Second trimester
By this time your pregnancy will be well established and many of the little problems you may have had during early pregnancy will have disappeared. If you're over 35 years old or have a family history of congenital abnormalities, for example, you'll be offered screening, which may include amniocentesis.
Physical changes
© DK
Your nipples may begin to make colostrum - your baby's first food - and leak slightly from time to time. Your waistline gradually starts to disappear and you'll now “look” pregnant. You may notice you have more pigmentation on your areolae and on freckles and moles. Your gums may become slightly spongy, probably because of the action of pregnancy hormones. There's no reason why you should have more dental decay during pregnancy, though, and there's no truth in the saying “a tooth lost for every child”.
Digestion
The hormone that helps your cervix stretch to allow your baby to be born also affects other muscles in your body. All the muscles of your intestinal tract will be relaxed and this can cause many of the minor discomforts during your pregnancy.
You may suffer heartburn because the sphincter, or muscular ring, at the top of the stomach is more relaxed than usual. This allows the acid contents of your stomach to come back into your gullet, causing discomfort. Your gastric secretions are also reduced, so food remains for longer in the stomach.
Because your intestinal muscles are relaxed you'll also have fewer bowel movements and although this does allow your food to be absorbed more completely, it can also lead to constipation in pregnancy.
Your increasing size
You'll notice your shape changing, but many women are told they look small-for-dates during the second trimester. If this happens to you, don't worry. How big you'll look at this time depends on many different things, including your particular height and build; whether this is your first pregnancy or not, because uterine muscle tends to get stretched after the first child; and the size of your baby. If your doctor's happy with the way your pregnancy is going, then you can be too.
Self-care in the second trimester
During this trimester you'll gain the most weight of your pregnancy (about 6kg/13lb) and it's vital to keep on eating well (see Food in Pregnancy). You may find your posture changes as the muscles of your abdominal wall become more and more stretched to make room for your growing uterus. As your uterus gets bigger, your centre of gravity changes because you're carrying more weight in front. Try not to start leaning backwards or you may get backache (see Check your posture).
Backache
You may have some backache because the increased blood flow to the whole of your pelvis causes some softening and relaxation of the ligaments of the sacrum, which attach your pelvic bones to your spine at the back. Also, the ligaments and the cartilage at the front of your pelvis loosen and the mobility of these joints is slightly increased.
To help prevent backache, sit with a straight back and try not to slouch. You'll find it best to sit on a hard chair or the floor. Always bend with a straight back. Don't lift anything heavy if you can help it. If you do need to lift anything from the floor, bend from your knees and lift from a crouching position.
Your antenatal care
You'll have regular urine and blood pressure checks. If necessary you'll have tests for chromosomal defects. From this time, too, your doctors or midwives will want to measure that your baby is growing enough. They will feel your abdomen to check the size and shape of your uterus and the height of the fundus, and they'll listen for your baby's heartbeat.
During the fifth month you'll probably have an ultrasound scan (about weeks 18-22), and you'll have the special thrill of seeing your baby for the first time. You'll be able to hear your baby's incredibly fast heartbeat, too, and you may see your baby moving.
Preparing for your baby
Towards the end of this second trimester, you'll probably be feeling well and full of energy so it's a good time to start shopping for some of the equipment you'll need. It's a good idea to do at least some of these things now rather than to wait until the third trimester. By then you'll rapidly be getting bigger and you might not feel like going shopping.
Second trimester weight gain
In the second trimester, you'll probably put on about 6kg (13lb) in weight.
Of this, only about 1kg (2lb) will be your baby. The rest of the weight is made up of your baby's support system (such as the placenta and amniotic fluid), your enlarged uterus and breasts, and the extra blood and fluid in your body. Your fat stores will be about the same amount of weight as your growing baby.
Second trimester pregnancy
- You'll feel like making love again - or more often - some women have their first orgasm or multiple orgasms at this time.
- Your abdomen will become rounded and you'll “look” pregnant.
- Your pigmentation will increase and you may notice a darker line developing down the centre of your abdomen.
- You might suffer from indigestion and rib pain.
- As the placenta takes over the production of pregnancy hormones, your hormone levels should begin to balance out. You'll feel calmer and more positive than you did in the first trimester. You'll look better, too, with shiny hair and clear, glowing skin.
- It's important to eat well throughout your pregancy, but in the early weeks you may feel like eating some unusual foods or go off foods that you normally enjoy. You may notice a metallic taste in your mouth.
Posted 30.06.2010
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