2nd Trimester of Pregnancy

From WikiParenting

The second trimester of pregnancy – also known as the middle trimester – is the period between 13 and 27 weeks of gestation. During this time, many changes take place for both mother and baby. This article aims to give an overview of the second trimester, and prepare you for what to expect.

[edit] Symptoms

Some women describe the second trimester as the ‘honeymoon period’, because it is the time in which most women feel much relief from the symptoms of early pregnancy, but with the physical discomfort of late pregnancy being yet to start.

During the second trimester, you may find that the unwelcome symptoms of the first trimester, including nausea, fatigue and breast tenderness will taper off, but may be replaced with a few other symptoms. These include:

• Abdominal discomfort, caused by the growth of the uterus and surrounding ligaments
• Shortness of breath, caused by the growing uterus pushing up and crowding the lungs. If you are finding that this is extreme, be sure to seek medical advice.
• By the end of the second trimester, most women look ‘noticeably pregnant’, and many need to wear maternity clothes.

[edit] All About Your Baby

By the end of this trimester, all major organ systems are functioning, and your baby can now produce it’s own insulin supplies and is capable of urinating. As you head into the third trimester, your baby’s main task will is to grow and gain weight.

Early in the second trimester, the placenta starts fully functioning. It’s main role is to provide the unborn baby with the essential oxygen and nutrients that it needs. For this reason, it is important that the pregnant woman eats a variety of healthy foods.

[edit] Events In The Second Trimester

Sometime during the second trimester – usually between the 18th and 22nd weeks of gestation, you may start to feel your baby moving. This is known as quickening. By the end of this trimester, these movements may be felt by other people, through the pregnant woman’s skin.

During this trimester, you may also feel your unborn baby having the hiccups. This is a totally normal occurrence, and causes no physical discomfort to your baby. You may feel these as little twitches in your abdomen, that do not feel strong enough to be a kick.

This trimester is also the time when most women have a routine ultrasound, at 20 weeks of gestation. This can be an exciting time for expectant parents, as it allows them to see their unborn baby – perhaps even for the first time. You may also be able to find out the gender of your baby, if you so desire.