The Second Trimester of Pregnancy
When you enter your second trimester, you are around 13 weeks pregnant. This middle trimester will last from week 13 to the end of week 26. During your second trimester of pregnancy, you’ll start looking and feeling more pregnant. The second trimester of pregnancy often brings a renewed sense of well-being. The worst of the nausea has usually passed.
Significance of Second Trimester-
The second trimester marks a turning point for the mother and fetus. You will usually begin to feel better and start showing the pregnancy more. Your fetus has now developed all its organs and systems and will now begin growing in length and weight.
Fetal development during the Second Trimester includes the following-
The fetus kicks, moves and can turn from side to side. The eyes have been gradually moving to the front of the face, and the ears have moved from the neck to the sides of the head. The fetus can hear your voice. Hair is growing on the head of the fetus. Fat begins to accumulate in the fetus. Eyelids are beginning to open, and the eyebrows and eyelashes are visible.
Danger signs of Second Trimester-
- Vaginal pressure.
- Severe low back pain.
- Frequent urination.
- Diarrhea.
- Increased vaginal discharge.
- Tightness in the lower abdomen.
Talk with your Health care provider if you have any of the signs of premature labor: Regular tightening or pain in your lower abdomen or back that occurs more than four times in an hour, any bleeding in your second trimester of pregnancy or any fluid leakage.
Take care of your self-
- Eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, low-fat forms of protein, and fiber.
- Drink lots of water.
- Eat enough calories (about 300 calories more than normal).
- Keep your teeth and gums healthy.
- During the second trimester, prenatal care includes routine lab tests and measurements of your baby’s growth. You might consider prenatal testing, too. The goal of prenatal care is to ensure that you and your baby remain healthy during your entire pregnancy.
Exercise during Second Trimester-
- Overall, exercise is great for those in their second trimester. “Exercise can reduce backache, constipation, help you sleep better, improve your energy levels, increase strength, and improve muscle tone,” says Hernandez. “It will help stabilize weight gain as well. 30 minutes a day of moderate exercise is recommended.
2. Exercises that are safe for your second trimester:
- Hip flexor and quadriceps flexes.
- Incline pull-ups.
- Mermaid stretches.
- Side-lying leg lifts.
- Prenatal yoga.
- Brisk walking with weights.
- Swimming and water aerobics.
3. Any exercise that may cause even mild abdominal trauma, including activities that include jarring motions or rapid changes in direction should be avoided. Activities that require extensive jumping, hopping, skipping, or bouncing, deep knee bends, full sit-ups, double leg raises, straight-leg toe touches, bouncing while stretching should also be avoided.
4. At your prenatal care checkup, ask your health care provider whether exercise during pregnancy is safe for you.