The Essential Second Trimester Checklist: 7 Faith-Filled Steps for a Strong, Peaceful Pregnancy
If you're in your second trimester and finally starting to feel like yourself again—or if you just want to make sure you're preparing well for the journey ahead—this episode is for you. The second trimester is often called the "sweet spot" of pregnancy, and it's the perfect time to focus on nourishing your body, mind, and spirit without the guilt or pressure of perfection. Let's walk through seven key areas together with grace, faith, and practical wisdom.
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🎧 Listen to the Episode
The Second Trimester: Your Season of Preparation
The second trimester is such a gift. Your energy is returning, the nausea is (hopefully) fading, and you're finally able to think clearly again. This is the season to prepare yourself—not with anxiety or obsession, but with faithful stewardship of the body God has given you.
In this episode, I'm walking you through seven key areas to focus on during your second trimester:
Nourishing your body through real food
Gentle movement
Pelvic floor and chiropractic care
Building your birth team
Starting childbirth education
Supporting your body's natural preparation for birth
Managing lingering nausea or fatigue
Let's dive in!
1. Start (or Restart) Healthier Eating Habits
Give Yourself Grace for the First Trimester
If you survived the first trimester on crackers and ginger ale, there is so much grace for that. You did what you needed to do to get through those early weeks, and that's okay. But now that you're feeling a little better, it's time to rebuild your nutrient stores and support your baby's incredible growth.
I'll be honest—in this pregnancy, I had to let go of a lot of my usual standards. I normally love cooking home-cooked, nourishing meals, but I could not stomach the thought of cooking food. I didn't have any energy to make meals for myself or my family. So I gave myself permission to eat what I could, which was primarily food from restaurants. (I always tried to make healthier choices, but still.) Now that I'm slowly adding more home-cooked, nutrient-dense meals back in, my body feels so much better.
Practical Tips for Nourishing Your Body
Add in protein-rich foods: Eggs, meat, beans, fish—whatever you can tolerate.
Focus on iron and folate: Leafy greens, lentils, and (if you can afford it) grass-fed meats.
Prioritize healthy fats for hormone balance: Avocado, olive oil, coconut oil, nuts, and seeds.
Boost your vitamin C intake: This is especially important during pregnancy because vitamin C not only supports your immune system, but it also helps strengthen the amniotic sac—which can help prevent premature rupture of membranes (PROM). You'll find vitamin C in citrus fruits, bell peppers, strawberries, and broccoli.
Here's a fun personal story: In my pregnancies, I crave grapefruit and orange juice like crazy. I don't normally crave those things to this degree except when I'm pregnant. And at both of my births, my provider had to break my amniotic sac because it was so tough! Both my OB-GYN at my hospital birth and my midwife at my home birth were like, "Wow, Natalie, your amniotic sac is super, super tough." I like to think it had to do with all the citrus I was eating!
Now, I share this because having your water break before labor begins can often lead to more interventions. So if you're trying to have a low-intervention birth, nourishing your body well is one way you can steward that. But please don't become obsessive or anxious about it. Trust in the Lord and know that He is sovereign over your story. You steward well what you know, and with the rest, you give it to God.
Stay Hydrated with Electrolytes
Staying hydrated is so much harder when you're pregnant. One way I encourage this is by introducing electrolytes. I'm a big fan of LMNT (link in the show notes). I drink one packet every day, and I've found it helps reduce leg cramping, Braxton Hicks contractions, and even swelling—yes, even though it's high in salt! It balances your electrolytes, which actually reduces swelling.
"Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." – 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)
Nourishing your body isn't about perfection. It's about partnering with the Lord and faithfully stewarding the body He's given you to bring life into the world.
2. Start or Ramp Up Gentle Movement
The second trimester is a beautiful time to reconnect with your body through movement. Maybe you had to take it really easy in the first trimester, but now your energy is coming back and your body is saying, "I need to be strengthened. I need to move."
Movement Ideas for Pregnancy
Walking: This is such an incredible, low-impact exercise. Even one to three miles a day can be so helpful for your body.
Gentle stretching and Pilates: I did a ton of Pilates with my first birth, and I loved the low-impact but strength-building workout.
Pregnancy-specific programs: I always recommend the Body Ready Method. They have programs available online that you can do from the comfort of your own home—and you own them for life! So if you plan to have more pregnancies, you can reuse the program again and again. (Link in the show notes.)
Listen to Your Body
Movement doesn't need to be intense. Listen to your body and move in ways that feel supportive, not stressful.
Before I got pregnant, I was doing a Body Pump class at the YMCA two to three times a week. It's an hour-long strength training class, and it's pretty intense. As my pregnancy progressed, I started modifying—doing lower weight, focusing on form and reps. Eventually, I even left the class at the 30-minute mark. I found that doing low weight, high reps with good form for a shortened period of time worked best for my body. I felt a little sore (in a good way), but I didn't feel so tired that I couldn't function the rest of the day.
