What Should I Expect During my Second Trimester?

The second trimester is known as the honeymoon period of pregnancy. Most of the nausea has passed from the first trimester and the baby has not grown so much yet that mom is uncomfortable. This part of the pregnancy is when the baby begins to grow more and put on weight since it has finally developed all its organs.

During the second trimester your baby only weighs 2 to 3 pounds and is 13 to 16 inches in length. During the second trimester the new mom will feel fetal movement, fetal kicks, and even the baby turning from side to side. The fetus can also hear the mother’s voice, so talking to the baby is important. Sucking and swallowing reflexes develop during this stage and the placenta has developed fully. From the 5th month to delivery the baby’s brain will develop the most. The baby sleeps and wakes at this stage and has fingernails and toenails. Many babies even have hair at this stage.

Moms should expect a respite during the second trimester because they usually have more energy because their bodies have regulated the amount of hormones in the body and the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels have decreased. Women may find they have a bigger appetite and the pregnancy is usually fairly obvious by this stage. Some moms have bloody noses during this time due to the hormones progesterone and estrogen affected the mucosa membranes. For the same reason women may find their gums bleed more readily, too. Some women may experience hemorrhoids and varicose veins while backaches are common as a result of weight gain. Women frequently experience indigestion, heart burn, and constipation from this point on in the pregnancy.

Generally, the second trimester should be the calm period of your pregnancy. If you experience any strange symptoms, however, you should immediately call your doctor to find out if what you are experiencing is normal or not.

Posted in Pregnancy

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What Should I Expect During my Second Trimester?

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