Energy returns
Your second trimester will bring many more changes in your body and the way you're feeling. Others may begin to notice your pregnancy, and if you had any morning sickness, it will most likely have passed by this point. Thanks to less queasiness and some added attention, you may start to feel more energetic and excited about being pregnant.
Around the fourth or fifth month, you'll probably start to need maternity clothes to fit your growing belly, and — most importantly — you'll feel your baby move for the first time. There's nothing quite like this feeling, so enjoy it if you can. There's a good chance those gentle flutters you feel at first will seem more like kicks from an Olympic soccer team by the end of your pregnancy.
New developments
Some of the other big changes you'll notice during your second trimester include:1
- Skin — You may notice changes in your skin, including darker blotches on your face, called chloasma. You may also develop a dark line down the middle of your abdomen, called linea negra. Both are temporary and normal signs of pregnancy, caused by your changing hormones. The rapid growth in your abdomen and breasts also causes stretching in your skin. This can lead to reddish brown streaks called stretch marks, and it can also cause itching. Applying lotion to your skin can help maintain its moisture and minimize the itching.
- Uterus — During this phase, your uterus expands exponentially, crowding your stomach and other organs. This can cause heartburn, which can be very uncomfortable. It may help to eat slowly, eat smaller portions, and decrease the amount of liquid you drink during your meal.
- Legs — You may develop varicose veins, because the weight of your uterus reduces circulation in your lower body. Additionally, you may experience muscle cramps, which are particularly common at night while you're sleeping. Flexing your foot can help relieve the cramp, but you should also make sure you're getting adequate nutrition. Cramps can be worsened by not having the right amount of calcium in your diet.1
Other physical symptoms during your second trimester include:
- Decrease or end to nausea
- Constipation
- Faintness or dizziness
- Occasional nosebleeds and nasal congestion
- Bleeding gums
- Increased appetite
- Swelling of ankles and feet
- Hemorrhoids
- Increased vaginal discharge
- Aches in your lower abdomen
- Increased heart rate
- Backache
How baby is growing2
During the second trimester, the placenta is fully formed. Your baby is close to 6 inches long, and has eyebrows, eyelashes, and well-developed limbs. Your baby's hearing is developing, and you may even notice that he or she jumps at the sound of loud noises.
A fat layer forms underneath your baby's skin, and his or her lungs practice breathing amniotic fluid.
You may be able to find out the sex of your baby during an ultrasound in the second trimester. What better way to help you narrow down your list of baby names and choose a color for your nursery!
Learn more about what to expect in your third trimester.
Important Safety Information
WARNING: Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. KEEP THIS PRODUCT OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.
Warnings
Ingestion of more than 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids per day has been shown to have potential antithrombotic effects, including an increased bleeding time and INR. Administration of omega-3 fatty acids should be avoided in patients on anticoagulants and in those known to have an inherited or acquired bleeding diathesis.
Folic acid alone is improper therapy in the treatment of pernicious anemia and other megaloblastic anemias where vitamin B12 is deficient.
Precautions
Folic acid in doses above 0.1 mg daily may obscure pernicious anemia in that hematologic remission can occur while neurological manifestations progress.
This material is intended to provide basic information. Patients should discuss all medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment with their healthcare provider.
Please see full Prescribing Information
- Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary - Ed. 20, Editor Donald Venes. F.A. Davis Company 2005
- Fetal development: What happens during the second trimester? [Internet]. Mayo Clinic; 2007. Available from: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fetal-development/PR00113
Expecting? Estimate your due date with this online pregnancy wheel.
Click here for an interactive guide to a baby's growth and development during a typical pregnancy.
More than 500,000 babies are born too soon each year. Some are so small they struggle to survive. This year, Mission Pharmacal is joining forces with the March of Dimes* as a National Corporate Sponsor to help raise awareness about the growing crisis of premature birth. To learn more and help us fight prematurity, click on the links below. For more than 60 years, Mission Pharmacal has been committed to providing products for healthy women and healthy babies.
