1. Bonding Begins
Morning sickness and other symptoms consume some women during the first trimester, so bonding with pregnancy really begins in the second trimester. Most of your symptoms subside for this trimester, also known as the honeymoon period, so you can sit back and enjoy your pregnancy. At around 20 weeks (earlier, if it's not your first pregnancy), you'll feel your baby kick for the first time. You'll also hear the heartbeat at your doctor visits, so you'll know it's a real baby growing inside of you. Bonding happens on both ends during this trimester. Toward the end your baby is able to hear you and maybe even your partner when you talk. This starts an important bond that lasts a lifetime.
2. We're Having a Boy (or Girl)
The halfway point is when most couples have the most exciting ultrasound, when it's possible to tell the gender of your baby. However, the ultrasound technician looks for more than just the gender during this ultrasound. She looks for any physical abnormalities and verifies the due date. This ultrasound takes place sometime between 16 and 20 weeks. Usually, the longer you wait, the better chance you have of catching a glimpse of the gender.
3. Bigger Boobs and a Belly
Your worst pregnancy symptoms are over, and your body is in full baby mode. The glands that produce milk inside your breasts get larger, meaning you may soon need a bigger bra. As your baby grows, so does your belly. The second trimester of pregnancy is when a lot of women trade in regular clothes for maternity clothes. Leg cramps from your growing uterus can also be a problem during the second trimester, as well as heartburn and constipation. But it's not all bad news. The second trimester is when blood circulation increases, giving your skin that pregnant glow.
4. Warming Up for Labor
Toward the end of your second trimester, your body starts gearing up for labor. Braxton Hicks contractions happen when your uterus contracts and relaxes, usually without pain. These contractions come and go unpredictably. If you notice contractions that are painful and/or come at regular intervals, call your doctor immediately. Babies born at the end of the second trimester have a great survival rate (85%) but serious complications can occur.
5. Becoming More Like a Baby
The second trimester is when you notice your baby is no longer the size of a blueberry (or smaller). By the end of your second trimester, your baby has tripled in length and weighs considerably more than at the end of the first trimester. Your baby is already making facial expressions, moving and kicking inside your uterus and maybe even found his thumb to suck. It's still wise to avoid caffeine, alcohol, some medication, lunch meat and mercury containing fish to protect your baby.
