Best Way to Understand Your Body Changes in Pregnancy Second Trimester



The second trimester of pregnancy runs from Weeks 14 to 27. Many people consider this the fourth, fifth, and sixth months of pregnancy. This is usually considered the “peaceful time” of your pregnancy. Your morning sickness has probably gone away and you feel you have more energy than during the first trimester. But however “peaceful” it may seem, your body is undergoing more changes:

  •  You start to “show,” meaning your abdomen begins to expand and your uterus pushes forward. You have a pregnant profile.
  • You may notice a few “stretch marks” on you breasts, hips, and abdomen. Most of these fade after you have the baby.
Pregnancy Second Trimester Best Way to Understand Your Body Changes in Pregnancy Second Trimester
  •  As your uterus enlarges, the two ligaments attached to your uterine muscle need to stretch as if they were rubber bands. Unfortunately, the ligaments do not stretch as easily as the uterus. Any sudden movement you make, even a sneeze, can result in a spasm of pain—a condition called “round ligament pain.” The ligament’s ability to stretch does improve with time. There are several things you can do to alleviate this discomfort. Try to move a little slower when you have a spasm. If this doesn’t help, lie down on the side that’s painful and massage the area to get the ligament to relax. Round ligament pain usually only happens when you’re moving, not when you’re in a relaxed position. If the pain does not get better with rest and massage or does not go away fairly quickly, call yourOBprovider to report your symptoms.
  •  There will be noticeable changes to your breasts. They continue to enlarge, the nipples and the skin surrounding the nipple get darker, and some women may notice a small amount of clear dis­charge from their nipples. This discharge is colostrum, a highly nutritious fluid that is usually released from the breasts when breast-feeding begins. Having colostrum release before birth is common at the end of the second or third trimester and perfectly normal. Tell yourOBprovider if you notice any blood coming from your nipples. It may simply be caused by irritation to the nipple but should be checked out.
  •  You may notice your cheeks getting rosy, or you may get brownish patches on your face. This is called chloasma, or the “mask of pregnancy.” You have rosier cheeks because you have more blood circulating. The brownish patches on your face are due to the increase in pregnancy hormones and will usually go away after delivery.
  •  You may be surprised at the amount of weight you gain this trimester. You’ll need maternity clothes. Consider investing in comfortable and quality maternity clothes that you can wear to work. To save money, don’t hesitate to ask sisters or friends who are near your size if you can borrow theirs, if they are not in use. You should also commit to purchasing comfortable quality under­wear during pregnancy; they will make your physical changes more bearable. If you plan to purchase nursing bras, wait until the last trimester, when your bra size stabilizes.





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