So modify your existing workout routine to accommodate your changing body and limits.
Benefits of Movement During Pregnancy
Supports blood sugar and blood circulation
Reduces aches and pains
Improves posture and fetal positioning
Boosts mood and sleep
Studies show that moms who exercise throughout pregnancy often experience shorter labors, fewer complications, and smoother recoveries
"Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God." – Romans 12:1 (ESV)
When we move our bodies with the mindset that this is a way to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, even movement becomes an act of worship.
3. Schedule Pelvic Floor and Chiropractic Care
This is one area I wish I had known more about with my previous pregnancies!
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
If you're noticing pelvic floor issues—heaviness, pain with sex, leaking—those are signs of dysfunction. And it's so much better to address these during pregnancy, not only for a healthier pregnancy but also for a smoother labor, delivery, and postpartum recovery.
If you're looking for a pelvic floor physical therapist in your area, ask your provider or connect with other moms in local or online mom groups. There are so many great recommendations out there.
Chiropractic Care
I did not understand the importance of chiropractic care with my first pregnancy. I saw a chiropractor sporadically. But I took it much more seriously with my second pregnancy, and I'm doing even more with this one.
It's ideal to start even before there's discomfort. Chiropractic care helps align the pelvis and spine, which creates a better opportunity for baby to find an optimal position. And that can significantly impact how smooth or challenging your labor is.
I always recommend looking for a Webster-certified chiropractor—someone who specializes in pregnancy. Sometimes it takes a few tries to find the right fit. Cost varies widely, and some take insurance while others don't. Shop around and find the right chiropractor and pelvic floor therapist for you.
Partner with God's Design
See this as a way to partner with God's design of your body and support the work He's already doing. He is forming your baby—you're not directing it! But you're supporting the growth He is making inside of you.
4. Continue Building and Refining Your Birth Team
This is a great time to check in about your provider and ask yourself: "Do I feel seen, heard, and respected by this provider?"
If something doesn't feel right, you can always choose a different provider—even at the very end of your pregnancy. You always have choices and options.
Free Resource: Top 10 Questions to Ask a Prospective Provider
I have a free guide in the Christian Mama Birth Prep Library called "Top 10 Questions to Ask a Prospective Provider." It's a great way to gauge whether you're aligned with your provider. You don't have to ask all the questions, but it helps guide the conversation so you feel supported.
Consider Adding a Doula or Virtual Birth Coach
A doula or virtual birth coach can provide extra emotional, spiritual, and informational support. I'm an in-person doula here in Jacksonville, Florida, but I also offer virtual birth coaching for mamas all over the world.
If you're curious about what virtual birth coaching would look like, I'd love to connect! You can fill out my free 15-minute discovery call to see if we're a good fit. (Link in the show notes.)
"Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors, there is safety." – Proverbs 11:14 (ESV)
God uses people in our lives to help guide us through this journey with peace and truth. We were not meant to do this alone.
5. Educate Yourself About Birth
The second trimester is a great time to start childbirth education. You have more energy, more focus, and more time to prepare your mind. And childbirth education is one of the best ways to set a foundation so you're not fearful of the process.
I also highly recommend inviting your partner—your husband, mom, sister, or whoever your birth partner is—to learn alongside you.
Faith Over Fear Childbirth Education Online Course
I offer an online, Christ-centered childbirth education class called Faith Over Fear Childbirth Education. I talk very practically about the physiology of birth and labor, and we go over interventions and all the things. But I also tie in the spiritual aspects of birth and what the Bible says about birth, postpartum, and breastfeeding. It's all about reframing this season so it's about the Lord—not about us controlling outcomes.
Recommended Books
I have a whole list of recommended books on my website and in the resource library, but here are two of my favorites:
📖 "The Birth Partner" by Penny Simkin – Especially great for your birth partner to learn how to best support you. But it's also helpful for moms!
📖 "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" by Ina May Gaskin – A must-read for moms.
Building Knowledge, Not Control
Preparing yourself through books and childbirth education isn't about arming yourself with knowledge so you can have ultimate control over the outcome. It's about building a knowledge base so you're confident in how the Lord designed your body and this process—and then having the wisdom to navigate and surrender the outcome to Him.
He has already written your baby's birth story. He loves you and He loves your baby so much. Take away fear through knowledge and trust in the Lord.
6. Support Your Body's Natural Preparation for Birth
This isn't about trying to start labor early—it's about preparing your body naturally over time so that when it is time to go into labor, your body has already done a lot of the work.
I actually have an entire episode about this (Episode 3), so go back and listen if you haven't already. I even have a handout that goes over everything in detail.
Natural Ways to Prepare Your Body
🍵 Drink red raspberry leaf tea – You can start at 20 weeks.
🍇 Eat dates – Especially at the end of pregnancy.
💧 Stay hydrated with electrolytes – LMNT is my favorite.
