The Second Trimester

Sep 7th, 2007

Reading an article on the net by someone called Lisa Schulman on the things that’s happening during the 2nd Trimester of pregnancy. It is a very good article.There it was mentioned that when it comes to the second trimester,

mommy-to-be will wake up in the morning feeling that “something is missing“. It says there it’s the nausea will be gone as you, mommy-to-be, going into the second trimester. (But it doesn’t seem to be that way happening to my wife. She’s still having her ‘morning sickness’ or nausea, though not as bad as before.)As you go into the second trimester, you’ll feel that your long lost energy returns and you can now eat the meal that you felt revolted when you were in your first trimester.

Note that it may be depressing that you’ll feel huge and all your beautiful clothes could not fit now. But not to worry as no one will know that you are pregnant. Yet… Further, your uterus is not yet big enough to cause the uncomfortable symptoms that may happen in the third trimester.
You might be curious why have you gained your energy back on this second trimester. It is because the arduous work of your baby’s development is mostly complete. And by the 14th week, the baby is four and a half inches long and weighs about 45 grams. And he/she is quite active. Mommy-to-be could probably feel these movements as a fluttering sensation beginning between the 18th to the 22nd week.At about twenty weeks, your uterus will extend beyond the belly button. An ultrasound can clearly identify gender. If you are carrying a girl, she already has six million eggs in her ovaries. By birth, the amount of eggs will have decreased to one-sixth this amount.

By the 22nd week, your baby weighs nearly one pound, and measures 10 and one-half inches head to toe. The eyebrows and eyelashes begin to grow. And the teeny tiny pair of ears can actually tune in to mommy’s conversations.

Periodically, some women may feel their uterus tightening. These contractions, called Braxton Hicks, are harmless. You will probably continue to experience them throughout your pregnancy as your body prepares itself for birth.

While Braxton Hicks are completely normal, if they occur more than four times an hour, call your practitioner. Differentiating between Braxton Hicks and the real thing is sometimes difficult. It’s a smart idea to familiarize yourself with the signs of preterm labor so your practitioner can use medical means to delay labor until a safe time.

By 24 weeks, rapid eye movement has begun. Does this mean your baby is dreaming of past lives? Weighing in at one pound, six ounces, and measuring 11 and one-fourth inches, head to toe, your baby now has a five to twenty percent chance of survival if born today. By the time your fetus weighs two pounds, odds of survival soar to seventy percent, although preemies are more susceptible to a host of problems.

Because of an increase in maternal estrogen and progesterone, pregnant women are more susceptible to dental problems. Don’t miss out on your six month cleaning. Although most practitioners believe that dental X-rays are safe, it’s probably best to delay them, if possible, until after the birth.

Between weeks 24 to 28, your baby is at his or her most active. More sensitive to the environment, your baby can respond to touch now and will jump in reaction to a loud noise, such as the pan of roast beef you just dropped.

Ya, you might ask. Why so clumsy? Water retention and loosening of joints are to blame. And forgetfulness can be attributed to hormonal changes.

By week 28, you’ve reached the end of the second trimester. Your baby measures 13 inches head to toe and weighs two pounds and four ounces. His/her eyelids, which have been fused shut, begin to open. From this point forward, your baby will spend much time observing the womb.

The second trimester has been a great journey. Between your baby’s daily exercise routine and your burgeoning belly, you have tangible evidence that you are, indeed, carrying life inside of you. It’s hard to believe that in just a little over two and a half months, you will be holding that evidence in your arms!