to prevent me from turning over to sleep on my back at night. MyBrestFriend pillow up front with the rounded corner under my head, belly wedge under my tummy and the bottom end of the pillow supporting my ankles, plus an additional pillow between my knees. This is THE best set up I have found and the best sleep I’ve had. I rarely wake up with back pain and if I do, it’s mostly because I turned to the other side in my sleep and somehow didn’t bring the body pillow with me.
You can win a body pillow from MyBrestFriend by entering the giveaway below.
Belly Armor
I really really wish I knew about this particular item BEFORE I got pregnant, so that I had it with me from day 1.
You know how most of our lives are spent at our computers? You’re obviously sitting at one reading this. Or you might be reading the post on your cell phone. I’m sure more than half of you work at a computer. Either way, we’re constantly exposed to low levels of radiation from all the daily items we use. The information is now coming out that cell phones used without a headset cause tumors. I haven’t heard much about laptops and desktops but I know it’s not good to have one on your lap. This has bothered me for quite a while since all of my work and most of my hobbies involve a computer. Like I said before, I am ok with taking a small risk when it comes to my own health out of laziness or whatnot, but the second we knew we were pregnant, it changed completely, because everything that I am exposed to, even in low doses could harm that little human being inside me during sensitive periods of development.
Oh how I wish I knew about the company called Belly Armor in my first trimester. They make products that protect your belly from all the radiation that we’re exposed to daily. According to their website “the past 25 years of research has evidenced several potential health hazards during pregnancy from radiation, including birth defects and genetic disruptions, miscarriages, autism, childhood leukemia, and cancer. Because scientists have shown that cell growth and DNA replication are disrupted by radiation, pregnancy and early childhood represent the highest risk for exposure.” The funding for studies like this is limited, because the effects take years to show up, so it’s almost impossible to measure, just like most research in prenatal programming and exposure, but to me as a pregnant woman, bent on protecting my child while it’s in the womb, it is a definitely step to take. Belly Armor has three products: the Belly Blanket, the Belly Tee and the Belly Band. They are made out of cotton and a RadiaShield lining that protects you against 99.9% of radiation. I even tested that. I wrapped my cell phone in the blanket and it instantly lost signal. I have both the blanket and the band.
I find the blanket perfect to have around the house. Whenever I sit down with my laptop (which I always have on a special lap pillow), I put the blanket over my belly. EVERY TIME! It just feels so good to know that Alexis is protected from radiation, something that has always been in the back of my mind up until now. The blanket comes in cute colors and has a convenient pocket for a cell phone. Before I had the blanket, I also found myself “accidentally” putting my iphone on the top of my belly (using it as a shelf) when I needed my hands free for something and then instantly realizing that and putting it aside. Now with the blanket, I can actually rest it there for a couple of seconds while I’m reaching for a glass of water or clicking a link without freaking myself out. So almost every evening, after a long day, you can see me in this position, with my laptop and my Belly Blanket
The band on the other hand is ideal if you work at a computer and can’t or don’t want to bring your blanket with you. It’s much more comfortable to have a band on when you’re sitting at the desk. It also does the double duty of supporting your belly. Sometimes, when I know I’ll be on the go all day, I just put the band on and I don’t have to worry about bringing my blanket with me. The band fits perfectly under any maternity clothes and is very inconspicuous. So I figured, if you’re gonna buy a belly band, you might as well get one with protection. I got it in a slightly bigger size knowing that in the last two months my belly will have to catch up and grow quite a bit.
I am really happy I get to use these, even though I only have a few weeks left, but I know that with the next pregnancy, I will be using both from day one. My friend whose sister is pregnant instantly ordered one as soon as she saw mine. It’d make a great gift for a pregnant woman.
To win a BellyBand or Belly Blanket, enter the giveaway below.