🤸♀️ Maintain pelvic PT and chiropractic adjustments.
💆♀️ Prenatal massage – This feels indulgent to me because I love massages, but it's also very practical for relaxation and stress reduction.
Address Anxiety Now
If you're noticing yourself feeling really anxious in this season, I want to challenge you to not just ignore it and assume it'll go away. I shared in my last bonus episode about the mental, emotional, and spiritual struggles I've had in this first trimester.
The Lord keeps bringing me back to this truth: He does not want us to do this alone. He has given us people. He can use prayers, pills, and people to navigate the struggles in our minds.
You're not alone. I'm fighting this battle every day. Give your anxiety the attention it needs—not so it takes over your life, but so you're not keeping it in the dark. Gross things grow in the dark. Bring it to the light. Bring it to people you love and trust who will point you to Jesus.
If the Lord is leading you to counseling, that's an appropriate and faithful next step. The Lord perfectly created your body, but we are also subject to sin and brokenness as a result of the fall. I have to fight feeling blame for the ways I fall short in my body and mind. But that is from the enemy. The Lord wants abundance and real, fruitful life for us—even when that comes with struggle. He is faithful to us, even when we're struggling.
7. Managing Nausea and Fatigue
Even in the second trimester, some moms (myself included) are still battling fatigue or nausea. I've actually had more nausea and fatigue with this pregnancy than with my first two, and it's thrown me for a loop. I really figured I'd be past it at 12 weeks, but I'm 18 weeks and still feeling waves of nausea and exhaustion.
But I'm learning to accept my limits instead of getting down on myself for not feeling better yet. I modify my workouts. Sometimes I choose rest over doing dishes or laundry. And that's okay.
Remind yourself: This is a season. You will not always feel this way.
Practical Tips for Managing Nausea and Fatigue
🍽️ Eat regularly – Every 2–3 hours, and always pair a protein with a carb. Blood sugar imbalances can make nausea worse.
💊 Continue vitamin B6 and magnesium – Magnesium glycinate is a gentle, effective form. (Link in show notes.)
💧 Keep electrolytes balanced and hydrate steadily throughout the day. You may need to drink more water than you did pre-pregnancy.
😴 Take intentional naps – Even a 20-minute power nap can reset your energy. When I was working a corporate job while pregnant with Ellie, I'd rest in my car for 20 minutes with the AC on. Do what you can!
🙏 Pray regularly – Bring everything to the Lord: your victories, defeats, and concerns. He wants to hear it all.
🌬️ Practice breathing techniques – This helps your nervous system down-regulate and is great practice for labor.
🙌 Start your day with gratitude – After I turn off my alarm, I thank the Lord for a few things before I even look at my phone. It shifts my heart and mind as I begin the day.
📖 Scripture for Your Heart
"Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we don't give up."
– Galatians 6:9 (ESV)
Pregnancy is both a physical and spiritual act of sowing. When you eat a nourishing meal, when you move, when you pray over your baby—those are seeds. You may not see the harvest for a while, but God promises it will come in due season.
You Are Called to Faithfulness, Not Perfection
Here's what I want to remind you of today: You are not responsible for the outcome or the fruit of your labor (literally your labor, but also your preparation). You are only responsible for your faithfulness to the Lord.
In the parable of the faithful servant, Jesus doesn't say, "Well done, good and fruitful servant." He says, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
To be faithful is to be faithful with nourishment, rest, preparation, surrender, and trust in the Lord—knowing that He is sovereign over the outcome and the fruit. That's not your responsibility.
Everything in our world wants to tell us we're responsible for the outcomes of our life, our work, our children, our labor. And to an extent, yes—we can steward well or mismanage what the Lord has given us. But I don't want you to be stressed about perfection. Instead, pray:
"Lord, in whatever ways You're giving me knowledge, information, and wisdom to do what is best in Your sight, I want to faithfully do that. And You're responsible for the outcome. It's not a reflection on me."
I hope that's an encouragement and a challenge to you.
🙏 A Prayer for Your Birth Journey
Dear Lord Jesus, I just thank You so much for the mama reading this right now. I thank You that You are so miraculous and that You are forming a miracle within her. Lord, I just pray that in this second trimester You would renew her strength—in her mind, her body, and her spirit. And when she does feel weary, I pray that You would remind her that You are the one sustaining her.
I pray, Lord Jesus, that You would help her to see every act of care—whether that's eating a nourishing meal, moving, or praying to You—as a seed that she is planting in faith. And when fatigue and doubt creep in and the enemy is whispering to her, I pray that You would speak truth into her heart and remind her that in due season she will reap a harvest of joy.
I ask, Lord Jesus, that You would teach her to release the outcomes of her pregnancy, labor, and birth to You, and that she would rest in Your faithfulness. Help her to trust that You are working in all things for our good and Your glory, Lord Jesus, and that You are shaping both her and her baby to be whatever You have designed them to be.
