The second trimester marks a turning point for both mum and baby. The mother usually begins to feel slightly better and will start showing the pregnancy more. You might even be told you have that pregnancy glow at this stage! Your baby continues to develop all its organs and systems and will now begin growing in size and weight. During the second trimester, the umbilical cord continues to thicken as it carries nourishment to the baby.

During the second trimester, both the mother’s body and the baby continue to grow which may leave mum feeling a little extra tired. All the more important now to focus on getting good quality sleep. The following six months will be spent growing at an enormous rate and many women will see their bump getting much bigger and their clothes may be a little tighter during their second trimester. The weight of the foetus will multiply more than seven times over the next few months as the foetus becomes a baby that can survive outside of the uterus as a little person!

By the end of the second trimester, the foetus will be about 13 to 16 inches long and weighs about 2 to 3 pounds. Foetal development during the second trimester includes the following:

The foetus kicks, moves, and can turn from side to side, nothing more exciting than feeling the baby kick! The eyes have been gradually moving to the front of the face and the ears have moved from the neck to the sides of the head. The foetus can hear and recognise the mother’s voice. The foetus is developing reflexes, like swallowing and sucking. The foetus can now respond to certain stimuli. The placenta is fully developed during the second trimester. The brain will undergo its most important period of growth from the fifth month on.

The good news is that second trimester is the most physically enjoyable for most women. Morning sickness usually lessens by this time and the extreme tiredness and breast tenderness tends to ease for most. Appetite may also increase, which is understandable given you are now eating for two! The mother may be able to feel the movement of the foetus for the first time by 20 weeks. This phenomenon is called quickening. The uterus has grown to the height of the belly button, for some women this can mean their bellybutton might even pop outwards making the pregnancy more visible. The skin on the belly may begin to feel itchy as it grows and there may be some pain down the sides of the body as the uterus stretches. The lower stomach may ache as ligaments stretch to support the uterus. The need to urinate often may decrease for some women as the uterus grows out of the pelvic cavity, relieving pressure on the bladder, providing much needed relief from frequent urination if this has been something that’s been effecting you throughout your pregnancy so far. It is important to recognise how amazing our bodies are as they continue to work hard throughout the pregnancy to form our baby. 

Proceive is specifically formulated to support the nutritional needs of mum and baby during each trimester of pregnancy. To find out more about Proceive Pregnancy please click here.