Second Trimester Of Pregnancy,Week By Week

The second trimester of pregnancy is a busy time for both you and your baby. Your baby will be growing very rapidly over the next several weeks, and you’ll feel much more energetic than normal. This burst of energy typically leads to what is called nesting.

Nesting is basically the process of getting ready for your baby. Some women take it further than others – it’s really just a matter of hormone levels, as well as your natural tendencies to clean, organize and plan. This is generally the time that most mothers set up their nursery, begin buying items for the baby and clean their house to a surgical cleanliness in preparation for the upcoming delivery.

Many women feel like super heroes during this time. After three months of sickness and fatigue, they finally have energy and feel like themselves again. It’s important that you remain aware of your limitations during this time. When setting up the nursery or going on a cleaning binge, make sure you don’t overdo it. Don’t do any heavy lifting and try to avoid climbing on things to clean in high-reaching areas. You don’t want to inadvertently injure yourself or your baby.

The second trimester is also the time that your cravings will kick into high gear. While it’s great to indulge your cravings to a certain extent, keep in mind that you need to maintain a healthy diet for you and your baby. Also, remember that baby weight is easier to lose if you eat healthier during your pregnancy, rather than trying to diet after having the baby.

You should also be aware of nausea, dizziness or shakiness after eating, especially if you’re craving a lot of sugar. Gestational diabetes is common in pregnancy, and usually begins presenting itself and showing symptoms during the second trimester. It’s common practice for a glucose test to be administered some time during your second trimester of pregnancy, but if you have symptoms of high blood sugar, you should definitely discuss them with your doctor. Unchecked, gestational diabetes can cause health problems for you, and cause your baby to be overly large, which causes complications during delivery.

Your baby in the second trimester is growing at a rapid rate. As the baby grows in size, you’ll show your baby bump more and more. People will notice that you’re pregnant and share in your joy, but it also means you’ll probably have to buy maternity clothes. And, as the baby begins to grow hair,

you may experience some heartburn, especially after eating spicy foods.

While keeping active and getting exercise is important, be aware of the swelling that may occur in your legs and feet. If you start noticing your feet starting to swell, sit down and rest with your feet propped up. The position you sleep in can also affect your comfort during the day as well, by increasing pressure on your back and causing further swelling. Try to sleep on your side, and if you have a tendency to roll onto your back or stomach, prop yourself with pillows so you can get a better night’s sleep.

Second Trimester of Pregnancy – Week by Week

There are many wonderful things happening during your second trimester. The second trimester, which is considered to last from the fourteenth to twenty-sixth week, is one of excitement and rapid growth for you and your baby. Your body will change rapidly as your baby grows, and some changes may be scary if you aren’t aware of their normal course. Understanding the week by week growth of your baby and the changes you can expect is helpful in keeping you worry-free and healthy.

Week fourteen is one of great excitement for all in the family as you begin to feel the baby move. You may have felt some flutters before now, but the baby is now large enough that others will be able to feel it too. This is a good time to explain to younger children that they’ll soon have a brother or sister coming. It’s easier for them to grasp when they can feel something inside mommy’s tummy. As you enter the second trimester, constipation and heartburn can be a bit of an issue, so make sure your diet is full of fiber and acid free foods.

In week fifteen, your baby will begin to grow hair that it will keep, as well as a fine layer of hair all of its body that will be shed later. According to old wives tales, this is what causes heartburn. The truth is that this event coincides with the time that heartburn usually sets in or worsens, so be careful with spicy foods.

This is also the time that your doctor will be able to measure the fundus, also known as fundal height, which is the height between your uterus and pelvic bone. This tells the doctor if your baby is growing at a reasonable pace. You’ll probably have to start getting maternity clothes at this time as well, if you haven’t done so already.

Weeks sixteen through twenty are a time of rapid growth for your baby. You’ll gain weight rapidly as your baby grows, and you’ll feel movement almost constantly. Have some fun with your partner by placing an object on your tummy and watch as it “dances” from your baby’s movement!

As your uterus stretches to make room for the baby, you may experience some cramping and tightness in the abdomen. This is perfectly normal. However, if cramping with spotting or cramping that’s severe enough to restrict movement occurs, you need to contact your doctor immediately.

Weeks twenty one through twenty six are a time when the baby slows down on development. By the end of this time, the baby’s vital systems, bones, organs and spinal cord have all developed. It’s during this time that your doctor will likely test for gestational diabetes through a glucose test. Finally, by the end of the twenty-sixth week, you’ll begin to slow down and your energy will decrease as your body gives more of its nutrients to the baby to facilitate the rapid growth that will soon occur in the third trimester.