Lord, I just thank You so much that You are faithful to complete the good work that You begin in us. It's in Your precious name we pray. Amen.
📎Resources & Links Mentioned
✨ Christian Mama Birth Prep Library - Free birth prep tools, worship playlists & more
✝️ Online Christian Childbirth Education - Explore my complete birth preparation self-paced course
💛 Work with Me 1:1 - Personalized pregnancy and birth support that integrates faith and evidence-based care, including virtual coaching, doula support, and comprehensive childbirth education
📖 Recommended Books: "The Birth Partner" by Penny Simkin & "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" by Ina May Gaskin
🏋️♀️ Body Ready Method Programs: Pregnancy-specific workout programs you can use from home
🧂 LMNT Electrolytes: My go-to for staying hydrated and reducing pregnancy discomforts
🫖 B6 and magnesium supplements for morning sickness - Take 50mg or less of B6 1-2 times a day, and suggests this magnesium supplement.
📣 Let’s Stay Connected
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Hit subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
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Grab your free birth prep tools at the Christian Mama Birth Prep Library.
Meet Your Host —
Natalie is a certified birth doula and childbirth educator based in Jacksonville, Florida. She is passionate about equipping Christian women to experience peaceful, faith-filled births through virtual and in-person support. Natalie believes that birth is not just a physical event, but a deeply spiritual journey—one that can draw you closer to Jesus and reveal His faithfulness in powerful ways.
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📄 Full Episode Transcript
Hey there, mama, and welcome back to Faith Over Fear, the Christian Pregnancy and Birth podcast. I'm so glad you're here with me today as we discuss ways that you can prepare yourself in this second trimester.
You're finally feeling that second trimester energy, or you're just wanting to make sure you're on the right track. This episode is for you. So the second trimester is sometimes called the sweet spot in pregnancy. It's when you're starting to feel a little bit better, less nausea, your energy is returning, and you can just begin to really feel like you can prepare yourself—mind, body, and heart—for what's ahead. We're gonna walk through a faith-filled practical checklist to help you make the most of this season. We're gonna cover seven key areas: nourishing your body through real food, gentle movement, pelvic floor and chiropractic care, building your birth team, starting childbirth education, supporting your body's natural preparation for birth, and then finally we're gonna end with managing any lingering nausea or fatigue. So let's dive in.
So the first thing on this checklist is to start or restart some healthier eating habits. Now that you're probably feeling a little bit more like yourself, this is the perfect time to refocus on nourishment, and I want you to try and do this without guilt for what you couldn't manage in that first trimester. If you survived on crackers and ginger ale, there is so much grace for that, and you just needed to do whatever you needed to do to get through those early weeks, and that's okay. But now, if you're feeling better, I want you to start focusing on rebuilding your nutrient stores and support your baby's incredible growth.
So even for me personally in this pregnancy, I had to let go of a lot of my usual standards in those first weeks and months. I normally love cooking home-cooked nourishing meals, but I could not stomach the thought of cooking food, and I didn't have any energy whatsoever to make meals for myself or my family. So I gave myself permission to eat what I could, which was primarily getting food from restaurants. Granted, I always tried my hardest to make healthier choices, but now that I'm slowly adding more home-cooked, nutrient-dense meals back in, my body feels so much better.
So practical tips: I want you to begin adding in protein-rich foods. This can look like eating eggs, meat, beans, and fish—whatever you are able to tolerate. You can also add in iron and folate through your diet, things like leafy greens, lentils, and really trying to, if you can afford it, grass-fed meats. If you can focus on the quality of the foods that you're eating, that's really important. And then also focusing on healthy fats for your hormone balance—things like avocado, olive oil, coconut oil, nuts, and seeds.
And then I love to share this really interesting fun fact, but vitamin C is especially important during your pregnancy because it not only supports your immune system, but it also can help strengthen the amniotic sac. And this can help prevent premature rupture of membranes sometimes. This is called PROM—premature rupture of membranes. And some practical ways to introduce these types of foods: vitamin C is found in citrus foods, bell peppers, strawberries, and broccoli. I actually have—it's so funny—in my pregnancies I crave grapefruit and orange juice, and I don't normally crave those things to the degree that I do except for when I'm pregnant. And then at both of my births, my provider had to break my amniotic sac because it was so tough and my labor wasn't progressing until that happened. And both with my first birth being a hospital birth, the OB-GYN, and then at my home birth with my last birth, both the midwife and the OB were like, "Wow, Natalie, your amniotic sac is super, super tough." And so I would like to think that it had to do with the copious amounts of citrus fruits I was eating. But yeah, so that's just a little fun fact. But yes, I certainly recommend including vitamin C, natural sources of that, to help prevent the premature rupture of membranes.
