So You Survived the First Trimester of Pregnancy! Give Yourself a big pat on the back because the hardest part is over and you made it.
Things are typically a lot easier from here on out until right up to the end.
{ Just to clarify, The second trimester starts in week 14 of pregnancy and lasts until the end of week 27 }
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Because of this, The second trimester of pregnancy is often called the honeymoon period because many of the negative symptoms reside and emotions become stabilized. Still, there are many changes happening within your body, and you can expect to notice quite a few of them, even if you feel overall better and more energetic.
Here are some of the Major changes that you may notice happening during the second trimester.
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What To Expect During The Second Trimester
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Increased Weight Gain
Weight gain will increase rapidly, and you’ll probably be gaining about a half pound to a full pound every week, maybe more. It’s helpful that morning sickness usually goes away after the first trimester, so you’ll have a better appetite and be able to add the extra 300 to 500 recommended calories a day.
It can be easy to fall into a trap of overeating, so use a calorie counter if you find that you are eating too much. You’ll certainly be hungry, but you want to be smart with your food habits.
Congestion
Congestion is one of the most annoying pregnancy issues and it will last, for most women, until the end of pregnancy. This happens because there’s increased blood flow to your mucous membranes including your nose. It may even cause you to snore!
You can take over the counter decongestants that are safe during pregnancy on the really bad days to get some relief.
Leg Cramps
Leg cramps can be painful and they certainly can increase during pregnancy during the second and third trimester. This happens because of hormonal fluctuations and mineral imbalances. If you get a really painful leg cramp flex your foot immediately to deactivate the spasm before it gets bad. This works well to relieve most of the pain.
A backache
With the extra weight you’re gaining in the second trimester, you’ll experience more and more pressure on your back.
Wearing comfortable shoes with adequate arch support is important during this time, as is practicing good posture. You should have a chair that promotes sitting straight up and provides plenty of back support. Sleeping on your side with a pillow between your legs can also help relieve aches and pains.
If you feel that the pain is too uncomfortable, Maybe consider getting a pregnancy massage. That’s a lovely way to pamper yourself during your special time!
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Achiness In Your Growing Abdomen
You may experience some aching and pulling sensations as the ligaments in your abdomen begin to stretch. Sometimes it will feel as if you are getting a muscle spasm in your sides and it can be fairly painful. Lying flat on your back for a few moments can relieve some of the pain.
Loose Teeth
This is a side effect of pregnancy that’s often not discussed. The same hormones that cause your ligaments to stretch and your body to loosen up can cause your teeth to get a little Jiggly. It’s not uncommon and they will tighten back up after the baby comes.
Dizziness
Dizziness is very common during this time, especially if you stand up too quickly. Just be sure to get plenty of water and hold on to something when you stand up.
Growing A cup Size
Your Breasts will rapidly change at this point, especially towards the end of this trimester so you may need new bras. They do get much less sensitive during the second trimester though.
Hair Growth
The hormones you are experiencing now can often promote hair growth, and it may even be found in places you never noticed before. Thicker hair on your head can be a good thing, but you might also notice hair on your face, arms, and back. Shaving and tweezing can help, even though they may not be exactly pleasant.
Quickening
Quickening is the feel of flutters in your abdomen, which is generally from the movement of the baby. This will probably not be all-out kicks, but you’re likely to notice some sort of movement. Some women, however, don’t experience quickening until the sixth month of their pregnancy.
Pregnancy “Glow”
While some women get this glow early on in their pregnancy, it is common for it to happen in the second trimester due to hormones that make the facial skin appear flushed.
This also makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight, so make sure to use sunblock on days when you are going to be outside for long periods of times. Cheers to looking Pregnant and Pretty!
Some of the Symptoms in the second trimester are no picnic but they are exciting all the same and it’s fascinating to watch your body grow and change.
Enjoy this easy stage of pregnancy!
Are you having any unusual symptoms during this trimester? Share in the comments!
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Pregnancy is a very happy, exciting time. Congratulations to you!!
I absolutely loved pregnancy for the most part, but it was also a bit terrifying at times. This is true Especially if it’s your first time around.
So Let’s Talk about the first trimester. This is the period between 1 and 12 weeks. Some women really thrive during this period and others feel pretty bad. It all depends on so many factors and it can be different each time.