Organized Pregnancy
The final item that I found very useful is this book: One Year to an Organized Life with a Baby. Again, in this case I wish I had found it sooner, but better late than never. It’s a book that takes you through a whole year week by week, starting from 9 weeks pregnant to postpartum, helping you prepare everything for the arrival of the baby and the changes that will take place.
The author goes over things that need to be bought, things that could wait, places, rooms and closets that need to be organized, space that needs to be made, preparations for maternity leave and returning back to work, financial preparations- basically everything that would ideally need to be taken care of before a baby comes, without cramming it all into the last few weeks of pregnancy like we all tend to do. Each week she gives a “project”, along with valuable tips and tricks of organization. I read through to 32 weeks and have been following her advice on many levels. The book is also an AMAZING motivational tool that will get your nesting butt off the couch and itching to properly prepare for a baby! Definitely a must read, especially if you lack organization or love organizing ( both apply to me :))
BELOW ARE THE GIVEAWAY RULES
and Mandatory Entries: {read carefully}
There are two mandatory entries, after which you will have additional entries available,
and 1 daily entry for which you can come back to enter daily.
The winning entries will be verified and the winner disqualified if the action is not found or if the mandatory items are not fullfilled.
Make sure to notate how you’re following the blog in the extra info field (entry #1). The entry won’t count if that information is missing.
Please make sure to visit Mama Mio and/or MyBrestFriend and/or Belly Armor (or all three)and comment on what items you’d like to win is to be eligible to win (entry #2). The comment is to be posted to this blog post.
The giveaway is open to US residents only. See the rafflecopter widget for additional terms and conditions.
All comments will be moderated and will appear once approved.
If you have a blog, there’re 2 entries each worth 10 points ( post our button on your blog’s sidebar and blog about the giveaway)
{If you’re not sure how to use to enter, feel free to watch this video tutorial or email me at contact {at} prebabyblog {dot} com
Otherwise, make sure to read everything carefully. Click the DO IT link first, then I’VE DONE IT once the action is completed}
Disclosure: Some of the items above were sent to me for free in exchange for my honest opinion.
belly armour, i’d never heard of it before now either
anna pry
I follow via Google. I would love to win a My Breast Friend twin nursing pillow. Just in case I ever have twins, plus the extra space seems like it would be nice. I have the regular one now and it is so much nicer than a boppy! I love it!
I love your blog, I’ve spent the last couple of days catching up as I just found out about you last week.
For the contest-
The Moma Mio Skin care-Boob Tube Bust & Neck Firmer would be great, as I’ve already grown a cup size, and I’m not that far aong yet.
MyBrestFriend Body Pillow-The 3-in-1 Body Pillow looks comfortable.
Radioation Protection-I work on a computer all day, so the Belly Band would be a good idea for me.
Again, your blog is great, I can’t wait to read more of your journey.
Christina
Thanks so much, Christina! I’m glad you like it :))))
oh my gosh, i need that radiation blanket. in metro.
I would love the belly armor – that blanket is genius.
I love your blog! I’m a very tall (5’10) and very skinny lady myself, so it’s been so helpful to see the maternity clothes, bras, etc. that work for you. I already purchased the Lamaze sleep bras a few weeks ago too! So amazing!
For the contest, I’d love to win any of the prizes!
The Moma Mio Skin care line is fantastic. I’m very into health and wellness so a product line that gives me a worry-free pregnancy is terrific.
The MyBrestFriend Body Pillow also looks great because it seems to fit well for you – and since I’m a tall lady myself, I think it would work well for me too!
The Belly Band with the radioation protection is also amazing because I’m constantly on my laptop and iPhone. Morning, noon, night… it’s like I can never escape technology! The band would really help my peace of mind to know my baby isn’t getting hit with mega doses of radiation.
I love that you are doing this!
I’ve currently been using another stretch mark prevention cream but I heard that mama mio tummy rub stretch mark butter is the best so I would LOVE that if I win!
For the Belly armor I would love the belly band embrace! I like that it not only protects your fetus against radiation but it also supports your belly. I need all the support in this growing belly!
