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In the second trimester of pregnancy, what can you expect?

The second trimester is a special time for many women. You begin to feel used to being pregnant. Many women wait until the second trimester to tell their friends and community that they are pregnant. This can be a time of celebration and preparation. There are many changes happening to you and the fetus during this time. It is important to know what these changes are and how to prepare for them.

 

What is the second trimester?

The second trimester begins at week thirteen of pregnancy and ends at week twenty-seven. During this period your pregnancy begins to show and become more obvious. During this period of time, your womb is growing and the fetus is showing quick growth as well. This is a time of preparation for many women. Letting their work know, setting up a nursery, and buying any baby necessities are things many women do during this time period. This is an exciting time and while there is a lot to prepare it is important to enjoy this stage of pregnancy as well. [1]

 

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What changes in your body happen during the second trimester?

This trimester is often the most comfortable for many women. Morning sickness typically is less of an issue as well as fatigue and soreness. This is partially due to the fact that you will adjust more to the pregnancy hormones. During this period there are a lot of changes to your body that will occur such as:

  • Increased appetite.
  • Feeling the fetus move usually occurs around twenty weeks.
  • The pregnancy is more visible.
  • Itching and sore skin as the belly grows.
  • Increased urination is common due to the uterus putting pressure on the bladder.
  • Many women’s gums bleed, this is due to hormones/
  • Weight gain, heartburn, indigestion, and constipation are also common. 

During this time some discomforts and symptoms from the first trimester will improve, but there may be other symptoms to replace them. If any symptom feels too severe and impacts your daily life you should speak with your doctor. [2]

 

The baby’s growth during the second trimester.

During this trimester the baby has some incredible development. This development includes:

  • The baby’s sex is able to be identified around week fourteen.
  • At week fifteen the baby’s scalp and hair pattern form.
  • At week sixteen the baby’s eyes start to move and the baby’s skin gets thicker.
  • Around week seventeen the baby develops toenails.
  • The baby begins to hear and can suck his or her thumb around week twenty.
  • Between weeks twenty and twenty-five the baby gains hair, and fingerprints, and is able to respond to your voice.

By the end of the second trimester, you will be over halfway done with pregnancy. Your baby at this point will have hair, an identifiable gender, and can hear you. This is an amazing time of development for your baby. Many women start to think of names during this time and prepare their homes for the arrival of their newborns. [3]

 

Resources:
1 https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/pregnancy/week-by-week/2nd-trimester/week-...
2 https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-secon...
3 https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-d...