In this Article

• Introduction
• What is the first trimester (week 1-week 12)?
• What is the second trimester (week 13-week 28)?
• What is the third trimester (week 29-week 40)?
• How will my baby develop week by week?
• What are the changes that happen to a woman's body during her 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy?
• Body aches
• Breast changes
• Constipation
• Dizziness
• Fatigue, sleep problems
• Heartburn and indigestion
• Hemorrhoids
• Itching
• Leg cramps
• Morning sickness
• Nasal problems
• Numb or tingling hands
• Stretch marks, skin changes
• Swelling
• Urinary frequency and leaking
• Varicose veins
• Stages of Pregnancy - Slideshow
• Patient Discussions: Pregnancy - Describe Your Experience
• Pregnancy Glossary
• Pregnancy Index

What is the second trimester (week 13-week 28)?

Most women find the second trimester of pregnancy easier than the first. But it is just as important to stay informed about your pregnancy during these months.

You might notice that symptoms like nausea and fatigue are going away. But other new, more noticeable changes to your body are now happening. Your abdomen will expand as the baby continues to grow. And before this trimester is over, you will feel your baby beginning to move!

As your body changes to make room for your growing baby, you may have:

• Body aches, such as back, abdomen, groin, or thigh pain
  
  
• Stretch marks on your abdomen, breasts, thighs, or buttocks
  
  
• Darkening of the skin around your nipples
  
  
• A line on the skin running from belly button to pubic hairline
  
  
• Patches of darker skin, usually over the cheeks, forehead, nose, or upper lip. Patches often match on both sides of the face. This is sometimes called the mask of pregnancy.
  
  
• Numb or tingling hands, called carpal tunnel syndrome
  
  
• 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.)
  
  
• Swelling of the ankles, fingers, and face. (If you notice any sudden or extreme swelling or if you gain a lot of weight really quickly, call your doctor right away. This could be a sign of preeclampsia.)

Pregnancy - Describe Your Experience

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