Thanks so much,
Danielle
I’m pregnant so I need everything! For the Mama Mio, I would love the pregnancy essentials kit. And that Brest Friend pillow looks heavenly, and I’d love the Belly Blanket since I’m on the computer so much.
Oh I love the 10 weeks recap in pictures!!!
And love to watch you apply oil on your belly 🙂
Bookmarking this post for all the useful info 🙂
The belly gif cracks me up :)))))
I love the belly armor blanket. Wish I had known about it sooner but I can see using it with the Baby especially since I’m on the computer so much!
All of that stuff sounds awesome!! I love your gif by the way! 🙂 I would personally really like the Mama Mio stuff! It’s awesome that’s it’s so safe and also protects against stretch marks!!
I just found out I’m pregnant with baby #2! I love reading all of your reviews, and seeing the great lesser known maternity clothing lines you find.
I would love the MamaMio skin line. Great scent, pregnancy safe,and effective? What more could you want?!
The MyBrestFriend body pillow would be amazing to have, as well. Last pregnancy I did the whole “rig twenty pillows” deal. This body pillow looks like a much easier and comfier solution!!
I’m glad you enjoy these Yvonne! I know it was not easy to find fun maternity brands.
And I hear you on the 20 pillows thing, that’s what I was doing before 🙂
Good Luck!
I forgot to note how I follow the blog in entry #1 and it would not let me go back and redo it. Is there any way I can remedy this so that I still qualify for the giveaways? I follow the blog via Facebook. I would love to win the MyBestFriend pillow, as the pregnancy pillow I currently have is just not cutting it!
The comment will do Danielle! 🙂 Good Luck!
I NEED a 3-in-1 body pillow. I tried to get away with just a standard body pillow and it isn’t doing the job I need. Also, some Tummy Rub for this already stretched out belly would be amazing.
Hope your third trimester continues to go smoothly.
I follow via GFC and would LOVE to win the mama mio products- have a few stretch marks from first pregnancy and hopefully won’t get any new ones!! The c section cream would be great too since I have to have one t his time around!
Leaving a comment per the rules!! I’ve been wanting to try a body pillow and that belly shield sounds awesome!
Love your blog and all the products you featured. Would love the Mama Mio Tummy Rub Oil & Boob Tube!
love that belly band!
20 weeks and would love to win any of this!!
Woops-forgot to say which one specifically. Would love to win the MamaMio products, but they all look pretty sweet!
Love your blog and I would love to try all of these products! The Belly shield sounds really interesting and I never knew there was a product out there for it! I also love Mama Mio products and the Tummy Rub sounds heavenly. The body pillow sounds like just the trick for helping my aching body sleep at night!
I visited Mama Mio and my favorite item was the Goodbye Stretch Marks.
I SO wish you had been pregnant before me!! Like you, I was obsessively reading each and every ingredient on any skin care or body wash item. I would write lists of them and research every ingredient. I was so fearul of doing the wrong thing for my developing baby. This post is invaluable for all pregnant women who care!! Thank you. 🙂
Wow, I wish I knew about the blanket/band too. I worried about that also. I still actually worry because Lillian is exposed to laptops more than any other baby EVER I think. All day she’s with me (I’m almost always at my computer) and all night she’s with Josh (who’s always at his computer.) We’re still not brave enough to have her sleep on her own so it’s the only situation that works for us right now. Poor baby though!! 🙁 Not sure what to do about it.
Hahaha! Good to know I’m not the only one concerned with that stuff.
As far as L. goes, I’d imagine you could use the blanket to cover her up when she’s sleeping next to you while you’re on computer and take care to turn off wireless when you don’t need it like when editing photos. There are some other tip online about how to limit exposure to kids.
Yes that’s true. I’ll have to look into that!
