What to expect in Pregnancy: Second TrimesterAugust 29, 2018
The second trimester is the span from week 13 to week 27 of pregnancy. It is also is called the "honeymoon period". Typically, by this time the nausea subsides, emotions even out and sex drive returns. It's also the time when you'll start to feel the baby's first movements. What other changes are in store? Life Maid Easy’s team is right here with some of the common symptoms during this period.
You will experience mixed and significant changes in the way you feel. There is a lot happening inside your womb right now and the physical changes will now get more predominant. So what are these changes? First of all, the morning sickness tapers out. If you are lucky, it will be gone completely. This means your energy levels are now higher. Sounds good right? What else is happening to you? By week 16, you will look rounder with a wider waist and a small pot around your navel. Not to mention your swollen feet and widening hips. Your breasts too look suddenly bigger, rounder and fuller. By week 27, you should have gained 7 to 9 kg, but your baby will only account for about 1 kg. All this weight gain will mean you will be sluggish & will have frequent urge to go to the bathroom. Since so much is going on, our panel of doctors at Life Maid Easy suggest you take it slow and avoid sudden movements. Dizziness, leg cramps, heartburn and shortness of breath – all are common. You'll also probably start to see another pregnancy phenomenon: stretch marks. Most will fade to nearly invisible silver or white streaks after you give birth. Another prominent change is the appearance of a dark line a running between your belly button and pelvic area. This line is known as Linea Nigra. It will fade soon after you give birth. You may be feeling like a balloon by now. Restricted sleeping positions and frequent trips to the bathroom throughout the night can make for long and wakeful nights. Try place pillows between your legs, behind your back, and under your belly to get a little more comfortable.
With so much going on outside, surely a lot more is going on inside right? Life Maid Easy’s team spoke to doctors in Fetal medicine. This is what they had to say. Your baby was roughly the size of a peach at week 13. By week 27, that little peach is now the size of an egg plant. A series of massive changes happen in your developing baby. Your baby will now see some rapid progress.
- The unique fingerprints are now formed.
- Try poking your bump with finger slightly and feel your baby react with a slight jerk.
- The eyebrows and hair will start growing by 6 months.
- Your baby will now start sucking his thumb.
- The baby’s limbs are now functional and moving.
- His nervous system is now working.
- Starting to recognize sounds.
- Taking practice breaths.
- Buds for permanent teeth are beginning to form.
Though it may not sound very exciting, look at it this way: You’ve crossed the halfway mark with just 13 weeks left to go. May be even less if you have planned a c-section. Life Maid Easy’s team suggest between week 20 and 24 would be the ideal for a short holiday or a babymoon. Talk to your partner and consult your doctor about any pre cautions you may need to take. Have fun! We will be back with more on the final leg of this journey.