2nd trimester of pregnancy: symptoms, care and examinations

The 2nd trimester of pregnancy corresponds from the 4th to the 6th month and the weeks 14 to 27 of the pregnancy, and is marked by the development and ripening of the baby’s organs, formation of connections between neurons that allow movements, which can be felt by the woman. In addition, the main senses such as hearing, taste, touch, smell and vision are already developed and the baby already performs sucking and swallowing movements for future breastfeeding.

In this trimester, the woman’s breasts become more voluminous, the belly grows more and more and the weight of the uterus on the bladder can cause some discomforts, such as loss of urine. In addition, some women may experience back pain, as the growth of the uterus causes a change in the shape of the body and in the center of gravity.

During the 2nd trimester of pregnancy, two prenatal consultations and the tests recommended by the obstetrician, such as blood tests, urine and the second obstetric ultrasound, so that the doctor can evaluate the woman’s health and the development of the baby, in addition to giving guidance on measures that help to alleviate the symptoms of the second trimester of pregnancy.

Development of the baby

The development of the baby in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy is marked by the development and maturation of the organs, such as lungs, liver, intestine, kidneys, bones, cartilage and reproductive system. In this trimester of pregnancy it is possible to know the sex of the baby. See the main exams to know the sex of the baby.

The respiratory system continues to develop and the baby can already make breathing movements by inhaling the amniotic fluid, which allows the development of the lungs that continue to mature until the end of pregnancy.

The connections between neurons are being formed and the brain continues to develop. The baby is already actively moving, and can be felt by the woman. Hearing, touch, taste, smell and vision are already developed, as well as the sucking and swallowing reflexes.

At the end of the second trimester, the baby measures about 34.7 centimeters and the placenta is developed and ensures the optimal amount of blood vessels to provide all the food that the baby needs and the umbilical cord carries food and blood rich in oxygen to the baby, in addition to taking the waste and blood poor in oxygen from the baby to the placenta.

Changes in the woman’s body

In the second trimester of pregnancy, the physical changes in the woman are now much more noticeable, because the belly continues to grow with the development of the baby, the silhouette becomes more round. The breasts increase in volume as pregnancy evolves, due to the development of the mammary glands and the beginning of the colostrum production, which can leak and soil the bra with a yellow liquid.

In this trimester of pregnancy, the woman may feel a little pain in the back, in the lumbar region that can radiate to the legs, due to the growth of the belly and increased curvature of the spine, which can compress the sciatic nerve. This change in the curvature of the spine can also alter the center of gravity of the body, and the woman may lose some body balance.

In addition, a woman may have loss of urine or urinary incontinence and experience other symptoms such as pain in the pelvis, heartburn, burning sensation in the stomach, constipation, hemorrhoids, or tenderness in the gums. Check out all the changes in the woman’s body week by week in the second trimester of pregnancy.

Care in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy

In the second trimester of pregnancy it is important to continue to follow all recommendations of the obstetrician, take the folic acid and/or other vitamin supplements indicated by the doctor and avoid the use of remedies on their own.

In order for the woman to have more strengths and energy to support the additional work that pregnancy requires of the body, the obstetrician can indicate the practice of some regular physical activity, such as swimming, walking, yoga, pilates or maintaining the physical activity that she practiced before pregnancy, but in a light and moderate way, always accompanied by a physical educator.

In addition, a nutritious balanced diet should be made including fresh fruits, vegetables and vegetables, to provide all the necessary nutrients for the development of the baby. See what diet should be in pregnancy.

Throughout pregnancy it is also important to avoid the consumption of alcohol, cigarettes or drugs of abuse, as they can impair the development of the baby.

