What to expect during the second trimester of pregnancy

Your first trimester takes you up to week 12 of your pregnancy, so your second trimester begins with week 13 and continues until your 27th week of pregnancy. Your third trimester will begin in week 28.

In weeks 1 – 12, there was a lot going on inside your body and not a lot happening on the outside. You weren’t showing, you didn’t have very many antenatal appointments, and you couldn’t yet feel any kicks. In the second trimester, there is a lot more tangible action. Your bump will pop and you’ll start to be noticeably pregnant – to the point people may even give up their seats for you on the train! You will also have more contact with health professionals in this trimester, and you should start to feel your baby move.

Prenatal visits in the second trimester

In the second trimester, you will have more regular midwife appointments, starting from around 16 weeks. You will also have a second ultrasound scan, known as the 20-week scan, to check on baby’s development. If you want, you can also ask your sonographer to see if they can tell you the sex of the baby at this scan.

If this is your first pregnancy, your midwife will begin measuring your bump from about 25 weeks to chart the baby’s growth. And, if you have been identified as at risk of gestational diabetes, you will be offered a screening test sometime between 24 and 28 weeks.

Growing and growing and growing!

As the foetus continues to grow, your uterus expands and begins to take up more room in your abdomen. This will not only give you an obvious bump –perhaps not obvious to others until close to 20 weeks pregnant, and maybe even later than that – but it will also have other effects. For example, as your baby grows it may start to press down on your bladder, making you need to wee more often. It might also squash up against your stomach, giving you indigestion and making it hard to eat as much as you’re used to eating. Basically, it’s taking up serious real estate now, and you’ll know about it.

Between weeks 13 and 27, your baby will grow from a curled-up 7cm to a more elongated form that can finally be measured from head to heel, coming in at around 36 cm long. It’s a huge change, and it’s not all about growing. There are other developments happening internally.

Weeks 13 – 18

Your baby’s sex will become apparent, though likely not in time for your dating scan. Bones are hardening, urine is forming (and being passed into the amniotic fluid), and their eyes are starting to move. Around week 18, your baby will begin to hear.

Weeks 19 – 22

Your baby’s gaining control of limb movements and in these special weeks of your second trimester you should start to feel the first flutters of tiny kicks. By week 20, your baby is sleeping and waking and could be woken by loud noises or movements. You might see your baby sucking their thumb on the 20-week scan.

Weeks 23 – 27

A close-up view of your baby now would show hair, fingerprints, toenails and wrinkly skin that is translucent and pink-to-red. By week 25, your baby recognises your voice and may even respond to it. By the end of the second trimester, your baby’s lungs should be producing surfactant, as they prepare for life on the outside.

Though you’re likely to feel much better in the second trimester compared to the first, there are some second trimester symptoms that might come your way.

Increased appetite

Your appetite may increase in the second trimester – a difference that may be especially noticeable if you lost your appetite in the first trimester. Whether you find yourself craving weird foods, or just want to eat more regularly, remember that you’re not actually eating for two and the best thing you can do for your baby is keep to a healthy, balanced diet. Swap sweet treats for healthy snacks if you need something to take you from one meal to the next, as excess weight gain during pregnancy can make for a harder birth and recovery.

Foetal movements

At last, you can feel your baby move! Early movements might not be recognisable as kicks, however – more like little gas bubbles popping low down in your tummy. As your baby grows, and you become more aware of their movements, you might also feel a swooping sensation as they float around in the amniotic fluid, and a rhythmic, repetitive movement that indicates the baby has hiccups! (Note, when you make time to monitor your baby’s movements, it is kicks you should be counting – not hiccups or swooping.)

Frequent urination

Now that your baby is growing and pressing down on your bladder, you might find you need to go to the loo much more frequently. As in the first trimester, it’s important to keep an eye on things, asurinary tract infections(UTIs) need to be treated. If you get a burning or stinging sensation when you wee, or low-down tummy pain, talk to your GP.