And the reason why I say this is because I see this all the time, and a lot of doulas and birth workers and everyone will also agree with me that having your water break ahead of labor beginning can usually lead to more interventions. And so if you're trying to have a low-intervention birth, you know, just doing the best that you can. But please don't become obsessive or anxious about your water breaking before contractions begin. I want you to still just trust in the Lord and know that he is sovereign over your story, but you can steward well to the best of your ability the things that you know, and with the rest, you give it to the Lord.
Another thing that I really like to highlight is staying hydrated. It is so much harder to stay hydrated when you're pregnant, and one way that I really like to encourage this is by introducing electrolytes. I really am a big fan of the LMNT brand. I'll put a link in the show notes for their website. I find that it's easier to buy their LMNT packets wholesale on their website, and it's just cheaper that way. I drink one packet of LMNT every day, and I definitely found it to not only reduce the cramping in my legs and reduce the amount of Braxton Hicks that I had, 'cause I've always had a lot of Braxton Hicks during my pregnancies—all three of them, even this one. And so it helps with reducing the amount of Braxton Hicks that I get, leg cramping, especially at night. It even helped with reducing my swelling, which you would think would be the opposite because it's so much salt, but it balanced my electrolytes, so I had less swelling. And yeah, definitely look into that. So many other brands out there, but just be careful of all the added things in it. That's why I really like LMNT, 'cause it's really clean. But anyway, I just again want to reiterate that nourishing your body is not about perfection, and I am extremely prone to the perfectionistic kind of mindset. It really is about partnering with the Lord. You are stewarding to the best of your ability the body that he's given you to bring life into the world. First Corinthians 10:31 reminds us, "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." And so that's what I want you to really focus on as you're adding in the nutrient-rich foods and hydrating yourself and all these things—it's not a thing that you need to be obsessive over or anxious about a certain outcome if you do or don't do these things. It's just giving glory to God by just faithfully stewarding the body he's given you.
And then next, we're gonna talk about starting or ramping up gentle movement. So this second trimester is such a beautiful time to reconnect with your body through movement. Maybe you did have to take it really easy that first trimester, but your energy is coming back a little bit more and your body is like, "I need to be strengthened. I need to move." So some tips here for movement: walking is actually an incredible exercise. I—that sounds super low impact, but that's okay. If you do one to three miles a day or very regularly, that's gonna be so helpful for your body. Gentle stretching and even workouts like Pilates—like I did a ton of Pilates with Ellie, my first birth, and I loved the low-impact workout, but it was very strength training. And then if you're looking for something, there are tons of pregnancy-specific workout programs and things like that. If you are looking for one, I always recommend the Body Ready Method. They have different programs and they're all available online, so you can do these workouts from the comfort of your own home and you own them for life, which is also really cool. So say you plan to have more pregnancies beyond the one you're currently in, you get to just reuse this program, put in your due date, and work through that program another time, another pregnancy. So check that out. I'll have the link in the show notes for that program.
And then, you know, just realize too that movement doesn't need to be intense. I want you to really listen to your body and move in ways that feel supportive and not stressful to your body. For example, before I got pregnant, I was doing a Body Pump class at the YMCA twice a week, sometimes three times a week, and it's an hour-long strength training class. Like it is pretty intense. And I was starting to already modify the class to where I wasn't doing as much weight—I was just focusing on form and reps. And then I even had to downshift a little bit more, and I ended up dipping out of the class at the 30-minute mark. So I'm not doing a full hour, I'm doing 30 minutes. And I have just found that for me, doing low weight, high reps with good form for a shortened period of time for my body is the best, because then I feel like I feel a little sore from the workout, like I pushed myself, but I don't feel so tired that I can't function the rest of the day, which was the point that I was getting to before I modified. So modify your existing workout regimen or program if you're already doing something, just so that it accommodates your changing body and your limits that are changing constantly.
Some of the benefits of movement—and this is again just some of the benefits—but moving regularly in your pregnancy will help support your blood sugar and blood circulation. It will help reduce aches and pains, which for me is huge 'cause I always really struggle in this area. It helps improve your posture, which can also help fetal positioning so that baby can find a more optimal position. It can boost your mood and sleep, you know, obviously just the mental physical benefits in that way. And then there are so many studies that show that moms who are exercising throughout their pregnancy, they often experience better pregnancy and labor outcomes, so like shorter labors, fewer complications, smoother recoveries. And who doesn't want that? I mean, we all want to be able to feel our best and do our best so that our babies can grow and be as healthy as possible.
I wanted to point out Romans 12:1, and it just basically encourages us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. And really when we move our bodies, especially with again that mindset that this is just a way that I can present myself as a living sacrifice, even movement, it becomes an act of worship. It becomes a way to just glorify the Lord. And, you know, just seeing it as a way to even just nourish yourself spiritually as well.
