What is the Second Trimester?
There are many dos and don’ts for your second trimester, but what exactly is it? The second trimester is known as a turning point for mother and baby. Your second trimester begins on week fourteen and ends on week 26, thus starting the third trimester.
During this trimester, there are many things you can do to ensure you have the most healthy baby and pregnancy possible. This trimester is where pregnancy becomes a reality as you grow and expand, and feel your baby kick. It is also when the hard to manage symptoms you experienced during the first trimester become less severe.
Physical and Physiological Changes
There are a lot of physical and physiological changes that occur during the second trimester for you and your baby. For you, second-trimester symptoms will begin to develop as you expand and grow your child. During the second trimester, you can begin to experience symptoms and changes such as:
- Appetite increase
- Leg cramps
- Feeling the movement of the fetus
- Uterus/stomach expansion
- The skin on the stomach may itch as it expands
- Frequent urination
- Heartburn
- Backaches
- Vaginal Discharge
As with all symptoms, they can be more or less severe for certain women. Read on to learn the dos and don’ts of your second trimester
The Dos
There are many things that you do in your first trimester that should be habits into your second and thirds. This includes taking your prenatal vitamins and fueling your body with nutrient-enriched foods and high in protein. Although this is one of the safest and the best times of pregnancy, there are some things to make sure you are doing.
Exercise
If you haven’t started already, implementing a regular “pregnancy safe” exercise routine into your schedule is important. Regular exercise during the second trimester will help reduce stress, fatigue, excess weight gain, and improve sleep. Some pregnancy-safe exercise options include:
- Walking
- Yoga
- Swimming
- Lifting light weights
- Light jogging/ running
Moisturize
During the second trimester is when your baby bump is not so baby anymore. You will experience the most growth during these weeks. For many women, stretch marks and itchy skin occur which is why is important to moisturize.
Using moisturizers and oils can help reduce the signs of stretch marks and prevent the uncomfortable itch from your stretching skin. Check with your provider to make sure the products are safe for you and your baby.
Look into Birth Classes
Although it is recommended to take birth classes during your final trimester, these classes do fill up fast. Start your research now and find the best options for you. Talk to your provider to see if they offer any resources or classes, or can give you a referral.
In this day in age with social media, there is a huge group of moms and moms to be sharing tips and information about their pregnancy and motherhood. This is a perfect resource to take advantage of to join a community and learn about classes to take.
Some ideas for types of birth classes available to you are:
- Lamaze
- HypnoBirthing
- The Bradley Method
- Birthing From Within
Continue to Hydrate and Get Enough Sleep
Making sure you stay hydrated throughout your entire pregnancy is important. It helps prevent pregnancy conditions like headaches, dizziness, kidney stones, constipation, and premature labor. It is recommended to drink between 8-12 cups of water a day.
Additionally, continuing to get enough sleep is also something to stay on top of. During the first trimester is when many expecting mothers feel exhausted and only want to rest. However, during the second trimester, many women get their energy back. Although this may be apparent, getting 8-9 hours of sleep and setting aside time to nap and rest is helpful.
It is important to listen to your body and not push yourself, if you are tired, sleep. If you are hungry, eat and if you are thirst, drink.
Don’ts
As for the don’ts of the second trimester, they have not changed from the first. Read the Dos and Don’ts for Your First Trimester to learn about the important things to avoid during pregnancy. However, for a recap, you should steer clear from:
- Alcohol
- Smoking
- Eating uncooked seafood, eggs, or meat
- Unwashed fruits or vegetables
- Unpasteurized dairy
- Processed meat
- Weight loss diets/ supplements
- Hot tubs or saunas
- Cleaning your cat’s litter box
- Tattoo/ piercing
Learn More About The Dos and Don’ts for Your Second Trimester with Midwife360
If you have questions or are looking for midwifery services in the South Florida area contact Midwife360. Our practice is designed to empower and educate women and families about their healthcare options for routine care, family planning, and birthing.
Midwife360 offers services such as:
- Midwifery
- Pregnancy care
- Labor and delivery
- Doula services
- Postpartum care
- Family planning
- Women’s care
For more information contact the team at Midwife360 today.
