Key considerations for the second trimester of pregnancy
Among all the three trimesters of pregnancy, the second one is the favourite of most of the expecting moms. Morning sickness typically reduces by this time and so does the discomfort due to breast tenderness. This is the trimester in which the levels of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) start to decline and gradually plateau. There is also an adjustment to the levels of oestrogen and progesterone hormones.
Along with feeling better and having more energy in this trimester comes another beautiful part of your pregnancy journey – you might start showing the pregnancy! Enjoy the special treatment by those with whom you share the good news and those who guess it. Also, get ready to hear a lot of pregnancy advice from, well, almost everyone around you! You can pick and choose what advice you wish to follow; just try to be patient with the ones who don’t think the way you do… they just mean well.
When does the second trimester officially start?
The second trimester of your pregnancy spans from week 13 to week 28 (some consider week 13 to week 27).
Foetal Development: This is the phase when all the major organs and systems have formed in the foetus1. It’s time for the foetus to start growing – the weight and length of your foetus will start increasing. Towards the end of the second trimester, the foetus can move, turn and even kick! Around 20 weeks, you might be able to experience a precious moment – you might be able to feel the movement for the first time!
Changes in your body
Your belly starts growing, and showing, as your uterus expands to create enough space for the baby.
Your breasts start getting bigger and heavier. You will need a new set of comfortable bras. You might have darkened areolas and get dark patches on your face.
The new changes in your body and weight gain can cause lower back and pelvic pain, cramping, breathlessness, swelling in hands, feet and ankles and varicose veins. You might have an increased appetite.
Some women start experiencing Braxton-Hicks contractions which feel like a tightening in the lower abdomen that comes and goes, sometimes similar to menstrual period cramps. These are basically contractions of your uterus as your body gets ready to give birth2. If they get more regular or stronger, let your healthcare provider know about it.
You might get a dark vertical line called linea nigra on your tummy, which usually fades after delivery. You might start getting stretch marks mostly on your tummy but sometimes also on your thighs and breasts. The stretch marks may fade with time.
As they approach this milestone, the majority of women will feel at ease announcing their pregnancy because the danger of miscarriage significantly decreases at this stage.
Prenatal Visits
The prenatal visits in the second trimester are necessary to check the health of both the mother and the foetus. Your healthcare provider will check your weight, blood pressure and ask you about any discomfort that you might be facing. You will be screened for the Rh factor of your blood and gestational diabetes.
At the 20-week mark, you will undergo a screening3 to look for any structural abnormalities in the developing foetus, particularly in the brain, spine, internal organs and limbs.
Decisions and steps you can take in the Second Trimester
Your doctor can use an ultrasound to identify the baby’s gender in the second trimester. It is your decision whether or not you want to know if your baby is a boy or a girl.
You might want to start considering if you would like to take pain medication during delivery and the kind of birth plan you would prefer.
This is a good time to learn more about childbirth, take prenatal classes, learn about breastfeeding, baby care and the first few months of parenting. Spend some time researching about the government schemes for expecting and new mothers, find out what your insurance covers with regards to hospitalisation and the right time to take and apply for maternity leave. Of course, it is an excellent time to get an in-depth understanding of the benefits of cord blood and cord tissue banking as well as decide on a trusted family cord blood bank.
Second trimester is by far the most comfortable part of pregnancy- so enjoy this phase, eat healthy and follow your healthcare provider’s advice.
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