Number three on our checklist is scheduling pelvic floor and chiropractic care. This is one area in which I wish I had known more about with my previous pregnancies, but the importance of pelvic floor therapy, especially if you're noticing you were having pelvic floor issues—heaviness on your pelvic floor, pain with sex, you're leaking—those are signs of dysfunction. And so if you are noticing these issues, it is so much better to address these during your pregnancy, not only for your pregnancy to be more healthy, but also for the labor and delivery process to be smoother and then the postpartum recovery afterwards.
And then same with chiropractic care. I did not understand the importance of this really. My first pregnancy, I was seeing a chiropractor very sporadically, but I took it much more seriously with my second pregnancy, and I'm doing more of that with this pregnancy as well. But it is ideal to start even early, so even before there's discomfort that's bringing you in for care. It just helps strengthen your pelvic muscles, which again helps sustain you during your pregnancy and then prepare for the birth. And just ask your provider as well if you are looking for pelvic floor physical therapy in your area. Another great resource is asking other moms, whether that be personal people in your area or in mom groups. There's so many great recommendations out there.
And then when it comes to chiropractic care, I touch on this all the time, but the body comes out of alignment a lot of the day, the way we move our bodies and different injuries and things that happen. And so when you're getting an adjustment, it's helping align the pelvis and the spine. It helps create just a better opportunity for baby to find a more optimal position, which can significantly play a role in how smooth or rough the labor goes. And again, don't become obsessive about it, but just do the best you can in this regard. And I always recommend looking for a Webster-certified chiropractor. This is somebody who specializes in pregnancy, and sometimes it might take you a few chiropractors to figure out what the best fit is. The cost varies widely. Some take insurance, some don't, as well as the amount of adjustments they recommend. Some chiropractors will say we're gonna do four adjustments a week for four weeks, and then they kind of taper down. But again, there's a cost both to your wallet and also to your time for those types of models of care, which for some, that is absolutely the correct path you need to go down. But for others, that might not be feasible or needed. And shop around essentially for a good chiropractor, a good pelvic floor therapist, and find the right fit for you. And sometimes that does mean looking for a little while. I want you to see this as a way to partner with God's design of your body and just supporting the work that he's already doing, because he is doing all this work in your body. It's not like you're directing yourself, "Okay, today we're gonna form the heart"—or no, like God is in charge and he's sovereign over all of this. But this is just you supporting the growth that he is making inside of you.
And then number four, I want you to continue building and refining your birth team. So this is a great time to check in about your provider and just ask yourself, "Do I feel seen, heard, and respected by this provider?" If something doesn't feel right, you can always choose a different provider, even if it is at the very, very tail end of your pregnancy. You always have choices and options. And so I have a free guide if you sign up for access to the Christian Mama Birth Prep Library. I have a handout called "Top 10 Questions to Ask a Prospective Provider." So that is a great way to gauge whether or not you are with a provider that you're aligned with. You don't have to ask them all of the questions, but it's just a great way to guide the conversation so that you can feel supported.
Another thing to consider is adding a doula or a virtual birth coach for extra emotional, spiritual, informational support. And I am an in-person doula here in Jacksonville, Florida, but I also do virtual birth coaching for mamas here in town and then also all over the world. So if you are interested in the idea of virtual birth coaching or you're like, "I wonder what that would entail," I would love it if you would fill out my free 15-minute discovery call to see if I'm a good fit for you and if you're a good fit for me and my services. But I would love for you to check out my other services as well. If you go to my website, faithoverfearbirth.com, or you can also go into the show notes and you can find links for this information as well. But yeah, so check out that free guide, "Top 10 Questions to Ask a Prospective Provider." And that will also be in the episode show notes.
I love this verse in Proverbs. It's Proverbs 11:14, and it says, "Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors, there is safety." And I love that it just points to the fact that God uses people in our lives to help guide us through this journey with peace and also with truth. I think it's really important that the people that you're choosing to speak into you, they're telling you the truth and they're telling you true and wise and good things. And again, I think, you know, not everyone needs to hire a doula—it's not what I'm saying—or everyone needs to choose a provider that is also a believer. That's also not what I'm saying, but I think it is important that we are utilizing the wisdom and the guidance of others to be able to navigate this journey, and there is so much more just joy in that. And I say it to my clients all the time: we were not meant to do this alone. Like we absolutely were not. And so if you do feel there's just a little bit of a support gap there—emotionally, spiritually, informationally—I would love to be able to walk alongside you. If that looks like virtual birth coaching, childbirth education, I would love to just support you in this beautiful season.
So next, this kind of ties into this as well, but the second trimester is also a really great time to educate yourself about birth. You obviously are starting to have more energy, maybe more focus, and just more time to prepare your mind. And childbirth education is one of the best ways to set a foundation so that you're not so fearful of the process. I also highly recommend you have your partner, your husband, or maybe you have your mom or your sister—whoever your birth partner is—invite them into this birth journey and have them learn alongside you.