There are many changes going on in your body and it can be really overwhelming, even if you’ve read up on them, and they can feel very unexpected. While every pregnancy is different, there are certain things that will happen to most people, so it’s important to be prepared for them.
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The first trimester may be the most confusing time for some, with major changes taking place despite your bump not necessarily becoming visible. Here are some of the things that you can expect in the first trimester.
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Morning Sickness
This is one of the main symptoms everyone talks about and fears the most. It certainly can be pretty rough and it will vary from person to person and with each pregnancy as well. I only really got sick during my third, So you may not even get it.
One way to fight morning sickness is to eat bland, carb-rich foods like crackers and muffins, stay hydrated and get plenty of rest. Make sure you eat enough because if your stomach is too empty it can make you feel worse. An Empty Tummy sure seems to bring on the Nausea…
You can also whip up some Ginger tea. It really does work well by relaxing your stomach muscles. I used it daily.
You may have to stay home from work some days if it gets too bad so be prepared for that as well. If it get’s really bad, there are meds your doc can prescribe that are safe for you and your babe. Don’t feel bad if it comes down to that. Just talk to your doctor.
Food Aversions
This is another biggy. Most Women here about how they’ll have all these cravings and want some very specific foods. This is true to some degree but a lot of women have food aversions too. I sure did. There were foods I thought I would never eat again in my life while preggo. The thought, smell, and look of them made me horribly sick!
This can make things difficult when you’re hungry all the time and all the food you loved before grosses you out.
You will need to look for healthy alternatives that will make you feel full and happy.
Bleeding And Cramping
Close to 25% of pregnant women have some slight bleeding during the first trimester. Light spotting may happen and is relatively common. However, if the bleeding is immense or comes with significant pain, you should call your doctor as it could be indicative of a bigger problem.
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You may also experience some serious cramping and that can be really scary. When I was pregnant with my first I had extreme cramping and I was terrified I would miscarry but everything was just fine. I read that the cramping can occur when the egg is digging deeper into your uterine lining so it’s pretty normal to experience this overall.
If your cramping lasts more than an hour or so and it’s very intense, then go ahead and contact your OBGYN but try not to panic.
Sore Breasts
Your hormones will be changing in order to prepare milk ducts to feed your baby, so breast tenderness is one of the most common occurrences during the first trimester. Wearing support bras or going up a size can help you alleviate the pain involved in this process.
They will become very sensitive all around so be prepared for this. I couldn’t even let the water in the shower hit my nipples directly.
Fatigue
This is the worst part ladies, I’m not going to lie. There’s nothing in the world like First-trimester Fatigue. You will want to sleep 20 hours a day, I kid you not.
Your body has never worked harder then it is right now and you need so much rest to support both you and the baby growing inside of you.
So take it easy in every way. Get help at every opportunity. Find ways to take it easy during this period and let go of some responsibilities that can be dealt with later.
One more thing, make sure you get enough iron, you don’t want to suffer from anemia which will make the fatigue even worse.
Heartburn
Hormonal changes in your body during the first trimester can relax the muscles of your lower esophagus, which means that acid reflux can become more common. You’ll want to eat smaller meals throughout the day to prevent this, and avoid spicy, greasy, or acidic foods that are known to contribute to heartburn.
This never happened to me but I know it can be really bad for some so watch out for the first signs of it and pay attention to what you’re eating.
Weight Gain
This is an obvious sign of pregnancy, but you should only gain about 3 to 6 pounds during the first trimester. In the first 3 months, you really only need to eat about 250 to 300 more calories per day to support your baby, so the scale won’t move too much just yet.
With that being said, Don’t go crazy and eat everything your heart desires. I know that can be hard but eating too much and becoming overweight can actually have a negative effect on your baby’s development, so you should make sure to get those extra calories from healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, and lean meats.
Constipation
This one’s a real bummer and can happen throughout pregnancy. Some experience in the first trimester and some don’t. Just make sure you’re eating enough fiber to keep things moving. You don’t need any added discomforts and this can be avoided for the most part.
These are a few of the main things you’ll experience during your first trimester. For most women, this period of time goes fairly smoothly and any discomfort you do have is often barely noticeable because of the excitement and anticipation you feel. That sort of drowns out all of the negative things so don’t fret too much.
Cheers to you and your growing babe! I wish you all the luck in the world and I am so happy for you mama!
Did you have any weird symptoms not found on this list? If so share in the comments.
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