The second trimester is the most amazing one. Nausea and sleepiness subside, and you will feel like floating when you experience the thrilling tickles that are your baby’s movements inside your belly.
1. Take care of your body
You will feel invigorated once the first trimester comes to an end. What should you do with the renewed energy? Research shows that doing moderate exercise lowers the risk of gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, weight gain, preeclampsia (a severe condition which can put your and baby’s life at risk), preterm labor, and birth defects.
Consider finding a prenatal exercise class with experienced trainers, which will allow you to bond with other future mothers. There are plenty of options on the market, like prenatal yoga, Pilates, swimming and prenatal dance classes. Walking is also great if you want alone time with your thoughts.
Be sure to talk to your doctor about what kind of exercise you are allowed during the second trimester of pregnancy. For instance, it is risky for some pregnant women to lay on their back and as the pregnancy advances, lying on the growing belly will not be an option.
Kegel exercises are also highly recommended during pregnancy. They are contract-and-relax or clench-and-release exercises that improve the tone of your pelvic area and vagina muscles. Learning to control these muscles will help during labor and delivery. Kegel exercises also minimize the risk of hemorrhoids during pregnancy and prevent urine leaks after giving birth. The results are not visible right away, on the contrary, it takes several months to relieve incontinence symptoms.
Moisturizing your belly to prevent stretch marks and itchy skin is also a useful habit you should form during the second trimester. Consider choosing natural alternatives like shea butter or cocoa butter. Be sure to massage your growing bump every evening and whenever you feel your skin is itchy.
Finding flattering clothes in your current wardrobe can be challenging now. Buy comfortable maternity clothes to increase confidence in your new body, even if you do not have an actual baby bump yet.
2. Bond with your partner
Savoring the second trimester weeks is the best you can do for yourself and your partner. Now is a great time to bond as you are likely past the first- trimester nausea and the third-trimester fatigue is slowly approaching. For most women, this is the most comfortable period of their pregnancy.
Spend quality adult time together and enjoy amazing baby-free time if this is your first child. Go to a late-night movie, spend countless hours at your favorite mall and enjoy coffee at your favorite coffee shop on Sunday morning.
Arrange an exciting holiday together, now that you feel more energized. Preferably one where you can take a great maternity shoot. There are plenty of resorts offering amazing babymoon packages.
Now is also the time to discuss parenting styles and philosophies. Talk about how each of you was raised and what you would do differently from your own parents. Discuss what appropriate discipline and boundaries mean for you. Drastically different parenting philosophies can affect your relationship. And happy children need happy parents.
3. Bond with your baby
Most parents start bonding with the baby in the second trimester rather than the first. In the first 12-13 weeks, the risk of miscarriage is at its peak which makes future parents nervous about making plans. Moreover, as the bump is not visible yet, it may feel funny to talk to the baby.
Things change for the better in the second trimester. The baby goes through significant developments. Around 20 weeks the genitalia mature and you can find out the sex of your baby. Muscles become strong enough for you to feel the first movements while he or she flips or kicks around in your belly. At approximately 22 weeks, babies begin to hear sounds. By the end of the second trimester, at about 27 weeks, they are able to suck their thumb.b
These milestones provide ample opportunities for building a connection with your baby. You can respond to their kicks by massaging your belly, and you can sing to them before going to bed in the evening.
Take pictures of your bump week by week. After you give birth, you will slowly forget how baby’s kicks felt and how uncomfortable sleeping only on your (probably left) side was.
4. Prepare siblings for the new baby
Parents can prepare older siblings for the arrival of the newborn when the bump starts to show. They should take into account maturity level. For instance, preschool children may not understand what a few months mean, but you can tell them that the baby arrives with Santa Claus in winter or on holiday, during summer.
Here are a few suggestions about how to make siblings feel important during pregnancy:
- involve them in baby preparations such as assembling the nursery
- visit friends with newborns
- show them how to hold an infant
- take them to the doctor for your ultrasounds to hear the heartbeat and show them pictures of the baby
- decide the baby’s name together (you and your partner can decide on a shortlist from which siblings can choose)
- refer to the baby as “Our baby,” “Your sister” or “Your little brother”
- let them feel the baby’s movements
- explain to them how newborns behave
- show siblings pictures of how they looked liked when they were infants.
You do not need to talk about the new baby all the time, but you can answer your child’s questions as they come up.
If you want more suggestions about how to overcome sibling jealousy when you bring the new baby home, read out article Pregnancy – Third Trimester.
5. Plan for childcare
If you already have children, going through daycare options is easier. But if this is your first child, take time to review your options mainly if daycare centers are in high demand in your area. It is suprizing how far in advance some daycare centers are booked.
Options include daycare centers, home daycare, nanny and grandma care. Having backup is essential as a lot of small children get sick frequently when they start daycare. You should plan visits to daycare centers and perhaps include your name on their waiting lists. This way, you will have more options when your maternity leave ends.
6. Doctor visits
Last but not least, you need to continue with your doctor visits. In the second trimester, your doctor will check for gestational diabetes, and you will be offered a screening test to find out the probability of Down syndrome and other abnormalities.
You will have a significant ultrasound called the anomaly scan or mid-pregnancy scan, around 18-21 weeks of pregnancy. The sonographer will be able to see, with a high probability, whether the baby has a defect of the abdominal wall where intestines, bowel or liver protrude, cleft lip, chromosomal abnormalities like Edward’s syndrome and Patau’s syndrome, severe kidney problems and spinal cord defect.
Although the anomaly scan and blood tests are recommended, you have the right to say no. Do your homework on what optional tests you would like to have and how invasive they may be as compared to their benefits.
There are a lot of decisions to be made during the second trimester, from a simple or elaborate nursery design to the location of your babymoon and the 20-week anomaly scan. The best way you can help your baby’s development is to feel rested and relaxed.
How has the second trimester of pregnancy been for you? Share with us your experience.
