When Does the Second Trimester Start? A Complete Guide

When does second trimester start? It begins at week 14 of pregnancy and lasts through the end of week 27, according to ACOG. Some sources count it from week 13.

It is the middle trimester of pregnancy. It is when many women feel comfortable sharing their news and begin to feel like the pregnancy is real. The fourth, the fifth, and sixth months of pregnancy are also called as second trimester.

When does Second Trimester Start

This is the time period when women begin to feel and look more pregnant. Many women have more energy than in the first trimester. If you struggled with sickness which you get through the first trimester, it often eases now. Due to the increased size of the baby, the weight of pregnant women increases.

Tests During the Second Trimester

You don’t need a test to know when the second trimester starts. It is counted from the first day of your last menstrual period, or from an early dating ultrasound.

During this trimester, your provider may offer blood screening tests and an anatomy (anomaly) ultrasound at around 20 weeks. The scan shows how your baby is growing and whether there is anything of concern.

Screening tests are optional. You have the right to say no to any test or scan, so talk through the pros and cons with your provider.

How Women Appeared During This Second Trimester?

During the second trimester of pregnancy, your body can experience many physical changes due to the flood of hormones or placental hormone production. These physical changes are associated with the following symptoms

• Growing belly or pregnancy bump
• Growing breasts
• Skin changes like pigmentation or acne
• your uterus begins to expand to make the room for the baby growth under the action of the hormones
• Braxton Hicks contractions
• Mood Swings
• Nasal problems
• Vaginal discharge
• Dental issues
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Leg cramps
• Abdominal cramps
• Frequent urination

Finding Out Your Baby’s Sex

The anatomy ultrasound around 20 weeks can often show your baby’s sex, but only if the baby is lying in a position that makes the genitals visible.

A blood test called non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), which can be done from about week 10, can also reveal the sex. Some parents prefer to wait until birth, and that choice is yours.

Sleeping Position During the Second Trimester

Good sleep matters during the second trimester. Try to get a full night of rest. But how women should sleep during the second trimester? The solution is, when you are sleeping, lie on your side with your knees and hips bent. Also place pillows between your knees, under your abdomen, and behind your back. This may take the pressure off your lower back and prevent the backache.

Signs to know When Does Second Trimester Start?

Here are a few signs that appeared in pregnant women during the second trimester. Many women find that nausea, vomiting, and fatigue ease during the second trimester, and many call it the most comfortable stretch of pregnancy.

Signs that the second trimester has started include a growing belly, feeling the baby’s first movements, stretch marks on the breasts or abdomen, body aches, and darkening of the skin around the nipples.

Contact your health care provider if you have any of the following:

1. Nausea that doesn’t ease or is severe
2. Vomiting that keeps you from keeping food or fluids down
3. Extreme or sudden swelling
4. Jaundice
5. Vaginal bleeding or leaking fluid
6. Severe belly pain, a bad headache, or vision changes

Sources

• How Your Fetus Grows During Pregnancy, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• Prenatal Testing, MedlinePlus