What to Expect During Your Second Trimester: Weeks 14-26

Congratulations! If you’re reading this, it likely means that you’ve made it past the first trimester of pregnancy. For many women this stage can feel like such a relief. As symptoms start to subside and you gain energy back, this is a great time to form good habits in pregnancy that will help improve your third trimester. We’ll walk through changes in your baby’s body and yours, nutrition and exercise, and what to expect of prenatal care. The presented information comes from the book Your Pregnancy and Childbirth written by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Physical Changes:

Baby’s Body

At the beginning of this trimester, your baby is about the size of a lime but in just 12 short weeks, will rapidly grow to the size of a cauliflower! With this fast bodily growth comes more movement from your baby, which you may start to feel around 18 weeks. The umbilical cord is working with the placenta around the clock to supply your baby with oxygen and nutrients, which your baby’s fully formed organs will use to gain the appropriate nutrients for growth.

For more information on the second trimester, you can watch this video.

Your Body

While you may enjoy the subsiding first trimester symptoms, you may also notice the onset of new discomforts in the second trimester, such as:

• Round Ligament Pain– as your uterus continues to grow, the ligaments surrounding your abdomen are being stretched to support your growing belly.
• Mouth Sores or Gingivitis
• Spider Veins
• Edema– extra fluid in the body as well as a hormone called relaxin combines to relax your joints causing your feet to swell and feel bigger.
• Nasal Congestion and Nosebleeds
• Dizziness
• Heartburn
• Hot flashes
• Acne

Nutrition and Exercise:

Weight Gain

As your weight gain continues to increase, so may your appetite. It is advised to eat smaller and more frequent meals during this trimester to avoid excessive weight gain. As a guide, your body only needs about an extra 300 calories per day to keep up with you and baby (or about the size of an extra snack per day). Typical weight gain is about 10-15 pounds at this point in pregnancy and no more than 20 pounds. Here is a good calculator as a guide for healthy weight gain: Pregnancy Weight Gain Calculator.

Diet

Some important dietary considerations for this trimester include:

Some important dietary considerations for this trimester include:

• Pica– craving or chewing substances that have no nutritional value. While food cravings during pregnancy are normal, consult your doctor if you begin to crave things that aren’t food, such as ice, clay, soil, or paper.

Now is a good time to focus on low-glycemic foods- foods which release sugar into your body at a slower rate, keeping you full and energized for longer periods. Try to cut down on high-glycemic foods, which may provide quick bursts of energy, but tend to be less nutritious and leave you feeling less energized as time goes on. See the chart below for healthy low-glycemic foods:

• Omega-3 is also important at this stage of pregnancy. Fish is a great source of this but keep in mind that you want to avoid fish high in mercury. Here are some healthy and safe fish to try:
  • Shrimp
  • Salmon
  • Tilapia
  • Canned Tuna

Exercise

In addition to eating well, it’s important to work on strengthening your back. Whether that’s through walking or specific exercises, your back will be working more and more as the weight of your tummy grows.

For any back pain, you can try exercises like this: Prenatal Workouts.

You may also focus on exercises that help you to regulate your breathing, such as:

• Yoga- which can strengthen and stretch your muscles
• Pilates- which can help you to practice focused breathing, a helpful skill as your start prepping for labor and delivery
• Tai Chi- which can reduce your stress

Prenatal Care:

Routine Check-Up

A routine checkup during your second trimester will include monitoring:

• Weight gain
• Blood pressure
• Fetal heart rate
• Fundal height- the distance from your pubic bone to the top of your uterus. 
• Baby’s Movements- From 17-20 weeks, your baby establishes regular sleep and wake patterns. In general, you are able to feel 10 kicks in about 2 hours. If you don’t feel your baby kicking this much, it’s always advised to call and talk to your medical provider.

Anatomy Scan

From about 18-24 weeks, your baby will have a detailed ultrasound to measure and examine your baby’s: 

• Anatomy (both the structures and proper functions)
• Sex (based on baby’s reproductive structures)
• Amniotic fluid
• Heart activity

Special Concerns:

Along with your routine check-ups during pregnancy, your healthcare provider may also address:

Infections (i.e. UTI, bacterial vaginosis, yeast infection). Common symptoms of infection include:

• Pain when urinating
• Urgency to urinate
• Cloudy urine
• Fever
• Strong smelling urine
• Stronger back pain

Consult your doctor if you suspect you have an infection.

Pre-eclampsia

Elevated blood pressure is a special concern at this point and will be monitored closely by your medical provider. If high blood pressure is detected, your medical provider may suggest an at-home blood pressure cuff or medication if your readings don’t improve.

Pre-term Labor

Signs that you may be going into labor too early include:

• Changes in vaginal discharge (increased discharge, which can be watery or bloody)
• Pelvic pressure
• Cramping
• Backaches
• Contractions
• Breaking of your water

*For any questions regarding these special considerations, please talk to your healthcare provider.