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What to Expect During the Second Trimester of Pregnancy
You’ve hit a milestone and you are now in your second trimester of pregnancy. Congratulations! Your risk of
miscarriage has now significantly decreased, and many couples now find it appropriate to share the good news with
their friends, family, and coworkers. If you’ve held the news in this long, you’re more than likely anxious to have
the support of the ones you love.
The second trimester of pregnancy brings many changes, including continued growth in your baby’s bodily systems, as
well as weight gain and size changes in you. You may find that it is during the second trimester of pregnancy that
you really start to “feel” pregnant. Many women report that as they start to show, and as the baby grows, the
reality of a baby inside them becomes more and more real.
Here are a few changes you can expect during the second trimester of pregnancy:
Your Body: As baby grows, sleeping on your belly will become increasingly uncomfortable. However, your
energy should start to return now, and any morning sickness you may have had should start to subside. Your sex
drive may perk back up, and you may feel good enough to begin an exercise program. The second trimester of
pregnancy isn’t all roses, however. You may experience bleeding gums, dizzy spells, pain due to ligaments
stretching, hemorrhoids, and you may even begin having some Braxton-Hicks contractions. These are all quite normal,
however.
Your Doctor Visits: During the second trimester of pregnancy, and throughout, your doctor will be
testing your urine for protein and sugar. This helps detect any early instances of preeclampsia or gestational
diabetes. You will also be asked if you want to have an AFP test done, which can detect fatal or life-altering
deformities and diseases in your unborn child. This test is not mandatory, and many women opt not to have it done
for personal or religious reasons. The most exciting test done during this period is the ultrasound, when you may
or may not learn the sex of your baby – if you want to, that is!
Your Baby’s Growth: Your baby grows leaps and bounds during the second trimester of pregnancy. He or
she will smile, use its reflexes, get hiccups, form its genitals, and make purposeful movements – including moving
to the sound of your voice! Most exciting is the physical growth your baby will go through. By the end of the
second trimester, he or she will reach 2 pounds, and you’ll be able to feel its movements throughout your womb.
Unfortunately, baby hasn’t learned your schedule yet, and probably won’t until its first year of life. For now,
baby prefers to be awake at night, as the movement of your body during the day lulls it to sleep. It’s no wonder
babies love to be rocked to sleep!
Enjoy this time with great anticipation, as your baby will be here before you know it! As you near the end of this
trimester, you will look back at all the wonderful changes and be in awe of the transformation you and your baby’s
body has taken. There will be no mistaking that there is a new human life growing inside of you, you’ll get to
experience the joy of sharing that with others as they live the excitement with you.
The second trimester of pregnancy is by far the most enjoyable and memorable part of pregnancy for many women. The
experiences of hearing the baby’s heartbeat, feeling the baby’s movement, then seeing their baby and finding out
its sex, makes the second trimester of pregnancy a true joy for many parents-to-be.
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