I actually offer an online Christ-centered childbirth education class. It's called Faith Over Fear Childbirth Education Online Course. And I talk very practically about the physiology of birth and labor, and we go over interventions and things like that. But also I tie in a lot of just the spiritual aspects of birth and what the Bible says about birth, postpartum, breastfeeding, and again just reframing this season so that it's about the Lord and it's not about ourselves and us controlling outcomes and all the things. I also highly recommend a couple of books. I have a whole list of recommended books on my website and in the resource library, but these are like two of my favorites. But the first is "The Birth Partner" by Penny Simkin, and this is especially great if the partner—like your husband or mom, sister, whoever is gonna be your birth partner—wants to know how best to support you. That's one that I recommend, but also it's really helpful for mom to hear it too. And then one for mom that I love to suggest is "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" by Ina May Gaskin. Both of these I will have listed in the episode show notes for you to find them.
These ways of just preparing yourself, whether it be the books or childbirth education, this isn't about arming yourself with knowledge so that you can have ultimate control over the outcome. That's not what it's about. It is really about building a knowledge base so that you are confident in how the Lord designed your body and this process, and then having the wisdom to navigate and surrender the outcome to the Lord. And so it's really just preparing practically and spiritually, trusting that the Lord will meet you in this process because he will. He has already written this baby's birth story, and he loves you and he loves your baby so much. And so just being able to take away fear through knowledge and just trust in the Lord is so, so important.
And then the next one, this is number six on the checklist, is supporting your body's natural preparation for birth. And so this isn't about trying to do things to start labor early or anything like that, but it's really about preparing your body naturally over this time so that when it is time to go into labor, your body has already done a lot of preparation. I actually have an entire episode about this. It's episode three. So go back and listen to that one if you haven't already, or it's good to re-listen to to remember all the things. I even have a handout that goes over them in detail. You know, drinking red raspberry leaf tea—you can start that at 20 weeks. And then even at the end of the pregnancy, eating dates. Those are just some simple ways to prepare the body for labor. I mentioned it once before, but I'll say it again: staying hydrated with electrolytes. LMNT is by far my favorite right now. You know, maintaining a consistent regimen with pelvic PT, chiropractic adjustments. And then you can even do things like prenatal massage, which to me feels super indulgent 'cause I love massages, but it is also very practical and helping my body relax and help with stress reduction. So those are all really important things you can continue to do to prepare your body.
And then if you're noticing yourself feeling really anxious in this season, I want to challenge you to not just ignore this and just be like, "Oh, it's just gonna go away." I shared this in the last bonus episode where I talked about just feeling—what I'm feeling as a mom and just the struggles that I've had mentally, emotionally, spiritually in this first trimester. And, you know, the thing that the Lord keeps bringing me to is how he again does not want us to do this alone. He has given us people. He can utilize prayers and pills, people, prayers and pills, to navigate the struggle in our mind. And so again, you're not alone. I want you to know that I am fighting this battle every single day. And I just want to encourage you to really give that the attention it needs—not that it needs to take over your whole life, but ignoring it and just "Oh, it's just gonna go away on its own"—a good chance it won't. 'Cause, you know, if we continue to keep things in the dark, like gross things grow in the dark, so bring it to the light. Bring it to people that you love and trust and that are going to point you to Jesus when it comes to anxious thoughts, fearful thoughts, depressive thoughts, like all of those things, and seek counsel. So that's a big part of the people aspect, is going to counseling as well if that's where you feel like the Lord is leading you and that seems like an appropriate next step.
But I just want you to remember that the Lord, he perfectly created your body. And yet we are also so subject to sin and brokenness that happened as a result of the fall. And so I have to fight myself all the time feeling blame for myself, for the ways that I fall short in my body and my mind. But that is from the enemy. And I'm going to choose to believe that the Lord does want abundance. He wants real fruitful life for me. And so that sometimes comes with a lot of struggle, and that's okay. He is so faithful to us, even when we're struggling.
And then finally, we're gonna talk about managing nausea and fatigue. So this is the last thing on our checklist, speaking of battling things. But even in the second trimester, some moms, myself included, are still battling fatigue or even nausea. And I've actually had more nausea and fatigue with this pregnancy than I did with my first two. And that has kind of thrown me for a loop. I really figured that I would just be past it at 12 weeks, and I'm 18 weeks and still somewhat feeling waves of nausea and really tired. But I'm learning to accept my limits instead of getting down on myself for not feeling better yet. Like I mentioned, I modify my workouts. Sometimes I still need to choose rest over practical things like doing dishes or laundry, and that's okay. Remind yourself that this is a season and you will not always feel this way.
