In the second trimester of pregnancy, changes can already be noticed! After 12 weeks of gestation, what women most look forward to is the appearance of a baby bump. However, for some pregnant women, this long-awaited appearance takes a bit longer!
Belly Size
It’s not unusual to hear women’s stories about not having that dream belly—the big one they thought they’d be showing off in the early weeks of pregnancy. The fact is that every body type and organism is unique, so there are no set standards when it comes to baby bumps.
What really matters is that the baby is well and gaining weight appropriately—this is enough for a healthy pregnancy. Belly size is not a sign of health! By the way, the second trimester starts at the beginning of the 13th week and lasts until the 27th week of pregnancy.
Finding Out the Baby’s Sex
For most pregnant women, the most anticipated moment of the second trimester is finding out the baby’s sex. For a few, who have already taken a fetal sexing test, it’s just a matter of confirmation. But for the vast majority, the 16th week is the long-awaited time for an ultrasound and finally the news: Girl or boy?
At this stage, you can also begin preparing for the baby’s arrival and start choosing possible names. It’s also time to get ready for the anatomy scan. Doctors usually recommend having it between the 20th and 24th weeks of pregnancy.
Baby’s First Movements
The second trimester of pregnancy holds many surprises, as the baby’s first movements start to be felt very gently. It can even feel like little creatures crawling inside your belly. They start out very gently, and gradually get stronger as time goes by1.
Some pregnant women don’t notice these movements clearly and can become worried. It’s usually harder to feel these first little signs during your first pregnancy, but from the 18th week the sensations become much more noticeable. Around the 20th week, you can almost certainly feel the baby moving.
Explanatory Video
Now, with a slightly larger belly, you may also start to feel some back pain. This is normal! In fact, pain is a word that defines pregnancy. From the start, you may feel pain in different locations and intensities. Cramps, lower belly pain, pulling sensations, muscle cramps, back pain, or even in other parts of the body like the neck, legs, and arms. All of this is caused by the hormones your body produces during pregnancy to accommodate the new being forming inside you.
Urination Frequency
In addition, urinary frequency can increase a lot2. With the weight the uterus and the baby place on your bladder, you may feel as if your bladder is always full. This makes trips to the bathroom much more frequent, both day and night! Sleeping starts to feel like a privilege.
Sleep
Speaking of sleep, some pregnant women may have insomnia with no apparent reason. Pregnancy can cause this phenomenon, and it can also cause the opposite. More often than not, you’ll experience extreme drowsiness3.
It’s common for women to report they start falling asleep even while sitting during the day. Too much or too little sleep can interfere with your routine—I know this all too well. I’ve experienced both extremes.
If you haven’t chosen your prenatal doctor yet, it’s best to take care of this detail now, during the second trimester! Some women have difficulty finding a good professional, especially when using a health insurance plan.
Most obstetricians do not perform deliveries covered by health plans, instead charging privately for the procedure. Sometimes, the fee can be as high as R$12,000! Do you have that kind of money? Great! But for those who can’t afford it, it’s important to have a backup plan. You can either have your baby with the on-call doctor or find a doctor within your health plan who delivers babies.
Most health insurance plans have outpatient clinics for pregnant women, and those doctors do deliver babies. Check with your health plan for more details.
When to Be Concerned?
Frequent trips to the bathroom are normal for pregnant women, but if the urge comes on without any urine, that’s a warning sign. A urine test can help, as sometimes there is a urinary tract infection that needs treatment.
Leaking Fluid
You should also pay attention to the amount of fluid in your underwear. Moisture is normal, but it shouldn’t be excessive. If you suspect your water broke, contact your doctor immediately or go to the maternity hospital for an exam, and insist on an ultrasound to check for possible low fluid levels.
Glucose Tolerance Test
At this stage, your doctor should also order glucose tests. The glucose tolerance test is usually requested! It will check for any possible gestational diabetes, and in the second trimester, it’s common to see some changes.
Even without signs of accelerated fetal growth (LGA large for gestational age), it’s necessary to investigate. The same goes for low baby weight (SGA small for gestational age). Blood and nutrient flow from the placenta to the baby should be monitored. The test that detects these changes is the Doppler ultrasound. If there’s any alteration, your doctor will tell you what to do and keep you alert.
Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is a key issue during the second trimester of pregnancy. For women with hypertension, there can be spikes, so the ideal medication must be prescribed by your doctor.
It’s also good to remember that maternal weight gain isn’t directly related to the baby’s weight. Controlling your diet and eating healthily is the best choice. But stepping away from the diet once in a while won’t hurt anyone!
Read also: Amniotic Fluid – Is Having Too Little or Too Much a Problem?
