Second Trimester Pregnancy
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You may be 'showing' by now (or starting too) so people will 'really' know that you are pregnant!
Towards the end of the first and the beginning of the second trimester you should have your first scan, this is the dating scan where your baby will be measured and you due date confirmed, and it's also your very first chance to see your baby! This can be a very emotional time, you will experience some pretty strong feelings from being worried, to totally scared, to extremely happy.Seeing your baby on the screen for the very first time is totally amazing, you will be able to see the head and body very clearly.Ask any questions that you want too, the sonographer will answer to the best of their ability.
Second trimester pregnancy - Weeks 13 to 16
- One noticeable thing about the second trimester is your clothes will be feeling tighter, so make sure you wear loose fitting clothing.
- Your heart is growing to pump the extra blood around your body and the placenta, this makes sure that your baby is being properly nourished.
- You could find that any freckles or moles that you have may be turning darker.
- By week 16 your baby is fully formed! Wow isn't that amazing, his remaining time is spent getting bigger and gaining weight.
Second trimester pregnancy - Weeks 17 to 20
This part of the 2nd trimester means you're nearly half way through your pregnancy.- To mark your second trimester is well and truly here, you can be sure that your waistline is gone! (well never mind, it had to happen sooner or later!)
- You should by now be starting to feel full of energy, but you may also start to notice pains in your sides when walking, this is more than likely the ligaments in your uterus being stretched. Do see your midwife if this gets worse or starts to worry you.
- Any time from 17 weeks pregnant onwards you may feel your baby start to move. It may feel like tiny gas bubbles in your tummy, just a slight fluttering. With my first baby it was 22 weeks before I felt any movement, with my second baby it was around 19 - 20 weeks. For me this was when I 'really' felt pregnant :-)
- Around 20 weeks you will go for a 'detailed scan', this time the sonographer will be looking for a lot of different things. At this scan you can find out the sex of your baby, although they won't give you a 100% accurate 'boy or girl', With my second she said "well it looks like a girl, but I'm not saying that 100%" You should be able to get some pictures too to show off to your friends and family, some hospitals charge for this, others ask for a donation.
Second trimester pregnancy - Weeks 21 to 25
- During pregnancy, one of the many changes to your body will actually affect your gums, they will be softer than usual, so they (and your teeth) will need extra special care. Book an appointment at your dentist, and don't forget to let them know you are pregnant.
- In the second trimester 'pregnancy heartburn' can become a problem, for me it was a nightmare. Speak to your GP about this and they will prescribe something that is safe for you to take, and that won't harm the baby.
- Around the end of the second trimester, you may start to experience 'Braxton Hicks contractions', these are a practice run for the real thing. They will feel like a tightening around and under your ever growing bump. They can be quite scary, if your at all worried, contact your midwife who can give you more information.
- By now, your baby can hear your voice! Its good to talk to him or sing to him, also get brothers and sisters to do this, this can help older siblings build and early bond with the new baby. My baby girl used to start kicking like mad every time she heard her brothers voice, and when she was born she was always very calm and relaxed around him. Try and get Dads to talk to your tummy too, some men feel quite strange when you suggest they do this, so if they're really not keen on getting down and singing to your bump... just remember, 'it's a man thing' ;-)
With this second trimester of pregnancy nearly over, its time to start relaxing and putting up your feet, get plenty of rest, and remember each week of pregnancy brings you closer to meeting your baby.
Fancy a peek at the third trimester? - then click here, or have a look at how your baby develops in the second trimester.
Return from second trimester pregnancy to pregnancy page.
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