Some practical tips here is continue to eat regularly, like every two to three hours, and always pair a protein with a carb. Sometimes our blood sugar can get really out of whack when we're eating a lot of carbs, which can then make the nausea worse. So make sure you're pairing carbs with a protein. That's really important. And then if you need to continue doing the vitamin B6 and magnesium combo, magnesium glycinate is a really gentle and effective form of the magnesium. That's helpful. I will have a link to the type that I'm referring to here in the show notes. And then keep electrolytes balanced and hydrate steadily throughout the day. The amount of water you used to drink pre-pregnancy—you're like, "I'm drinking that much"—but you might need to increase that a little bit more. And then even introduce small intentional naps. Even a little power nap, like a 20-minute nap, can just really help reset your energy. So if you have the ability to do that, by all means do that. I remember when I was working a corporate job when I was pregnant with Ellie, I would go to my car and I would just rest in my car for 20 minutes with the air conditioning on. But just being intentional in any ways that you can.
Just, you know, praying regularly, bringing everything to the Lord—your victories, your defeats, your concerns, all of that. Like he wants to hear that. You can even bring in some breathing techniques and just practice those for the labor as a way to just help your nervous system down-regulate. And then even starting the day with an attitude of gratitude. I've been trying to do this a little bit more. I used to find myself as soon as I would turn my alarm off from my phone, I would immediately go to looking at emails or whatever. And I was like, "This is such an addictive way to start the day and to start my brain." And so after I turn off my alarm, I just try to thank the Lord for a few things. I don't have a specific number, but I just try to start rattling off things that in my heart I am just so thankful for. And I'm just hoping and praying that will just help shift my heart and my mind as I start the day instead of it being about emails and logistics and whatever. Like it needs to be about focusing on what the Lord is doing, who he is, all those things to start my day. So just a little tip there. Maybe you would like to start to do that as well.
And then now I would like to just take a moment to meditate on Galatians 6:9. And this verse says, "Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we don't give up." And I love this verse because it reminds me that pregnancy is both a physical and spiritual act of sowing. So when you're eating a meal, when you are moving, when you're praying over your precious baby, all of those things, they're a seed. And you may not see the harvest of that for a while, but God promises it will come in due season. So if we continue to sow but not grow weary, in due season when the Lord sees fit, we will reap that harvest.
And then here's what I want to remind you of today as well: that you are not responsible for the outcome or the fruit of your labor—like literally your labor, but also the preparation. So you are only responsible for your faithfulness to the Lord. And so I want to encourage you and also challenge you to listen and obey what the Lord has given you to steward. In the parable of the faithful servant, the one that Jesus tells, it does not say, "Well done, good and fruitful servant." Instead it says, "Well done, good and faithful servant." So to be faithful is being faithful with nourishment and rest and preparation and surrender and trust in the Lord, that he is sovereign over the outcome and he is sovereign over the fruit, and that's not your responsibility.
I feel the Lord continually challenging me in this because everything in our world wants to tell us you are responsible for the outcomes of your life, of your work, of your children, of your labor, of everything. And to an extent, yes, we can steward well or we can completely mismanage the things that the Lord has given us. But I want you to not be stressed about the perfection of that, but that, "Lord, in whatever ways you are giving me knowledge, information, wisdom to do what is best in your sight, I want to just faithfully do that. And then you're responsible, Lord, for the outcome. And it's not a reflection on me." So I hope that's an encouragement and also a little bit of a challenge to you.
I'm gonna close today's episode with a prayer of encouragement for you. So let's go to the Lord in prayer. Dear Lord Jesus, I just thank you so much for the mama listening right now. I thank you that you are so miraculous and that you are forming a miracle within her. Lord, I just pray that in this second trimester you would renew her strength in her mind and her body and in her spirit, and that when she does feel weary, I pray that you would remind her that you are the one that is sustaining her. I pray, Lord Jesus, that you would help her to see every act of care, whether that's eating a nourishing meal or moving or praying to you, Lord, that is a seed that she is planting in faith. And then when the fatigue and doubt creeps in and the enemy's whispering to her, I pray that you would just speak truth into her and that in due season she will reap a harvest of joy. I ask, Lord Jesus, that you would teach her to release the outcomes of her pregnancy and of her labor and birth to you and that she would rest in your faithfulness. I ask, Lord Jesus, that you would help her to trust in you, that you are working in all things for our good and your glory, Lord Jesus, and that you are shaping both her and her baby to be whatever you have designed it to be. And Lord, I just thank you so much that you are faithful to complete the good work that you begin in us. And it's in your precious name we pray. Amen.
Mama, I hope that you know that you're doing such a beautiful job, one step, one day, one faithful act at a time. And if you haven't already, I would love for you to go grab all the free resources and things that I mentioned in this episode inside the Christian Mama Birth Prep Library. If you go to faithoverfearbirth.com or go to the link in the show notes, you can find all that as well. And then next week I have a very special guest, Dr. Kate Smith. She's a pelvic floor physical therapist, and we're gonna be diving into some practical wisdom about pelvic health during pregnancy. And then I'll also share about my own journey with pelvic pain and hypermobility, and I just know that this is gonna be such a helpful conversation for you. So please don't miss it. But until next time, remember, you were made for this. I'm believing that the Lord will prepare you for all that's ahead. So until next time, goodbye for now.