From mama IMO skin are I love the Tummy rub butter and the goodbye stretch marks. From bely armor I love the belly band. From my breast friend I love the 3 in 1 body pillow
Ashley rexrode
You know you can totally see your nipples in your gif, right?
Yes, I am well aware that you can make out my nipples if you look carefully. I do not find female body parts embarrassing or offensive or something to hide or cover up, especially when it comes to body parts that are designed to provide nourishment for my baby.
yes, but some of us DON’T want to see it.
Don’t look. It’s a personal blog, noone is making you read it or examine one particular picture. If there’s a photo I don’t want to see, I simply move along, or scroll down.
@ Pretty Helmet: One of the main focuses of this blog is on the changes a woman’s body goes through during pregnancy. I mean no disrespect, but if you are offended by the shadow of a nipple beneath the material of a bra, how are you comfortable with anything else on this blog or the physical elements of pregnancy in general? I find nothing wrong with this particular image, or any other image posted on this blog. Elena does a great job representing the beauty of the pregnant female body.
I ordered the BBB kit from amazon (6 or 7 bucks less than on mama mio website). I’d like to order the moisturizer, the “eye know” cream and so much more. I’d like to win the butt rescue kit. I was wondering if there was any coupon for mama mio website. Thanks!
Ludivine
Hey, girl! I don’t believe they have any coupons right now- sorry 🙁
I love the My Brest Friend 3 in 1 body pillow. I’m 8 weeks right now and already dreading having to sleep on my side! For Mama Mio, I love the pregnancy essentials kit. For Belly Armor I like the idea of the belly band!
I want everything on the Mama Mio site. Wow. All of it looks brilliant. And I didn’t know Breast Friend made a sleeping pillow (just had heard of the nursing pillows). That looks lovely!
The Belly Blanket is such a great idea ~ love it!
Karen F.
KarenatMommysMoments at gmail dot com
I would love the goodbye stretch mark from Mama Mio. I also love the organic belly blanket from belly armor, my biggest concern for when I do get pregnant is using my laptop all the time and I had no idea they made something like this!
Hi
What are your thoughts on the benzyl salicylate in the the mama mio tummy oil (derrivative of salicylic acid)?
I am sorry I know nothing of this particular ingredient. 🙁
I am sure it can be researched though.
Thanks. Ok. I just thought you said you had researched each ingredient so that’s why I was asking. Salicylic acid is something they say not to use in pregnancy with a lot of data behind it. So this ingredient being in the same family is controversial I think. –especially to rub all over???? Anyhow just wanted to see what your thoughts were as I thought you had already checked ingredients out w your review. I like the brand too but worry about this ingredient. Thanks for your helP
Hi yes I’m aware of Salicylic acid and didnt use it during pregnancy but didnt know about its derivative.
I didn’t research every ingredient, I looked over every ingredient for the ones that I know are an issue.
If you do find out anything about it, let me know.
Unfortunately, there’s almost no products that are 100% free of chemicals and when they are they have that darn aloe. So I did what I could to eliminate the known issues.
Gotcha. Thanks. Did you use this product? Can you share for how long? Just nervous about products. What have you used from belli line?
I used it through most of my pregnancy as soon as I discovered it. Two times a day at least.
I’ve tried a couple things from Belly Line but upon discovering that they had SLS in one of their soaps for pregnant women, I stopped using it completely.
Hey I just wanted to let you know I’ve found your website very helpful and informative. I was curious if you had a sunscreen recommendation because I’ve read that some contain chemical ingredients that will travel thru bloodstream and placenta to fetus.
Thanks so much! Diana
Diana, I use Lavanila and Aubrey Organics, those are the best that I found!
You have to make sure that you don’t use what’s called a “chemical sunscreen”. You need to look for physical sunscreen that uses a fil to block the sun. It usually has zinc oxide. Make sure that the active ingredients don’t have any chemical sounding names. Zinc oxide and titanium oxide are fine.
I love this one, cuz it comes in a big spray bottle and much easier to use than tubes.