What’s Going on with My Pregnancy-Second Trimester (Weeks 13–28)

Most women find the second trimester of pregnancy easier than the first. However, it is just as important to stay informed about your pregnancy during these months. You may notice that symptoms such as nausea and fatigue are going away. But other new, more noticeable changes to your body are now happening. Your abdomen will expand as the baby continues to grow. And before this trimester is over, you will feel your baby beginning to move! As your body changes to make room for your growing baby, you may have:

• Body aches such as the back, abdominal, inguinal (groin), or thigh pain.
• Stretch marks on your abdomen, breasts, thighs, or buttocks.
• Darkening of the skin around your nipples.
• A line on the skin running from the belly button to the pubic hairline.
• Patches of darker skin, usually over the cheeks, forehead, nose, or upper lip, and often matching on both sides of the face (this is sometimes called the mask of pregnancy).
• Numb or tingling hands called carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Itching on the abdomen, palms, and soles of the feet (call your doctor if you have nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice, or fatigue combined with itching—these can be signs of a serious liver problem).
• Swelling of the ankles, fingers, and face (call your doctor right away if you notice any sudden or extreme swelling or if you gain a lot of weight really quickly—this could be a sign of preeclampsia).

Swelling
You may experience swelling in your hands, legs, and feet during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester. The increased blood volume and fluids your body is carrying can cause this. If the swelling is severe, consult your doctor.

Tips:

• Decrease salt.
• Avoid standing for long periods.
• Minimize staying outside in hot weather.
• Wear comfortable shoes.
• When lying down, elevate your legs above your heart, but do not have pressure behind your knees.
• Wear supportive tights or stockings, which can help alleviate varicose veins. Elevate your feet while sitting.

What’s My Baby Up To? Second Trimester (Weeks 13–28)

At 16 weeks:

• Muscle tissue and bone continue to form, creating a more complete skeleton.
• Skin begins to form. You can nearly see through it.
• Meconium develops in your baby’s intestinal tract. This will be your baby’s first bowel movement. Your baby’s mouth makes sucking motions (sucking reflux).
• Your baby is about 4 to 5 inches long and weighs almost 3 ounces.

At 20 weeks:

• Your baby is now more active. You may feel a slight fluttering.
• Your baby is covered by fine, downy hair called lanugo and a waxy coating called vernix. This protects the forming skin underneath.
• Eyebrows, eyelashes, fingernails, and toenails have formed. Your baby can even scratch itself.
• Your baby can hear and swallow.
• Now, halfway through your pregnancy, your baby is about 6 inches long and weighs about 9 ounces.

At 24 weeks:

• Bone marrow begins to make blood cells.
• Taste buds form on the tongue.
• Footprints and fingerprints have formed.
• Hair begins to grow on the head.
• The lungs are formed but do not yet work.
• The hand and startle reflex develop.
• Your baby sleeps and wakes regularly.
• If your baby is a boy, his testicles begin to move from the abdomen into the scrotum. If your baby is a girl, her uterus and ovaries are in place, and a lifetime supply of eggs have formed in the ovaries.
• Your baby stores fat and have gained quite a bit of weight. Now at about 12 inches long, your baby weighs about 1.5 pounds.