In this article www.associatedcontent.com/article/439333/5_common_pregnancy_concerns_during.html, I addressed some of the most commonly asked questions on pregnancy message boards during the first trimester. The questions certainly do not end after the first trimester, however, so in this article, I will be addressing common concerns for the second trimester. As exciting as this trimester can be there are also many changes happening very quickly which can cause confusion and worry for the mother-to-be. Here are the most common questions and their answers.
Why do I look fat instead of pregnant?- As many women start to finally feel more like themselves after the sickness and fatigue of the first trimester, their thoughts start to run to the day when they can start to wear cute maternity tops and have friends and family comment on their cute “baby belly. However, pregnant women are often disappointed to find that while their waistline is getting thicker, their stomach looks more like they are carrying a couple of extra pounds of Oreos than a baby. Have no fear though, most women find that this stage only lasts for a month or so and then their belly starts poking out appropriately. Feel free to start wearing maternity shirts even if you don’t really NEED them. They will be comfortable and loose-fitting and can help to both hide the extra bulges in the hips and accentuate the “baby belly” once it does start to show.
When will I feel the baby move? – This is one of the most exciting parts of pregnancy and one of the most anticipated. Feeling the baby move, or “quickening” is something that most pregnant women eagerly look forward to from the moment they find out that they are expecting. According to babycenter.com, most women will feel their baby move for the first time somewhere between their 16th and 22nd weeks of pregnancy. Women experiencing their first pregnancy will often not recognize fetal movements until later on in their pregnancies because these movements can often be mistaken for gas. A common misconception is that the movements that are felt early on in a pregnancy are kicks. Actually, the baby is not strong enough for kicks to be felt until much farther along in the pregnancy. The movements that are felt early on are just from the fetus wiggling and pressing against the abdomen. As a result, thinner women are also known to feel movements sooner in their pregnancies because they have less fat to cushion the movements. Early movements are often likened to butterflies or a popping sensation and will be more likely to be felt when the mother is still and relaxed.
When can I find out the baby’s sex? – Most doctors recommend a detailed ultrasound around 20 weeks to monitor the baby’s growth and make certain that the organs are all developing normally. During this ultrasound they will also often check for markers that could indicate possible genetic abnormalities. Although these are the actual medical reasons for performing the ultrasound at this point during the pregnancy, what most couples focus on is the possibility of finding out if they are having a boy or a girl. According to www.ahealthyme.com/topic/boyorgirl, a 1999 study published in Ultrasound Obstetrics and Gynecology showed that “By the 12th week of pregnancy, most babies have distinctly male or female genitals, and ultrasound can provide a good view of the sex organs if the baby happens to be in the right position….ultrasound was about 70 percent accurate at determining gender in the 11th week. By the 12th week, accuracy jumps to nearly 99 percent. By the 13th week, a good ultrasound picture is extremely accurate.” The accuracy of the ultrasound to predict gender does depend on the view available to the technician however, which means that if the baby is turned in the wrong direction it can be very difficult for the tech to make a determination of gender. A test called an amniocentesis has an almost 100% accuracy rate for predicting gender, however there is some risk to the fetus and it is a much more invasive procedure for the mother so this test is only done if there is a specific medical reason, such as a high risk of genetic abnormalities and/or chromosomal disorders.
What is the glucose screening test? – Between 24-28 weeks of pregnancy most practitioners will recommend that pregnant women get a glucose screening test to check for gestational diabetes. Between 2 and 5 percent of expectant mothers will develop gestational diabetes and it is important to treat this condition to avoid potential problems for both the mother and the baby.( www.babycenter.com/0_glucose-screening-and-glucose-tolerance-test_1483.bc ) This test is very simple. The mother-to-be is instructed to drink a liquid containing 50 grams of glucose within 5 minutes and then wait for an hour and have blood drawn to make sure that her body is processing the glucose without difficulty. About 15-23% of women will have abnormally high blood sugar levels after doing this test and will require further screening. That usually involves coming back another day and undergoing a similar test where you must wait for 3 hours before having your blood tested. If you are concerned about the glucose screening test, the best thing that you can do to lessen the chances that you will have problems is to avoid eating or drinking increased amounts of sugar the day of your test. The more sugar that you consume in addition to the glucose drink, the harder it will be for your body to process. If you do test positive for gestational diabetes do not panic. It is quite common and can frequently be managed with adjustments to diet, although some more extreme cases will require insulin injections.
Although these are by no means all of the possible questions that could come up during your second trimester of pregnancy, they are some of the most common. I hope that this information will be helpful to expectant mothers. Remember that if you have any concerns you should always feel comfortable contacting your doctor or midwife and discussing the concerns with them.
