Pregnancy (cont.)
The 2nd Trimester Stage of Pregnancy
Changes in Your Body
Most women find the second trimester
of pregnancy to be easier than the first. But it is 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 you
gain weight and the baby continues to grow. And before this trimester is over,
you will feel your baby beginning to move!
Many of the aches and pains you had in
the first trimester may continue.
Some of the following aches and pains may make their first appearance during
the second trimester:
- Pain in the abdomen, groin, and thighs
- Backaches
- Shortness of breath
- Stretch marks
- Skin changes
- 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
Everyone gains weight at different rates. On average, it is normal to gain about
one pound per week, or about three to four pounds per month during this
trimester.
Changes in Your Baby
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.
Next: 2nd Trimester Tests and Procedures »
- Birth Control Pills (Oral Contraceptives) - Read about the different types of birth control pills (oral contraceptives) such as monophasic, biphasic, and triphasic. Find out which birth control pill may be the best for you.
- Ultrasound - Learn an ultrasound procedure, and conditions and diseases it assists in diagnosing and screening like tumors, cysts, heart conditions and more.
- Yeast Infection - Learn about vaginal yeast infection symptoms like vaginal burning, itching, soreness discharge, and pain during sex and urination. Treatment information is included in the information.
Latest Medical News
Specialty RSS
Slideshows