Whether you are a woman expecting a child, or hoping to expect a child in the near future, I’m sure you’re familiar with the basic ins and outs of pregnancy. One of the most fundamental aspects of pregnancy is that you will be going through three trimesters during your 40 weeks of pregnancy.
Though you know this already, you may not know exactly how your body will change throughout all three trimesters. Here is your guide to what you will be experiencing during the second trimester of your pregnancy.
The Second Trimester
The second trimester is during weeks 13-28 of your 40-week pregnancy, where your baby continues to develop and your body continues to change. After the first trimester, you have already adapted to a different kind of lifestyle that is best suited for the growth of your baby.
You’ll be happy to hear, now that you've entered the later stages of your pregnancy, you will experience some relief from the early pregnancy symptoms. The second trimester of your pregnancy is actually said to be the most comfortable for most pregnant women, but it’s still important to know what to expect in order to make informed decisions.
As your baby is growing bigger and stronger, your uterus will expand to make more space. This will lead you to notice a bigger difference in your belly as your abdomen will continue to appear bigger and bigger.
Your Body
Most of the early symptoms are less persistent during your second trimester, so you’ll be glad to see the nausea and fatigue lessen. However, you will still continue to experience some pregnancy symptoms like heartburn and constipation. This won’t be new as you may have already become used to it during your first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
You will also be welcomed with some new symptoms and body changes that you have not experienced yet as your belly continues to grow and your hormone levels rise, such as the following:
- Congestion
- Swelling ankles and feet
- Leg cramps
- Varicose veins
- Increased appetite
- Body discomforts and aches
- Growing belly and breasts
- Weight gain
- Stretch marks
- Vaginal discharge
- Skin changes
Baby Development
The baby’s organs become fully developed during your second trimester, and your baby will also start using them! Your baby will be able to swallow, hiccup, yawn and will also start to hear, which means they’ll listen to all the these you whisper to your little boy or girl.
Speaking of gender, you’ll be able to visit your doctor to find out the gender of your baby! This is extremely exciting news and if you decide to find out your baby’s sex, you can also start planning your very own gender reveal party!
During the second trimester, the fetus will now start to actually look like a baby! Tiny hairs will start to sprout to form eyelashes and eyebrows. The baby’s skin will start to be covered in lanugo, which is like a coat of fur in order to keep your baby warm, until they are able to keep themselves warm by building up fat. In addition to this, the baby will also be covered in a coating of greasy-like oil called vernix caseosa in order to provide protection to the skin. Both of these will be gone by birth.
Your baby’s facial features will also start to move around and move into proper position. Your baby will be able to slowly move their eyes, and begin to hear sounds as well. You will also start to feel movements going on as your baby moves around from the sounds they hear and your own movements as well.
Conclusion
You’re going to witness a lot of fast changes happening during the second trimester of your pregnancy. Looking on the bright side, you’ll enter a more comfortable stage of your pregnancy and you’ll be able to feel closer to your baby as they continue to grow and develop!