What is Second Trimester
The second trimester is the 13th to 28th weeks of pregnancy. It is the 3rd, 4th and 5th months of the pregnancy. The second trimester is different from the first trimester. The symptoms that were bothering you in the first trimester will subdue. Let’s know what to expect in the second trimester of pregnancy.
Changes during the second trimester
The second trimester is often known as the easiest phase during pregnancy. The baby grows faster during this stage. You will have a visible baby bump and will also start feeling the movements. The morning sickness and fatigue that you were feeling in the first trimester will subdue. However, there might be other symptoms as well. Some of them are
- Ache in lower abdomen- Your uterus is growing and it will put pressure on the muscles and ligaments near it. This may lead to aches and cramps in your lower abdomen.
- Back aches- the weight gain puts pressure on your back. This might lead to backaches during the second trimester.
- Braxton-Hicks Contractions – you might feel sudden cramps for a minute or two. It is not labor but random contractions which may often come and go.
- Bleeding gums- hormone changes may lead to bleeding gums. The hormone change sends more blood to the gums which makes the gum sore. This subdues after you give birth.
- Breast enlargement- the tender or breast enlargement will continue in the second trimester as well. You may have to go up a bra size.
- Dizziness- the increasing weight of the uterus, low blood sugar level and hormonal changes may make you feel dizzy sometimes.
- Vaginal discharge- You may often notice milky white vaginal discharge during this time.
- Frequent urination- Since your uterus is growing, it pressurises your bladder leading to frequent urge to urinate.
- Weight gain- since the morning sickness disappears, you might feel the urge to eat. You need to add an extra 300-500 calories to your daily diet. You will notice a substantial weight gain.
- Foetus movement- Around the 20th week you will start feeling the baby’s movement. However, some women might feel the movement in the sixth month. So, if you are not feeling it yet, don’t worry.
- Urinary tract infection- Urinary tract infections are very common during this time.
- Skin changes and hair growth- You will have thick hair growth. Your skin may have an added glow. You might also have pigmentation or brown patches on the skin.
When to consult a doctor during the second trimester?
You must see the doctor immediately if you have these following symptoms
- Severe abdominal pain or cramp
- Bleeding
- Severe dizziness or nausea
- Fluid leakage from the vagina
- Jaundice
- Excessive of less weight gain
- Persistent vomiting
- Chills or fevers
Some common pathological test during the second trimester
- Ultrasound scan- This confirms the menstrual dating. You will come to know about your expected delivery date. It also checks the baby’s anatomy, amniotic fluid and the condition of the placenta.
- Triple Screen Test- This is done to test for any abnormalities in the baby like Down Syndrome.
- Cell-free fetal DNA- This detects the chromosomal abnormalities in the foetus.
- Amniocentesis-This test is also done to detect the chromosomal and genetic abnormalities in the baby.
- Glucose tolerance test- Most women have gestational diabetes. The one-hour glucose test detects if you have gestational diabetes.
Apart from these tests, you might need to undergo some other tests for blood count, platelet count, sexually transmitted diseases, bacterial vaginosis etc.
At OvenYr we help you to have a healthy Pregnancy Journey. We offer you a plenty of resources to understand the different stages of pregnancy. You can also shop for you pregnancy needs from our website. Apart from this, you can book a Tele appointment to speak to the doctor. Visit OvernYr.com today for all your pregnancy and postnatal knowhows.