What you need to know about the second trimester will give you the confidence to enjoy the rest of your pregnancy and prepare you for the arrival of your progeny.
This period gives you an eagerness to learn about your changing body and find a way to embrace it. It’s the time you’ll relish the comfortability you feel in comparison to the rest of the pregnancy. By this time, you’ve accepted the pregnancy and put some semblance of order back into your life. You have more energy, feel hungrier, more clear-headed than you’ve been, and may even have a lighter mood. At some point between 16-21 weeks, you will no longer be “guessing” if you felt a kick and will likely cherish these odd sensations. Maybe you’ve even announced your pregnancy or perhaps had a gender reveal party at some point in this stage. These weeks feel most awkward since you aren’t quite showing until the end of this trimester. Only you and your partner are fully aware of the changes your body is going through.
Second Trimester Tips:
- Now is the time to re-evaluate your prenatal care decisions. Sometimes when we find out we are pregnant, there isn’t much thought put into where to get the best care. We want someone to confirm the pregnancy and tell us it’s healthy. So consider these;
- Who are you going to pay for their expertise in maternity care? Physician or midwife?
- Have the first few visits with your caregiver been helpful, accepting, informative, supportive, friendly, and comfortable?
- Will they teach you what you need to know about your second trimester or any trimester? Or will you have to learn on your own?
- How about the office? Nurses, secretaries, and medical assistants can give off good or bad vibes as well.
- Have you had to sit in the waiting room for extended periods?
- Are you more than a number in their practice? Have they called you the wrong name or had the wrong chart information?
- Do you feel like you could ask your attendant anything that is on your mind?
- Have you checked out the birthplace or taken a tour?
- Will you deliver at home, birth center, or hospital?
It’s your prerogative to chose whomever and wherever to have your baby, even if you change your mind a few times. This decision will probably be the most critical step in preparing for a less stressful delivery.
2. An obstetrician or midwife is not the only specialist needed. Start putting feelers out for an expert that you’d like to bring baby to, a pediatrician, or family doctor. It could take weeks to interview a few prospects and make a decision. You’ll likely ask fundamental questions like these;
- What insurance they accept
- The days & times they’re open
- Whether they have separate rooms for sick children
- What emergency plans they have in place
- If they have privileges at the facility you are delivering
Consider bringing a list of far-reaching questions and take notes. Examine the parenting philosophies that you and your partner have discussed. Decide how vital those key points are and talk to the prospective pediatrician. You’re paying their salary, so be critical. Start with some of these;
- How do they help with breastfeeding questions or problems
- Talk about the circumcision decision
- Vaccination schedule and the pros and cons
- What procedures are a necessary part of this practices routine
- Whether they do bloodwork in the office
Educate Yourself
3. Take time to research a quality prenatal birthing class. Ask around for recommendations. While online courses, videos, and chat groups can give useful information, you’ll have a clearer picture of labor & birth in a class “off” your couch. For one thing, when we pay for a class that forces us to attend at a specific time and day, we listen and absorb the content and get our money’s worth. Secondly, having tangible props and physical exercises to practice together can be a game-changer. Be honest, are you and your partner going to practice breathing and squatting at home? Third, there is something to be said for meeting other couples and sharing the same journey. Creating long-lasting friendships on your break at the water cooler during a birth class can make your transition into parenthood even more fulfilling. In a world full of technology, let’s keep birth at the old fashioned level.
4. If you haven’t started a pregnancy exercise program, now is the time. With more energy, you can gain more benefits. A specific prenatal exercise class will have an instructor who is able to teach you what you need to know in the second trimester and all of the trimesters. If a class is not your thing, try swimming, dancing, walking, hiking, yoga, etc. Make sure to build your quads for birthing and upper body for munchkin holding. By creating your stamina and muscles, the third trimester should be a breeze, and recovering from childbirth will be even smoother.
