Table of Contents
Second Trimester of Pregnancy:
After a riot of hormonal changes and vomiting and nausea that you go throw in First Trimester, your second trimester of pregnancy may be a fairly relaxed phase. In your second trimester your hormones will stop taking a toll on your mood swings as well. Lets look at all the essential pregnancy tips to follow in your second trimester of pregnancy.
Changes In the Mother’s Body:
1. Leg Aches:
Due to increasing body weight, your feet and legs may begin to ache. This is due to pressure exerted by the growing child in your uterus and even your weight correspondingly. Your feet may also swell and begin to feel soreness.
2. Increased Weight:
It is natural for your weight to increase. Your doctor will monitor your weight gain at all visits. If you are not putting on some weight, your doctor or midwife may ask you to make a few changes in your diet.
3. Increased Breast Size:
Your breasts are now preparing to nurse and feed your child. They will feel more tender and heavy. The areas around your nipples will become darker and you may be able to see nerves on your breasts. All of these changes are natural and are a progressive development towards being ready to feed post delivery.
4. Bleeding in the gums and nose:
Your gums will feel very tender. While brushing you may feel pain in your teeth. They may also swell and begin to bleed. Your nostrils may also start bleeding. Do not worry, all of these are normal. Hold your head high up if you experience bleeding from your nostrils. Brush lightly on your teeth. Use a softer brush if needed. Use mouthwash if you feel your teeth and mouth are not as clean.
5. Back aches:
This again is due to the increasing weight and pressure of your child. The child exerts pressure on your back causing back aches and discomforts. You may find it difficult to sleep. Do not take any pain killers to relieve the pain. Use hot water bag and massage lightly.
6. Heartburn:
Heartburn is actually acid reflux. This happens when the child grows and begins to exert pressure on your stomach. The acid is thus pushed up your esophagus. This leads to a burning sensation in your chest area. You may also feel some pain in your chest. This problem will continue to increase in your last semester also. Avoid spicy and fried food to minimize the effect of heartburn. Your doctor may prescribe antacids to help you deal with heartburn.
7. Stretch Marks:
As your child begins to grow in size, your skin stretches to give space to your child. The skin may feel less dehydrated and also start to itch. Fine white lines develop on your stomach area. These marks are stretch marks. You must apply oil to keep your skin of your stomach area hydrated and lubricated to avoid these marks. Start as early as possible. Also, do not scratch these marks no matter how much they itch. Scratching that area will make your marks worse.
8. Linea Nigra:
A dark vertical line may develop on your stomach. This line is called linea nigra. It becomes darker as your stomach grows in size. This line indicates the growth of your child in your stomach.
9. Dry Skin:
The skin of your face becomes dehydrated. Your body needs more water and begins to extract it from all places possible. This leads to dried facial skin. You may notice pigmentation on your skin as well. Your face may develop patches of red and brown colour. You can use various home remedies to treat dry skin.
While this was all about the changes that occur in the body of the mother, we next move ahead to the growth and developments in the second trimester that take place in the child inside the mother’s womb.
The second trimester consists of your fourth month to the sixth month of pregnancy which is around 13th week to 27th week. The following changes take place during this period.
Fourth Month of Pregnancy:
- In the fourth month of pregnancy, your child is fast developing. His hands and legs are in action. The muscles and bones become denser.
- You may be able to listen to your baby’s heartbeats through doppler. You can marvel at how this tiny life is growing inside you and so rapidly! The baby’s length is about 6 inches by the end of the fourth month.
- The nervous system also evolves during this month.
- It has also learnt to make movements inside your womb. You nay begin to feel the light kicks by the beginning of the fifth month.
Fifth Month of Pregnancy:
- In the fifth month of pregnancy, the movements of your child become more prominent. You can feel the light kicks now. If your child is healthy and active, you will feel the kicks roughly between 17th-20th week.
- Your child’s hair is beginning to grow.Soft and fine hair which covers the body of your child is also beginning to grow.This hair is known as lanugo.
- A cheesy white substance known as vernex caseosa covers the body of your child to protect its soft skin from direct exposure to the amniotic fluid in the amniotic sac. This is shed before birth.
- Your baby is about 10 inches long and weighs roughly around half a pound to one pound towards the end of fifth month.
Sixth Month of Pregnancy:
- The skin of your baby is reddish in colour and is also translucent. The veins are visible. The baby’s skin is wrinkled.
- The baby starts to make increased movements during this month. You may also feel light jerks when your baby has hiccups. By the end of this month the child is around 12 inches in size and weighs roughly around two pounds.
- Your doctor may suggest you to take a colour doppler sonography in which the doctor checks the baby developments in different parts of the body of the child. This test is optional.
- The fun of this test is you get to see coloured image of your child from different angles.
Diet for the Second Trimester:
The good thing about this phase is the start of the phase marks the end of all food aversions and nausea and vomiting. Here’s all that you may eat during this phase.
1 Balanced Diet:
You need to consume a balanced diet comprising of all nutrients like calcium, vitamins, proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Eat fibrous food to avoid constipation. Note down a list of food items containing all of these.
2. Dairy Products:
Milk and milk products are a rich source of proteins and you must thus consume these. Eat lots of yogurt. Do not eat refrigerated yogurt to avoid cough and cold.
3. Fruits:
Fruits like avocado, strawberries, cherries, apples, etc. Relish all kinds of seasonal fruits and have the best of all of them. Ask your doctor before you consume pineapple and papaya.
4. Vegetables:
You may consume all of the vegetables. Eat green leafy vegetables for iron.
5. Dried Fruits:
Dried fruits like almond and apricots are a rich source of fiber. Fiber is essential to keep your digestion healthy. Eat a few cashew nuts. You may also eat raisins and dates.
6. Lean Meat:
Eat lean meat items. You may eat lots of chicken and also meat of lamb and goat. Eat organs like liver and brain for enhanced nutritional content.
Satisfy all your cravings in this phase. You can eat most things you like without any guilt. Just strike a balance between eating what you crave and walking everyday. Take a light walk early in the morning to provide your body with fresh air. This time is your’s to enjoy and you must make the most of it.
Things to remember:
Do not forget to take your medications on time. Pay proper and timely visits to your midwife or healthcare provider. Walk regularly if your midwife or gynecologist suggests you to do. Take lots of rest and sleep well. You may not get to enjoy sound sleep after the birth of your little one.
