2nd Trimester - What to Expect

Posted on April 16th, 2007.

Changes in Your Body

Most moms to be find the second trimester of pregnancy is easier than the first.

You might notice that you feel relief from some problems and symptoms such as nausea and fatigue. But other new, and more obvious changes to your body are now happening. Your belly will start to expand as you gain weight and the baby continues to grow. Before the second trimester is over, you will get feel your baby move for the first time.

The aches and pains you are now familiar with will likely continue during the second trimester.

During the second trimester, you may notice some of the following:

Pain in the abdomen, groin, and thighs

Backaches

Shortness of breath

Stretch Marks

Changes in your skin

Tingling in hands and fingers

Itching on the abdomen, palms, and soles of the feet — Call your doctor if you have nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice or fatigue combined with itching. These can be signs of a serious liver problem called cholestasis of pregnancy.

Weight Gain

Different women are different and not everyone will gain weight at the same rate. It is average to gain about one pound per week, or about three to four pounds each month during this trimester.

Fetal Development

By the end of the second trimester your baby will weigh about 1 3/4 pounds and be about 13 inches long. With this growth comes the development of fingers, toes, eyelashes, and eyebrows. Around the fifth month, you might feel your baby move! By the end of this trimester, all of your baby’s essential organs like the heart, lungs, and kidneys are formed.

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