Some say the second trimester is the most enjoyable time of your pregnancy. Your early morning sicknesses should have stopped by now. You also, just have started showing but you are not big enough to make you uncomfortable. During this time you can also see your baby a lot more clearly, if you visit the gender scan clinic, where you can even know the gender of your baby in advance. Having said that, it also does not mean that it will be all walk in the park. There are a lot more things that you can expect to happen. Just like in the previous blog, we told you about what to expect in your first trimester, in this blog, we are going to tell you what to expect in the second trimester.

Your second trimester starts from week 13 of your pregnancy and goes until week 27. You will be experiencing a lot of physical changes and the effects of those changes.

Growing belly and breasts

As your child keeps getting bigger, your belly grows. The extra weight also leads to backache. It gets harder to stay upright for a long period. It is also important to sleep on your side by now. Your breast also grows in size along with your belly. During this time wearing maternity bras will make you feel more comfortable.

Skin changes

When there is an increase in the level of pigment cells, also known as Melanin, brown patches appear on your skin, or the vertical line on your abdomen known as Linea Nigra is also very common. Usually, these changes go away after delivery and don’t have any side effects, but it would be better not to go out in the sun without sunscreen.

Dental problems

Hormonal changes send more blood to the gum, makes them more sensitive, and bleeds easily. But they go back to normal after delivery. In the meantime use a soft toothbrush, rinse your mouth with salt water, and floss your teeth very gently.

Dizziness

Pregnancy changes the blood circulation that might leave you dizzy. If you’re having a problem with dizziness, drink plenty of fluids, try and avoid standing for long periods, and move slowly when you stand up or change position after a long time. When you feel dizzy, lie down on your side.

Braxton hicks contractions

You might feel these mild contractions as a slight tightness in your abdomen. They’re more likely to occur with activity, including after physical activity. Contact your health care provider if the contractions become painful or regular.

Leg cramps

Leg cramps are common during pregnancy especially, at a later stage, often striking at night. To prevent them, stretch your calf muscles before you go to bed, stay physically active, and drink plenty of fluids. If a leg cramp occurs, stretch the calf muscles. A hot shower or a warm bath, ice massage or massaging your muscles also might help.

These are the most common changes that can occur in the second trimester. We will be back with third trimester in the next month.