What to Expect During the Second Trimester
3 Things to Expect in Your Second Trimester
The second trimester is the easiest for many women because morning sickness and food aversions have generally subsided. It is also considered special because there are many milestones during this time. Read on if you’d like to learn more about the second trimester:
How Long Does the Second Trimester Last?
The second trimester lasts from week 13 to 28, i.e., months four, five, and six. Between the 18th and 22nd week, you will be scheduled for an ultrasound to ensure the pregnancy is progressing well. You can also learn the sex of your baby or know if you’re likely to have twins during the ultrasound.
How Does the Baby Develop During this Time?
Your baby will begin to make urine and even release it in the amniotic fluid during this time. Bones will harden and take shape, and the skin will start to thicken. Over the next few weeks, the baby’s neck will shape, and red blood cells will be formed. The baby grows rapidly from week 15 onwards when bones become visible, and hair patterns are formed.
Around the 16th week, the baby’s eyes begin to move slowly, and limb movements become visible. Toenails start to develop during the 17th week, and the baby becomes more active. Around this time, you’ll first notice your baby move. Babies begin to hear around them during the 18th week, and their digestive system starts working. During the 19th week, a thin coating called vernix caseosa is formed around the baby to protect it from the amniotic fluid.
Week 20 is considered the halfway point and the time when growth starts slowing. The baby begins to suck their thumb in the following weeks and is covered with fine hair called lanugo. Hair is visible during the 22nd week, while footprints and fingerprints are formed during the 23rd week. During week 24, the baby’s skin feels wrinkled and is slightly pink because of blood in the capillaries. Around the 25th week, your baby can respond to familiar voices, and in week 26 baby’s lungs develop. The 27th week is the last week of this trimester, and it is around this time that your baby gains fat.
What Are the Changes that Occur in the Mother’s Body?
You will notice that your appetite increases during this trimester. Since the baby grows rapidly during this time, the bump will show. If you’ve been planning on maternity dress shopping, now is the time!
You’ll likely feel the urge to urinate more frequently because the growing uterus presses on the stomach and push through the pelvic area. The skin around the belly may also feel itchy as the skin stretches around this area. Moisturizers can help manage this problem. You may also experience pain around the sides of the body and the lower stomach as the uterus stretches.
Some women experience vaginal discharge during this time. If the discharge is colored or appears bloodied, it could be a sign of some complication. Make sure to contact your healthcare provider if this happens. Over the last few weeks of the second trimester, you may experience heartburn, indigestion, and constipation.
Understanding what happens in the second trimester can help you feel more prepared for the changes for you and your baby.
