Oh to be in the third trimester (again)! At the time of writing I am officially 9 months pregnant. Baby Primer Peak 1 (PP1) was born at 8 months, and while I was in the third trimester, it didn’t really feel like I was. Now that I’ve surpassed Baby PP1’s gestational age at birth, here is some new insight for the pregnant conceal carrying mom.
As I mentioned in Conceal Carrying During Pregnancy | The Third Trimester, a lot of the discomfort you have been feeling continues. It might worsen, old symptoms might come back, you might get to experience some newer symptoms as well!
During both of my pregnancies I experienced horrible heartburn. This pregnancy it has been much worse. Bending over is unbearable, which is difficult to avoid when you have a not-quite walking 15 month old.
As a conceal carrier, I’ve completely stopping carrying a gun on my body. Even with my beloved Flashbang, I can’t handle any extra pressure or weight near the top of my abdomen. When I leave the house with my husband I let him conceal carry for us. When I leave the house alone I will purse carry. There is only a month or so left, we are just trying to power through with Tums.
I didn’t experience many of these with Baby PP1, but I have felt a lot more with Baby PP2. Braxton Hicks are practice contractions, getting your body ready for the real deal. They are usually inconsistent, sometimes painful, sometimes you will only feel tightening in your abdomen. Sometimes you’ll have them and not even realize!
Braxton Hicks contractions are a part of my daily life at this point. Most are annoying at best, and slightly painful at worst. As I near my due date I am pausing more to assess if these are real contractions or just practice. It’s a distraction that takes my mind away from what is going on around me.
I thought I was big at eight months pregnant with Baby PP1. Nine months brought an even bigger bump! I’m not sure how much is to be attributed to this being a second pregnancy, and how much is because I am now considered full term, but the bump feels (and looks) massive.
Previously I believed that pregnant women were exaggerating how difficult it was to do simple tasks in late pregnancy. Putting on shoes is truly a difficult task as bending over at the waist is almost impossible. Once the shoe is on the difficult task of bringing my foot high enough to tie is a challenge as well.
Before we welcomed Baby Primer Peak 1 my husband and I would find ourselves occasionally tripping on our dog’s toys. He had a habit of laying them in our paths, and if we were not paying attention we would catch ourselves tripping over them.
Babies, toddlers, and children have more accessories than the Barbie dolls and Polly Pockets you grew up playing with. These accessories also find themselves underfoot, out of sight by your pregnant belly.
Even out and about, you need to be hyper aware of what is on the ground around you. Be aware of uneven surfaces and other tripping hazards. Your bump will conceal many floor dangers from your searching eyes.
Having older kiddos in the house means your likelihood of getting sick has exponentially increased. Baby PP1 has never been to daycare, but I do try to make sure they get out to the library story time, or local toddler play group. Even when we’ve had weeks just staying around the house they’ve still managed to get sick! Sometimes mom and dad also have the pleasure of getting sick too.
Being sick during normal life is hard enough for a conceal carrier. Being sick while mothering and being pregnant is not for the faint of heart. The exhaustion is worse, the congestion is worse, everything is bad. Getting sick is another thing to take your focus away from the tasks at hand, or will put you on the floor of the childproofed bedroom while your toddler crawls and screams around you while you try to rest.
It is very easy to focus on the importance of carrying a firearm for our EDC and for personal defense. However, it is not the only tool available to us. Pregnancy, especially in the third trimester, does make conceal carrying significantly more challenging. Especially when you are trying to incorporate it while managing other children.
For the most part I have temporarily discontinued conceal carrying. For the past month when I have left my house without my husband I am going to doctor appointments, or to do a grocery pick up. Usually I bring Baby PP1 with me, and considering the nature of our errands, I’ve decided it is best to rely on other tools for my own convenience.
I never leave the house without my POM. I’ve been consistently carrying pepper spray since mid-2020. It was one of the first gifts my now husband ever gave me. Pepper Spray easily fits in my tiny, lady pant pockets. I don’t have to worry about trying to accommodate it with maternity pants, it just fits.
While I try to avoid being out of the house after dark, having a powerful flash light is another great tool to use (pregnant or not). Having a flashlight will illuminate dark areas, allowing you to see potential threats or hazards before stumbling upon them. It can be used to disrupt the vision of a would-be attacker, potentially giving you a strategic advantage. Flashlights don’t take up much space in a pocket or a purse, and they are easy to stage if you know you will be entering a poorly lit area.
Since having Baby PP1 I’ve taken full advantage of Target pick-up orders. I don’t have to get the toddler in and out of the car, walk through a store filled with temptation just to buy diapers. Having someone do the shopping and bring me only the items I need has been a God send to my time and wallet.
When I know that my errands will consist of some pick-up orders I feel safer not bringing a firearm with me. My first choice is always to GTFO, and my car is a great way to do so. Cars are bigger and faster than people. Use this tool to your advantage if needed.
The biggest impact all of the above provides to the conceal carrying pregnant mom is that your attention is only going to be further divided than it was the first go around. Your older child(ren) are demanding attention, your body is bigger and there are more discomforts to consider.
In a few short months you’re going to have another new little baby to snuggle and love! You’re almost there! Do your best and utilize other tools if necessary. Soon enough you’ll be able to comfortably conceal carry again, just try to get through this time.
Don’t forget to check out the other articles in our Conceal Carry During Pregnancy series! Here are just a few from our journey:
Situational Awareness and the Postpartum Mom [2025]
Conceal Carry During Pregnancy | Training and Classes
Conceal Carry Methods and Back Wearing for New Parents [2025]
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