5. Kegel, kegel, kegel: if you’re not aware of this exercise, practice stopping the flow of urine the next time you’re in the bathroom. Get familiar with this muscle and make it stronger by holding it longer and longer. Compose a habit of doing 100 per day. By making a conscious effort to keep this part of you healthy, you secure a quicker postpartum recovery. Try my favorite 10 rule to live by;
- ten in the shower
- ten on your way to work
- ten at break time
- ten at lunch, ten at break time
- ten on your way home from work
- ten while exercising
- ten at dinner
- ten while lounging
- ten before bed.
Teamwork in the Second Trimester
6. Consider who you’d like on your birth team, outside of the birth attendant. How do you picture your birth? Is your partner squeamish? Do you want another family or friend there when you’re delivering? It’s essential to have an advocate with you every step of the way. Your partner or family can be too emotionally involved to be objective in decision making, so start looking for a doula. This person should be an expert in the field of birth, who has the endurance and compassion to assist you and your partner through the perinatal period. Consider her your live 24/7 pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum app. This person can be molded; however, you see your need for her. She is in addition to your partner, not a replacement. The earlier you hire someone, the more you get to know each other and benefit from her skill.
7. Now that the nausea is subsiding (I hope), this is an excellent time to re-evaluate your nutrition and supplements. It’s essential to eat a diet high in protein, so if you are vegan or vegetarian, be sure to tell your birth attendant. He or she can help you navigate an appropriate diet. Don’t forget the prenatal vitamins with folic acid. Hydration is integral from here on in because dehydration can cause premature labor. Don’t skimp on staying healthy for you and your progeny; the benefits far outlast the pregnancy.
8. Take advantage of this complacent time and go on a “Babymoon.” Traveling during this time will be most satisfying, and all couples can use some time to reconnect before the “mini-me” arrives. If you plan a trip overseas, talk to your midwife or doctor first.
9. Now is an excellent time to discuss plans with your employer. Preparing early on will make for a smoother transition later. The law is on your side regarding pumping at work, but you’ll want to get a feeling for your boss’s energy surrounding the topic. Keeping the lines of communication open for the remainder of your pregnancy will give your boss confidence in your intention to return (if that is your plan).
10. If daycare is part of your outlook, begin investigating. You’ll want to interview a bunch and drop in on them here and there to prepare ahead. Be aware, that some daycares have waiting lists. If you are planning to breastfeed, be ready to ask questions of the daycare relating to breast milk storage. Brush up on all things relevant to working, pumping, and storing milk before having this conversation. You want to be sure they are not going to treat human milk the same as formula. By doing this while pregnant, you’ll take the pressure off and be able to enjoy your time with the baby in the early postpartum weeks, rather than traipsing around town with baby in tow.
Get Creative
11. Decide if you want a baby shower, “Blessingway,” Sprinkle, photoshoot, Jack and Jill shower, spa celebration, etc. If this is your first baby, rest assured that many of your family and friends are already “planning” something. While it may seem like a great idea to get all the “things” you may need for your baby, some people prefer a different type of celebration. Do your research and determine what your heart prefers. Talk to your mom, best friend, or sister and let them know how you feel, so when they are honoring you, it will be how you envision it. Whatever you decide, it’s ok to put yourself on a baby registry if you’d like some of the conventional baby apparatus.
12. Journal, draw, paint, bake, plant through the pregnancy and early labor time. Your senses are much higher, and the creative juices can flow in the second trimester. Enjoy this productive part of the expedition, who knows maybe you’ll do your best work. Take time to jot down things that are important to you for labor and postpartum. By keeping a record of your thoughts, it’ll be easier to devise a birth plan when you’re ready. This proposal is something you’ll want to have with you to share with birth workers at any appointments.
