In this blog we are going to discuss about the second trimester of Pregnancy, changes in the body of the mother and baby, different tests required during the 2nd trimester and how to plan and what to do during the 2nd...
Trimesters are the phases into which the gestation period is divided, the changes that happen to your baby fall into 3 broad categories known as the Ist, 2nd and 3rd trimesters.
What is the 2nd Trimester of Pregnancy?
It lasts from week 13 to week 27 and represents the middle phase of pregnancy many symptoms are observed during the first trimester(10 weeks) like Morning sickness, and fatigue begin to go away at this point, and various other types of anxiety that you experienced during the Ist trimester starts fading at this point and you might begin to settle and adapted in your pregnancy and enjoy it more however some people may have a different experience like they never have negative symptoms like Nausea, Vomiting while other might continue to feel sick even during the second Trimester.
What Are the Changes in My Body During the 2nd Trimester?
Your body undergoes various changes during the second trimester, your fetus grows well during this time and your uterus continues to stretch and expand throughout pregnancy some stretch marks are observed during this phase of pregnancy and your body weight increases which results in the enlargement of your belly.
You might have a few new symptoms of pregnancy during 2nd trimester
- Stretch marks.
- Swelling in your hands, feet and ankles.
- Increased appetite.
Symptoms during the first trimester include morning sickness may fade away at this point and you become more adapted and feel good that is why many people consider it the best phase of pregnancy.
What Are the Changes That My Baby Develops During the Second Trimester of Pregnancy?
Your baby will develop many changes during the second trimester as your fetus grows it appears to look more like a child with its face properly aligned its fingers and toes become well defined and the sex of the fetus can be determined using ultrasound around 19-20 weeks
The baby starts to move and it feels like a butterfly in your stomach the baby can also respond to external stimuli if you talk to your belly you might feel some movement.
What Are the Different Tests That Are Required During the Second Trimester of Pregnancy?
There are many tests that your healthcare provider will suggest to you throughout pregnancy but you like ultrasound to know the sex of the foetus but it is mainly used to observe the baby's status inside the womb like movement etc.
Your health provider may test for you the condition called Erythroblastosis fetalis a condition in which the maternal antibodies start destroying the RBC of the fetus to prevent this condition an injection of Rh immune globin called(RHOGAM) is given to the mother during 27 weeks of pregnancy if your foetus has Rh+(positive) blood, it is given if you are expecting 2nd baby
There are several other tests that your health provider may suggest you these are
- An Oral Glucose Screening Test- Done at the end of the second trimester between 23 -28 weeks this is used to check if you develop Gestational diabetes.
- Maternal Serum Screen -this test is used to check the three different types of hormone-like free beta HCG,alpha-fetoprotein and blood oestriol.
- Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening (NIPT)- It is a blood test that is used to check for any kind of genetic disorders in your baby during the 2nd trimester.
Choose the best Diagnostic centre near you for different tests as it will help you to get information about your foetus Health.
How to Plan During the Second Trimester?
There are many things that you can plan during 2nd trimester to prepare for your new family member there are many points that you should be aware of during your pregnancy like
- You may learn about the different ways a child might be born like Vaginal birth, Assisted birth, Cesarean section
- You may research on your own for the parenting of your newborn, breastfeeding, and educational classes about your birth Ask your healthcare provider for more information about such classes.
- You may also go for a hospital tour where you will give birth to get familiar with the place where the baby will be born, the facilities, conditions all you can check and confirm from the hospital staff.
What Should I Do During the Second Trimester?
You should continue maintaining a healthy lifestyle which is very essential during pregnancy
- Taking a well-balanced and nutritious diet is very important for and your baby's health eat fruits, vegetables like apples, oranges, Bananas, berries etc
- Try to do exercise for about 20-30 minutes it is good for your developing foetus some safe exercises are walking, swimming as well yoga as per the instructions given by your yoga teacher
- You may do Kegal exercises that help strengthen your pelvic floor muscles
- Attend your appointments regularly and go for a routine health checkup whenever necessary.
How to Choose the Best Diagnostic Centre for Different Tests?
You can choose the best Diagnostic centre near you by checking their experience, test accuracy, availability as well as their assistance, cost etc Ganesh Diagnostic provides all these tests at affordable costs with a 50 per cent discount.
Conclusion
The second trimester is one of the most important phases of pregnancy in which the baby attains maximum growth and development, this phase is crucial as it requires many tests to check the status of your foetus as well as helps the expectant mother to get every information regarding its baby so get tested and treated with the best diagnostic near you.
Frequently Asked Questions Related second Trimester of Pregnancy
What happened during the Second trimester of pregnancy?
The second trimester of pregnancy is the phase between 14-28 weeks and is recognised by the maximum growth of the foetus where organs and all systems attain maximum development and growth.
What are the symptoms in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy?
headaches, swollen gums, nosebleeds, and bloating are some of the symptoms that may observed
What did I experience during the 2nd trimester?
You begin to settle down during this phase of pregnancy Symptoms like Nausea and vomiting begin to fade out and it is much more relaxing during the first trimester
How can I stay healthy during the 2nd trimester?
Eating a healthy diet, and doing regular exercises like walking, swimming, and yoga will help you to stay healthy and also be beneficial for your growing baby.
What are the different tests required during the second trimester?
Maternal serum screen, Non-invasive prenatal screening(NIPT), ultrasound to check baby anatomy etc.
