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Second Trimester Pregnancy: Baby Development & Things to Avoid

Second trimester pregnancy
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When second trimester pregnancy starts, the morning sickness and fatigue of the first three months often fade, and many women feel more energetic and more like themselves again. For many women, the second trimester is the easiest three months of pregnancy. While you feel better, it's a good time to start planning for your baby's arrival.

During the second trimester (complete guide), your baby grows quickly. Between about 18 and 22 weeks, you will usually be offered an anatomy ultrasound so your provider can check how your baby is developing. Many parents can also learn the baby's sex at this scan, if they want to. For many mothers, this is the most enjoyable and relaxed phase of pregnancy.

Morning sickness has often eased, and your bump is not yet big enough to cause much discomfort. Some discomforts are still common, such as dizzy spells and round ligament pain (sharp pain in the lower belly or groin). Meanwhile, your little one continues to grow and develop at a steady pace.

When does second trimester pregnancy start?

The second trimester lasts from about week 14 to week 27 of pregnancy. That is 14 weeks, or roughly months four to six. Some sources count it from week 13 to week 28.

Choices and decisions in the second trimester pregnancy

You will be offered blood tests and an anatomy ultrasound scan at around 20 weeks. This scan checks how the baby is growing and whether there are any concerns.

This is also a good time to think about where and how you want to give birth, for example in a hospital or birth center. If this sounds a little scary, don't worry. Your doctor or midwife will explain your options and help you choose.

Your Baby’s Development in the Second Trimester

During the second trimester, your baby's development builds on the foundation laid in the first-trimester Pregnancy. Your baby grows quickly, and your belly becomes more visible to the outside world. Each week of pregnancy brings something new; here are some of the highlights:

14 Weeks: Sucking and Swallowing

Around 14 weeks, your baby may start practicing sucking and swallowing movements, and may suck a thumb in the coming weeks.

16 Weeks: Baby on the Go

Your baby is moving a lot, but you may not feel it yet. According to Cleveland Clinic, most people start to feel movement, often a fluttering called quickening, between about 17 and 20 weeks. If this is your first pregnancy, it may take a bit longer to notice.

Movements get stronger over the following weeks. Your baby still has plenty of room to move, which changes as space gets tighter in the third trimester.

17 Weeks: Your Baby Gets a Waxy Coating

Around this time, your baby's skin becomes coated in vernix, a white, waxy substance. It helps protect the skin from long exposure to amniotic fluid.

22 Weeks: Your Baby Has Eyebrows

Fine eyebrows and hair begin to grow, with little pigment yet. The eyelids are still fused but begin to part in the following weeks, and by around 27 weeks your baby can open its eyes and blink.

23 Weeks: Your Baby Responds to Sounds

By this stage, your baby can hear sounds such as your voice, your heartbeat, and your breathing. Your baby may move in response to loud sounds. Talking, reading, or singing to your baby is a nice way to bond.

27 Weeks: Your Baby May Smile

Ultrasound images sometimes show babies making facial expressions, such as what looks like smiling, late in pregnancy. Your baby also sleeps and wakes in cycles now.

What’s Going On in the Second Trimester?

It is not just your child who is busy! You also have a full schedule. At about halfway through your pregnancy, around 20 weeks, you will have an ultrasound scan to check your baby’s health. If it's not booked yet, make the appointment with your healthcare provider. If you want, you can also learn your baby's sex during this scan.

Your belly and breasts will keep growing. You may soon need maternity clothes or roomier pants and tops. Don't be surprised if you need a bigger bra size; a professional fitting for a supportive, comfortable bra can help. If your breasts are painful, talk to your healthcare provider.

During the second trimester, you may have extra energy, which you can use to start or continue exercising. Check with your doctor first. Walking, swimming, and prenatal yoga are often good choices; the NHS recommends about 150 minutes of moderate activity a week if your pregnancy is healthy.

You can also use this time to prepare the nursery, buy what you need for your baby, and get things ready around the house.

Things to do in the second trimester pregnancy:

  1. Go to all your prenatal checkups
  2. Have your second trimester tests, including the anatomy scan
  3. Get vaccinated against the flu, if it is flu season
  4. Ask your provider about other recommended vaccines, such as whooping cough (Tdap)
  5. Eat a balanced diet
  6. Eat frequent and small meals
  7. Take a prenatal vitamin
  8. Check your weight
  9. Be Physically Active
  10. Talk to your child
  11. Try to get a good sleep
  12. Renovate Your Wardrobe
  13. Moisturize itchy, stretching skin
  14. Spend more time with your family
  15. Allow yourself to relax, and check with your provider before travel

Things to avoid in the second trimester pregnancy

1. Don’t take medications without consulting your doctor

Many medicines can pass through the placenta into your baby's bloodstream. Before taking any medicine, supplement, or herbal product, check with your doctor or pharmacist that it is safe.

2. Don’t let stress into your life

Even one of the happiest periods in your life can be complicated and stressful. Hormonal changes can affect your feelings and reactions, and you may face difficult situations, so try to keep stress to a minimum.

Learn breathing and relaxation techniques. Focus on something pleasant, share your feelings with loved ones and your doctor, and eat well and stay active. If you feel low or anxious most days, tell your provider.

3. Don’t lie on your back for a long time

Later in pregnancy, avoid lying flat on your back for more than a few minutes. The growing uterus can press on the inferior vena cava, the large vein that returns blood to your heart. This can make you dizzy and reduce blood flow to your baby.

Try to lie on your side instead. The left side is often recommended, but either side is fine.

4. Don’t wear high heels

As your pregnancy progresses, it's best to switch away from high heels. Your back is already under extra strain, your balance changes, and high heels make falls and ankle sprains more likely.

If you still want some height, choose shoes with a stable, wide heel of no more than about 2 inches (5 cm).

5. Don’t participate in dangerous sports

Staying active is good for you and your baby, but know where to draw the line. Avoid exhausting yourself; very intense exercise has been studied for its effect on blood flow to the placenta, so stay at a level where you can still talk. Stop if you feel dizzy, short of breath, or have pain or bleeding.

Skip activities with a risk of falling or being hit in the belly, such as contact sports, horse riding, or mountain biking. Don't scuba dive during pregnancy.

6. Don’t consume too much caffeine

Caffeine passes through the placenta to your baby. The NHS advises no more than 200 mg of caffeine a day. That is about two mugs of instant coffee, and filter or coffee-shop coffee can contain more.

7. Don’t drink alcohol

Alcohol passes easily through the placenta into your baby's bloodstream. According to the CDC, there is no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy, no safe time to drink, and no safe type of alcohol.

Drinking in pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, which affect a child's growth, learning, and behavior for life. It also raises the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and preterm birth. If you have been drinking, stopping now still helps your baby.

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