13. Read quality books about pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, newborns, parenting philosophies, etc. You’ll never get this much time to read again, so take advantage. Be sure to switch up the genre on each topic, including breastfeeding: natural & medicinal birth, humor, how-to, science, fantasy, history, etc. to gain the most from this passage. Here are a few favorites:
- Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth
- New Active Birth
- Best Birth
- Ina Mays Guide to Childbirth (or any Ina May book)
- Birthing from Within
- Hypnobirthing
- Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
- The Vaccine Book
- The Baby Book (or any Dr. Sears book)
- The Shit No One Tells You About Pregnancy
- Confession of a Scary Mommy
- Belly Laughs
- Latch
Noticeable changes to keep in mind:
1. Increased mucus and fluids in the body can make you feel congested and swollen. Bloody noses and gums may occur with the pressure and change in hormones. Make it a practice to eat anti-inflammatory foods, exercise, and use a humidifier to keep membranes supple.
2. Vaginal discharge will become more copious and white. If you notice an odor, blood, itching, or color change, let your caregiver know. If you are usually a yeasty person, take probiotics regularly.
3. Heartburn, indigestion, and constipation can become factors but a decent diet, fermented foods, hydration, chewing gum, ginger, baking soda, don’t smoke, and laying on an incline can help.
4. Prominent veins and “red spots” in places you’ve never noticed may look worrisome but are all pieces to the pregnant body. A high fiber diet, hydration, and exercise will also alleviate varicose veins. Talk to your birth worker if you are not getting relief. Try some of these tips;
- Replace your chair for a birth ball (even at work)
- Start seeing a well-educated chiropractor for pregnant women
- Get a prenatal massage
- Practice proper body mechanics to prevent and alleviate backache. Consciously tuck your booty whenever possible for the most comfortable pregnancy.
5. Skin is stretching to keep up with your growing uterus. Unfortunately, no magic will prevent stretch marks. Putting olive oil, cocoa butter, coconut oil, or other creams on your belly may relieve the itchiness, but be sure you use something edible.
6. Round ligament pain may suddenly grab your attention. It may present as a sharp pain in the lower abdomen. Sometimes it is debilitating enough to force you to lie down or sit, honor your body. It is an expected and temporary sensation brought on by the ever-growing uterus. The fasteners (ligaments) that hold it in place need to stretch.
7. Leg cramps are usually a problem in the middle of the night but can get your attention at any time. Most women can handle these with calcium and magnesium supplements daily, but you should check with your attendant first.
8. Unusual dreams can begin in the second trimester but become more intense during those last weeks of pregnancy. They are not reality, so let it go. Don’t overthink them.
9. Some people struggle with insomnia during pregnancy and find very little relief. The usual suggestions of warm milk, routine, and keeping electronics off in your room can benefit you. Some other tips and tricks to help in the second trimester:
- Safe teas (chamomile, lemon balm, raspberry leaf, etc.)
- Yoga and meditation before bed
- Warm shower or bath
- Body pillow
- Change the temperature in the room (65 degrees is best)
- Relaxation techniques
- Healthy diet & supplements
- Limit caffeine
- Take magnesium
- Turn all screens off and possibly put out of the room
- Take a nap earlier in the day
- Cherries contain high levels of melatonin and may benefit you
- Limit trips to the bathroom as much as possible
- Flip your mattress
10. Frequent urination does not have a cure. Your bladder is under the uterus, so expect this nuisance to teach you where all the bathrooms are. This way, when you have a potty training toddler, you’ll know where it’s clean and safe to take him. Do not limit water if you are thirsty. Becoming dehydrated is not worth limiting trips to the bathroom.
Pregnancy can be a pleasant excursion through this journey called life. If you learn techniques about “going with the flow” or “rolling with the punches” (changes of pregnancy), you will find parenthood is much easier to navigate. Pregnancy and children are not black and white in nature; sometimes, it’s the gray areas that trip us up. Be patient with your changes, and embrace the wonders of your ever-evolving body. Remember, you are a superhero growing a human! You are magnificent!
Happy Parenting!
