Changes in Your Body in the Second
Trimester
Most women find the second trimester
of pregnancy easier than the first. But it is just as important to
stay informed about your pregnancy during these months.
You might notice that symptoms like
nausea and fatigue are going away. But other new, more noticeable
changes to your body are now happening. Your abdomen will expand as
you gain weight and the baby continues to grow. And before this
trimester is over, you will feel your baby beginning to move!
Many of the aches and pains you had
in the first trimester may continue.
Some of the following aches and pains
may make their first appearance during the second trimester:
-
Pain in the abdomen, groin, and thighs
-
Backaches
-
Shortness of breath
-
Stretch Marks
-
Skin Changes
-
Tingling in hands and fingers
-
Itching on the abdomen, palms, and soles of the
feet — Call your doctor if you have
nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice or fatigue combined
with itching. These can be signs of a serious liver problem called
cholestasis of pregnancy.
Weight Gain
Everyone gains weight at different
rates. On average, it is normal to gain about one pound per week, or
about three to four pounds per month during this trimester.
Changes in Your Baby
By the end of the second trimester
your baby will weigh about 1 3/4 pounds and be about 13 inches long.
With this growth comes the development of fingers, toes, eyelashes,
and eyebrows. Around the fifth month, you might feel your baby move!
By the end of this trimester, all of your baby's essential organs
like the heart, lungs, and kidneys are formed.
2nd Trimester Tests and Procedures
During
the second trimester, you should continue to see your doctor for
prenatal care. Most pregnant women have monthly office visits with
their doctor or midwife until the end of this trimester.
During the second trimester your
doctor can use an ultrasound to see if your baby is developing in a
healthy way and to find out your baby's sex. You will also be
offered screening tests to look for genetic birth defects.
Birth defects result from problems
with a baby's genes, inherited factors that are passed down from the
mother and the father at conception. Genetic birth defects sometimes
occur in people with no family history of that disorder. Women over
the age of 35 have the greatest chances of having a baby with birth
defects.
In the third Trimester some of the
same discomforts you had in your second trimester will continue.
Plus, many women find breathing even more difficult and notice they
have to go to the bathroom even more often. This is because the baby
is getting bigger and it is putting more pressure on your organs.
Don't worry, your baby is fine and these problems will lessen once
you give birth.
The following aches and pains often
appear for the first time during the third trimester:
- Heartburn
-
Swelling of the ankles,
fingers, and face. If you notice any
sudden or extreme swelling or if you gain a lot of weight really
quickly, call your doctor right away. This could be a sign of
preeclampsia or
toxemia.
- Hemorrhoids
- Tender Breasts
- Trouble Sleeping
As you near your due date, your
cervix becomes thinner and softer (called effacing). This is a
normal, natural process that helps the birth canal (vagina) to open
during the birthing process. Your doctor can check your progress
with a vaginal exam.
Weight Gain
Everyone gains weight at different
rates. On average, it is normal to gain about one pound per week, or
three to four pounds per month, during the third trimester. By the
end of your pregnancy you should have gained, on average, about 25
to 30 pounds. About 7 1/2 pounds of that weight should be the baby.