How to Relieve Symptoms of the 2nd Trimester

In the second trimester of pregnancy some care is important to help relieve discomforts that may arise as:

• Breast sensitivity: Use a support bra to relieve the sensitivity, pain or feeling of heavy breasts. This bra is also used at night to support the breasts and relieve this discomfort;
• Back pain: Do not stay too long while standing, when sitting should avoid crossing the legs and using a pregnant woman’s strap to support the belly and back, can help improve back pain. In addition, it is important to do exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles of the back such as yoga or pilates, for example. Check out the best exercises to do in pregnancy;
• Balance loss: Exercise can also help improve body balance. In addition, it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes and avoid wearing high heels;
• Loss of urine: Doing exercises for the perineum and pelvic muscles can help reduce this discomfort, being a good option are Kegel exercises. Learn how to do Kegel exercises;
• pelvic pain: do light stretches and gentle movements, practice yoga or pilates, provided that they are released by the doctor, can help relieve discomfort, as well as strengthen the muscles to support changes in the body during pregnancy. However, if the pain does not improve, or if you have a fever, contact the doctor should be contacted immediately;
• Heartburn or burning sensation in the stomach: Eating in small amounts at intervals of less than 2 to 3 hours can help relieve this discomfort. In addition, one should avoid lying down after eating, avoid drinking fluids during meals and avoid eating fried foods, spiced or very spicy foods. Here are other tips on how to relieve heartburn in pregnancy;
• Constipation: Practice regular exercise recommended by the doctor, to help improve bowel movements, eat more fiber in the form of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to keep the body hydrated can help relieve this discomfort;
• Hemorrhoids: bathing with warm water, using dashed wet without perfume or washing the anal area after defecate, can help relieve the discomfort of the hemorrhoid. In addition, not sitting or standing for too long, can help lower the pressure that the belly does on the rectum and prevent the development of the hemorrhoid. See more tips on how to treat hemorrhoids in pregnancy;
• Sensitive in the gums: use a soft toothbrush and keep brushing your teeth and flossing regularly. In addition, it is recommended to consult the dentist to assess the health of the mouth and teeth.

It is important to always follow the guidelines of the obstetrician, according to the symptoms presented, in order to guarantee the health of the woman and allow the healthy development of the baby.

Warning signs to go to the doctor

It is important to call the obstetrician or go directly to the hospital emergency room if the woman has any of these symptoms:

• Fever above 37.5o C;
• Constant or severe abdominal pain, which does not relieve with rest;
• Bleeding by the vagina;
• Headache and blurred vision;
• Vomiting;
• Vaginal discharge that is not transparent;
• burning or pain when urinating;
• Itching in the vagina;
• Stop feeling the baby move.

These signs and symptoms can indicate candidiasis, urinary tract infection or the presence of complications, such as diseases, preeclampsia or problems in the placenta and so you should seek medical help to know how to deal with each situation.

Main exams of the second trimester

In the 2nd trimester of pregnancy, at least two prenatal consultations should be made and the follow-up with the obstetrician is done through tests that evaluate and monitor the development of the baby and the health of the woman.

The main tests performed by the obstetrician in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy include:

1. Blood pressure

The measurement of blood pressure in pregnancy is very important, as it is possible to evaluate the risk of preeclampsia, which happens when the blood pressure is high, which can result in premature birth.

It is normal that in the first half of pregnancy there is decreased pressure, however throughout pregnancy the blood pressure returns to normal. However, the pressure can increase due to unbalanced feeding or malformation of the placenta, for example, which can endanger the life of the mother and the baby. Therefore, it is important that blood pressure is checked periodically.

2. Height of the uterus

The examination of height of the uterus or uterine height is done by the obstetrician by measuring the abdominal region, in order to evaluate the size of the uterus, which until the 28th week of gestation should be about 24 cm, in addition to the growth of the baby.

3. The morphological ultrasound

The morphological ultrasound is an imaging test that allows you to visualize the baby inside the uterus. This test is indicated between the 18th and 24th week of gestation and evaluates the development of the heart, kidneys, bladder, stomach and amount of amniotic fluid. In addition, it identifies the sex of the baby and can reveal syndromes and heart disease. Learn more about morphological ultrasound.