Changes in gums

One of the reasons why pregnant women get free dental care is because being pregnant can have a marked impact on dental health. Some people find their teeth are less robust and more likely to decay while pregnant and in the year after giving birth. Bleeding gums are also a common side-effect of pregnancy, caused by increased levels of oestrogen and progesterone

Nose bleeds

These same hormones can cause nasal congestion and even nose bleeds. Put it down to the increased levels of blood in your system! If nose bleeds persist or are heavy, talk to your health professional

Rules for the second trimester are the same as for the first. Avoid alcohol and cigarettes, as well as the foods you’ve already been avoiding for the past 12 weeks – unpasteurised dairy products, certain seafood and anything with a high quantity of vitamin A, like liver patê. You should also be limiting caffeine and keeping within recommended quantities of oily fish. More information on foods to avoid during pregnancy can be found in our guide.

Monitoring baby’s movements

The second trimester is a lovely time to start bonding with your baby. As you start to notice movements, try to give yourself some time every day where you sit and feel your baby, talk to them and familiarise yourself with the pattern of their movements. Knowing what’s normal for your baby is a really important way for you to keep an eye on how your baby is doing in there. This time can also be very special as you start to connect with your baby and prepare for their arrival.

Get your partner involved

Now that your baby’s hearing is developing, it’s lovely for your partner to also talk to your baby so that their voice is familiar when your baby is born. It’s a magical moment when a newborn turns their head towards a voice they recognise from inside the womb.

Don’t buy a home Doppler

Official advice is that it is not a good idea for anyone other than an expert to operate a Doppler machine to listen to baby’s heartbeat. The reason for this is that only an expert will be able to correctly interpret what they’re hearing.

You will most likely be given the opportunity to hear the heartbeat at every antenatal appointment in your second trimester. If you need additional reassurance, talk to your midwife. If you’re very anxious, they might be willing to see you more regularly for a quick check.

What should be avoided during the second trimester?

In the second trimester, follow the same dietary advice as in the first trimester. It’s also advisable to avoid contact sports that might put you at risk of collision and harm.

Other things to avoid include cat poo, which carries bacteria that can be harmful to pregnant women; hot tubs, saunas or jacuzzis where your body temperature may get too high; and any activities that present a risk of infection, such as getting a new piercing or tattoo.

What pains are normal in the second trimester?

Relaxin, the hormone that allows your pelvis and cervix to expand to give birth, can also play havoc with other joints and ligaments as your belly grows. Round ligament pain – those ligaments found either side of your abdomen, connecting your uterus to your pelvic floor – can produce sharp pains when you make sudden movements. It can be worrying at first, but you’ll soon learn to support your bump when coughing or sneezing, and roll over more carefully in bed.

Back pain is also common as your bump and breasts grow, weighing you down. Gentle, regular exercise such as pregnancy yoga, Pilates, walking, or swimming will help ease these pains.

Some people experience headaches in the second trimester of pregnancy. These might just be the result of tiredness or stress, but if you have severe headaches, talk to your GP or midwife. Very painful headaches from about the 20th week of pregnancy can be a symptom of pre-eclampsia.

Is paracetamol safe in the second trimester of pregnancy

Yes, paracetamol is safe throughout pregnancy and is the preferred pain medication.

How to relieve breast pain during the second trimester

As your breasts grow, they can become uncomfortable. Make sure you have a supportive bra with wide straps that has enough stretch to grow with you. Your breasts will keep growing up to the end of pregnancy and beyond when your milk comes in. Avoid underwires, which will be uncomfortable and can cut into your breast tissue. It’s also worth looking into sleep bras to give you support at night, particularly as you begin sleeping on your side.

How does stress affect pregnancy in the second trimester?

It’s not uncommon for parents-to-be to feel stressed. There’s a lot to think about, from your health, to the baby’s wellbeing, work finances, relationship worries, and getting the house ready. Even trying to pin down a list of names for the baby can get you worked up.

Stress can affect people in all sorts of ways. It can mess with your moods, your sleep, and even your blood pressure. A normal level of stress will not harm your baby, but if you’re worried that your anxiety goes beyond the ‘normal’, talk to your midwife.

Don’t try to pretend that everything’s ok when it’s not.

Talking now and reaching out to your network for support is really good practice for when the baby comes and you need your village around you. It’s always better to ask for help than to suffer in silence.

Got questions? At the HiPPBabyClub, we bring you real-world advice and support from HiPP parents, midwives, nutritionists and more. Join our Baby Club to find out more.