Second Trimester of Pregnancy: Symptoms, Concerns and Advice
What is Second Trimester?
A pregnancy lasts for about 40 weeks. The weeks are grouped into three trimesters. The second trimester includes weeks 13 through 27 of a pregnancy. In the second trimester, the baby grows larger and stronger and many women begin showing a larger belly.
Most women find that the second trimester is a lot easier than the first, but it’s still important to be informed about your pregnancy during the second trimester. Understanding your pregnancy week by week can help you make informed decisions and prepare for the big changes ahead.
Symptoms That Happens To a Woman’s Body During Second Trimester:
During the second trimester of pregnancy, symptoms that you may have experienced during the first trimester begin to improve. Many women report that nausea and fatigue begin to lessen and they consider the second trimester the easiest and most enjoyable part of their pregnancy.
The following changes and symptoms may occur:
- The uterus expands,
- Begin to show a larger abdomen,
- Dizziness or lightheadedness due to lower blood pressure,
- Feeling the baby move,
- Body aches,
- Increased appetite,
- Stretch marks on the stomach, breast, thighs, or buttocks,
- Skin changes, like darkening of the skin around your nipples, or patches of darker skin,
- Itching,
- Swelling of the ankles or hands.
You can read: Nursing Care of Newborn Baby at Birth
Call doctor if you experience any of these symptoms:
- Nausea,
- Vomiting,
- Jaundice (yellowing of the whites of the eyes),
- Extreme swelling,
- Rapid weight gain.
Fetus During The Second Trimester:
The baby’s organs become fully developed during the second trimester. The baby can also start to hear and swallow. Small hairs become noticeable. Later on in the second trimester, the baby will begin to move around. It will develop sleeping and waking cycles that a pregnant woman will begin to notice.
According to the American Pregnancy Association, by the end of the second trimester the baby will be around 14 inches in length and weigh a little over two pounds.
Health Examination Should Do in 2nd Trimester of Pregnancy:
- Measuring your blood pressure,
- Checking your weight,
- Ultrasound,
- Diabetes screening with blood tests,
- Birth defect and other genetic screening tests,
- Amniocentesis.
Tips for Stay Healthy in Second Trimester of Pregnancy:
It’s important to be aware of what to do and what to avoid as your pregnancy continues. This will help you take care of yourself and your developing baby.
What to do:
- Continue to take prenatal vitamins,
- Exercise regularly,
- Work out your pelvic floor by doing Kegel exercises,
- Eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, low-fat forms of protein, and fiber,
- Drink lots of water,
- Eat enough calories (about 300 calories more than normal),
- Keep your teeth and gums healthy. Poor dental hygiene is linked to premature labor.
What to avoid:
- Strenuous exercise or strength training that could cause an injury to your stomach,
- Alcohol,
- Caffeine (no more than one cup of coffee or tea per day),
- Smoking,
- Illegal drugs,
- Raw fish or smoked seafood,
- Shark, swordfish, mackerel, or white snapper fish (they have high levels of mercury),
- Raw sprouts,
- Cat litter, which can carry a parasite that causes toxoplasmosis,
- Unpasteurized milk or other dairy products,
- Deli meats or hot dogs,
- The following prescription drugs: isotretinoin (Accutane) for acne, acitretin (Soriatane) for psoriasis, thalidomide (Thalomid), and ACE inhibitors for high blood pressure.
More questions related to this article:
- What do you mean by second trimester?
- Write down the symptoms that happen to a woman’s body during the second trimester.
- What happens to a woman’s body during the 2nd trimester?
- What happens to the fetus during the second trimester?
- What kinds of health examination should do in 2nd trimester of pregnancy?
- What are the tips for stay healthy in 2nd trimester of pregnancy?
