This is one of a series of articles on pregnancy. For more information about pregnancy and birth options, see my other articles including my series on homebirth.
The Second Trimester
The second trimester is considered the ‘easiest’ of them because you tend to feel the best. Around 16 weeks your morning sickness will disappear and you’re not so largely pregnant that it’s difficult to move. During the second trimester, some mothers feel more confident because they start to show, so they look pregnant. Atop that, this is when you’ll feel your baby move, and some mothers get great relief from knowing that their baby is okay.
Emotional Changes
You will still feel emotional and out-of-sorts. This continues through the pregnancy and somewhat postpartum. The exhaustion lets up, so you’ll start to feel more rested, which can make emotional upheavals somewhat easier to deal with. Since you’ve made it into the ‘safe zone’, you may also be elated at the upcoming birth and somewhat fearful about what you’ll be like as a new mother, expenses, what you’re going to do about your job, and the big change that’s coming. You may have some worries about labor and delivery as well.
Physical Changes
You’re showing! This can start to put strain on your lower back and affect your balance, so be careful. Ice and snow may present a problem during the winter months so be on the watch, particularly for black ice on sidewalks and in parking lots. Though your baby will be fine if you fall, you could end up sore from that as well.
Breast changes: your breasts are probably larger, and near the end of the second trimester, they will start to produce colostrum so that you can breastfeed when your baby arrives. They may still be sensitive or tender.
Morning sickness: you may still have to deal with some morning sickness, particularly around the beginning. Some women experience some kind of morning sickness throughout their entire pregnancy, while some women don’t.
Acne: hormonal changes in pregnancy tend to lead to break outs. Some women only break out around the time that they would have had their periods, but other women find themselves struggling with acne throughout their entire pregnancy. Be careful using acne treatments, as some are dangerous during pregnancy.
Fatigue: you’ll still be somewhat tired, as it may start getting uncomfortable to sleep. You may find yourself waking to use the restroom around the end of the second trimester. You may also experience pregnancy dreams, dreams of the delivery or caring for your baby, and some strange nightmares. This is normal.
Gas: gas continues to be a problem throughout your pregnancy, as your body is digesting food for two people. It shouldn’t be so bad in the second trimester.
Headaches: increased blood flow as well as hormonal changes and exhaustion can lead to headaches. If you’re prone to migraines, this can make things more difficult, particularly since some migraine medications aren’t safe for pregnancy. Talk to your doctor before taking anything stronger than Tylenol.
What about sex?
As the fatigue and nausea let up, you may find yourself with a great sex drive. Don’t be afraid to experiment, even if it’s just with positions. Some women report that their round belly is attractive to their husbands, and of course the bigger breasts won’t hurt matters.
Sex during pregnancy won’t hurt your baby unless your doctor or midwife tells you otherwise, so you don’t need to be concerned from that aspect. On the plus side, you don’t have to worry about getting pregnant!
Your Uterus
During the second trimester, your uterus grows up and out of the pelvis, taking up room in your stomach area. You will start to look pregnant when this happens. If this is your second baby (or more) you may start to show earlier because your uterus is already used to stretching to accommodate a baby.
What is your baby doing?
Your baby is spending this time growing and developing. Around 24 weeks, the eyelids unfuse, so your baby will be able to see, though there isn’t much to see inside. Also, at 24 weeks your baby can start to hear what’s going on outside the womb, so if your baby jumps when you start the vacuum, don’t be alarmed.
Most of your baby’s organs are in place by now, and are developing so he can live outside the womb.
Around 20 weeks, most women getting obstetric care get an ultrasound to find out the gender of their baby. Though studies on ultrasound use during pregnancy haven’t shown danger, it is unknown whether they are safe for pregnancy. Some professionals contend that the baby can hear the ultrasound waves and that’s why they turn their heads and try to get away from the wand during an ultrasound.
Your placenta is fully formed by now and filtering what your baby needs to grow and thrive.
Good luck and congratulations on your pregnancy! Don’t forget to see what comes next in my next article about the third trimester. I’d also love to hear what you think about my articles, so don’t be afraid to comment!
