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second trimester

what is happening inside?

week 13-16 fertilization and implantation

This is a very exciting time during the pregnancy. Your energy levels will be up and you will also have the chance to discover your baby's gender and feel him/her move. Your child's bones will begin to develop very rapidly and they will begin to form urine and discharge it into the amniotic fluid. Red blood cells begin to form in the baby's spleen and their appendages are nearly at the full length they will be when the child is born. By the 12th week or shortly after, you can determine the child's sex. In the 15th week, your child's scalp line will begin to develop and in week 16, they begin to make facial expressions.

week 17-20

In week 17, your baby will begin to develop and store fat to keep them warm after the birth. Week 18, he/she begins hearing sounds both in your body and outside and may become startled by loud noises. As your baby's hearing continues to improve, week 20 marks the halfway point to delivery and you will begin to feel your baby move he/she is about 6 and 1/2 inches long.

The child has developed the ability to swallow. In the 22nd week, the child develops a fine hair called lanugo which helps to hold the milky protective coating called vernix caseosa. In week 23, your child will have developed fingerprints, footprints and tastebuds. The child will also begin experiencing rapid eye movement and the skin changes translucent to a pinkish red color.

In week 24 regular hair begins to grow and the child will begin to sleep and wake on a regular basis and by week 25, their hands are fully developed. Week 26 will develop fingernails and respiratory surfactant which prevents lungs from sticking together when breathing. By the 27th week, he/she has grown to about 9 inches from crown to bottom and can weigh as much as two pounds.

second trimester office visits

You will continue to see your physician throughout your second trimester; usually once per month. Each time, your physician will check your vital signs. Be sure to mention any concerns or questions you may have. Other exciting visits include tracking your baby's growth, listening to their heartbeat, assessing fetal movements, ultrasounds and of course determining the gender. Also expect to have routine lab work to check for iron levels, gestational diabetes and antibodies.

We will also perform a physical examination and perform lab tests on your blood to ensure everything is in order. We will also perform screening tests to look for any fetal abnormalities.

Subsequent visits will be scheduled every 4-6 weeks throughout the first trimester. Your physician will guide you through this after your first visit so be sure to bring your calendar. Be sure to keep an open relationship with your physician during this time. Be sure to ask any questions and address any concerns that you may have.

changes to your body

During the second trimester, patients generally experience a renewed sense of well being. Physical changes include enlarged breasts, expanding belly (at a rate of up to 4lbs/week) and Braxton Hicks contractions (small contractions in your lower abdomen and groin that come and go). You may also notice that your circulation changes causing nose and gum problems. You may also experience dizziness, leg cramps, vaginal discharge, and an increase in bladder and kidney infections.

This is also the time when women begin noticing changes to their skin such as dark spots, dehydrated and dull skin and of course stretch marks. It is extremely important to renourish your skin if you hope to minimize stretch marks and aging. Check The Spa at Yellow Creek for skincare solutions that will address these concerns. The Spa at Yellow Creek also offers many other solutions for most of the physical changes you will experience. Check our spa solutions page for more information.

As in the first trimester, you can also expect to experience emotional changes in your second trimester. Usually, patients feel less fatigue and more energy. This is a wonderful time to use that energy to work on the child's room, take child birthing classes and more. Other emotional changes often include heightened sexuality. Some women begin to have body-image issues as their belly grows.