4. Urine and Urine and Ut culture

Urine tests are quite important during pregnancy, as this way it is possible to identify urinary infections and thus avoid complications during pregnancy or childbirth. Thus, it is important that the type 1 urine test be done, also known as EAS, and if any change is verified, a urine culture can be requested, in which microorganisms present in the urine are verified.

In the case of a diagnosis of urinary tract infection, the doctor may recommend the use of antibiotics, such as cephalexin, without any risk to the mother or baby. Understand how treatment is done for urinary tract infection in pregnancy.

5. Egram of the egram

The blood count is also quite important in the second trimester of pregnancy, since it allows to evaluate the amount of red blood cells, hemoglobin, leukocytes and platelets of the woman and thus check whether or not she is with anemia.

Anemia in pregnancy is normal especially between the second and third trimester of pregnancy because there is a decrease in the amount of hemoglobin and increased use of iron to meet the needs of the baby, however, this can pose a risk to both the mother and the baby. Thus, it is important that the blood count is done to diagnose anemia as soon as possible and treatment can be started. Learn how to recognize the symptoms of anemia in pregnancy.

6. VDRL

VDRL is one of the tests included in the prenatal period that is done to verify if the mother is carrying the bacterium responsible for syphilis, Treponema pallidum. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that can be transmitted to the baby at the time of delivery if the disease is not identified and treated during pregnancy, there may be changes in the development of the baby, premature birth, low birth weight or death of the baby, for example.

7.Toxoplasmosis

The test for toxoplasmosis is done with the aim of verifying whether or not the mother has immunity against toxoplasmosis, which is an infectious disease caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii that can be transmitted to people through the consumption of contaminated food or water, as well as through direct contact with cats infected by the parasite.

Toxoplasmosis can be transmitted from mother to child and happens when the woman acquires the parasite during pregnancy and does not do the appropriate treatment, which can pass to the baby. Know the risks of toxoplasmosis in pregnancy.

8. Necessal fibronectine

The fetal fibronectin test aims to verify if there is a risk of premature birth, and should be done between the 22nd and 36th week of gestation by collecting vaginal secretion and the cervix.

For the test is recommended that the woman does not present genital bleeding and has not had sex 24 hours before the examination.

The doctor may indicate other tests such as urea, creatinine and uric acid, liver enzymes, electrocardiogram and ABPM for some pregnant women. In addition, urine tests or vaginal discharge and cervical evaluation may also be prescribed to identify other sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia. See the most common STDs in pregnancy.

9. Nucal translucency

The 14th week of pregnancy, which corresponds to the first week of the second trimester, is the last week to do the nuccal translucency test. This test serves to detect malformations and genetic diseases, such as Down syndrome. Learn how the nucleal translucency exam is done.

10. Amniocentesis

Amniocentesis is an examination that can be performed between the 15th and 18th weeks of pregnancy, being indicated by the obstetrician for pregnant women over 35 years, who have a history in the family of genetic diseases or who have had a child with a genetic disease, to verify changes that may pose a risk to the baby. Check out all the indications of amniocentesis and how this exam is done.

How to prepare for the arrival of the baby

When you have passed 20 weeks of gestation, you can start preparing for birth and so you can attend the preparation classes for childbirth, where pelvic exercises are done that help both in normal delivery and in the recovery of cesarean section. In addition, you can read books and magazines about how to take care of the baby, how to bathe, how to breastfeed and put the baby to sleep.

This is also a good phase to prepare the baby’s room, because at the end of pregnancy, the weight of the belly can make it difficult to go to stores to buy the products that the baby will need when born.

You can also start to prepare for baby tea and decide if you will ask for only diapers or other items necessary for your family and closest friends. This is a special date, which pregnant women keep with great affection. If you choose diaper tea, use our calculator to know how many diapers you can order, and which sizes are most suitable for each phase: