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Pregnancy calendar - 2nd trimester
The Forth monthThe good news is that the fatigue associated with early pregnancy subsides, and you have the added excitement of first hearing your baby's heartbeat in a scan. It is also time to inform your employer - if you are a working woman. European and American woman, fortunately enjoy far-reaching and supportive maternity rights in the workplace. By 12 weeks the foetus is fully formed and measures 5.5cm from head to bottom. The baby is protected within a fluid filled membranous bag known as the amniotic sac, and the umbilical chord connects to the placenta, supplying nutrients and oxygen to the foetus. By 14 weeks you will probably have the first signs of a 'bump', although this varies from woman to woman. Your body also begins making several adjustments, such as increased frequency of urination and occasional constipation, while some of the muscles in the vicinity of the womb become softer and 'stretchier'. Morning sickness should also be over or on the decline. Try to get as much rest as possible, remember you have a growing passenger on board now! Headaches and dizziness continue to upset your routine and even create emotional changes. Make sure you are eating plenty of fresh, nutritious food, and don't be afraid to exercise regularly, it all helps the body cope better with the changes and demands.
The Fifth Month
By 16 weeks your baby's body will be more in proportion with its head, and hair fingernails and even eyebrows are developing. By 20 weeks the unique lines on the skin of the fingers will have even formed. The pregnancy hormone progesterone causes your body's blood supply to increase by a third, resulting in a small drop in blood pressure and the chance of fainting. Noticeable changes occur to the skin and hair, and some mums-to-be complain about 'getting spotty'. Weight increase is now obvious, as well as increased fat stores - particularly thighs and bum. Try eating starchy snacks and put your feet up whenever you can. By now you should have had at least three ante-natal check-ups, two scans and possibly an extra appointment for the odd blood test or prescription from your GP. The stress may begin to show and its important now to start clearing out unnecessary activities in your life, taking regular breaks, and short periods of exercise. Pay attention to nutrition and maintain a course of vitamin and mineral supplements suitable for pregnant women.
The Sixth month
By now your baby will have developed many of the behaviours of a new born, such as sucking its thumb, wriggling around and responding to sounds and touch, as well as swallowing small amounts of amniotic fluid. It even develops a routine for its sleeping and becomes covered in a very fine soft protective hair. By 24 weeks it is possible for you baby to survive outside the womb if an emergency, early labour, needs to be induced. You may develop heartburn, indigestion and constipation due to the pressure on internal organs from the enlarged uterus. Most significantly, your weight will have increased by about 12 pounds, altering your posture. If the stress is beginning to get to you, start pampering yourself and preparing for your maternity leave. Prospective fathers usually start getting more excited and involved at this stage. Make sure he pulls his weight and gives you regular massages and plenty of tlc! Let him do the chores while you take time out alone to 'stroke' your baby. A wholemeal and fruit/veggie diet, and plenty of fluids, help your body react more comfortably. An ante-natal appointment with your midwife should shortly follow your 'foetal anomaly' scan at around 19-20 weeks, when a careful check would be made of all your baby's 'bits and pieces'. There will be more blood and urine tests at this point. Begin attending exercise classes to help with posture and prepare for labour. Yoga is particularly rewarding. Visits To The Doctor in 2nd TrimesterEach month during the second trimester, more doctor's office visits are needed. These tend to be fairly straightforward and routine. They normally start with questions from the doctor about how your partner is feeling and whether she has excessive tiredness or pains anywhere. Depending on your particular doctor and the medical history of your partner, she may be asked to take blood and/or urine samples to make follow-up checks on protein levels, sugar levels, Rh antibody levels, etc. These are sometimes done in the doctors office or sometimes she is asked to go to a clinic or a laboratory. The weight gained since the last visit will always be checked. This is becoming more and more important for today's doctors. Problems raised through excessive weight gain include increased stress on the joints, heart and back. It can also make the birth more difficult as well as increasing the risk of developing and being a first sign of pre-eclampsia. Recommendations for the amount of acceptable weight to gain during a pregnancy varies from country to country. In Europe, it is generally suggested that a gain of about 1 Kg per month is good (that's 2.2 pounds per month) which adds up to about 9 Kg (20 pounds) for the full nine months. In the USA the recommendations tends to be between 25 and 35 pounds (11.3 Kg and 15.9 Kg) for the full nine months which comes to between 2.7 and 3.8 pounds per month (1.2 Kg and 1.7 Kg per month of pregnancy). Of course, the weight gain doesn't usually arrive in a smooth fashion. Extra Vitamins are often prescribed in the second trimester. In some countries where the diet is generally poor or fresh seafood is not easily available, Iron supplements will be offered. In places where the diet is generally good and varied, a supplement of Magnesium is often prescribed. Another appointment to be kept during the second trimester is the "Triple Test" (or multiple marker screening), which normally needs to be done at a specialized clinic or hospital that have the equipment & procedures in place to perform this screening. If you and your partner have chosen to perform either an Amniocentesis or CVS sampling procedure, then this will take place during the second trimester. The really big meeting in the 2nd trimester is the second scan.
The 2nd Trimester Ultrasound ScanThe second trimester ultrasound scan is also called the "Morphological Scan" and is used to confirm that all the right bits are in the correct place. It is also used to look for abnormalities and to confirm the results of the "Triple Test". During this scan, you can discover the sex of your child. If you do not wish to know until the birth, then be sure to tell the guy that is operating the machine. Normally it will be the first question that you will be asked when you walk in. Although this is mainly for medical purposes, the bonding with your child truly begins here. For the woman, the bonding began a long time ago, she has been caressing her tummy for the last few months and she has felt the first little movements. This scan gives her a strong visual link with her baby that reinforces what she has been feeling. For the man, this is the first real chance to make a contact with his child. In the earlier scans there were some fuzzy movements on the screen and maybe you could make out a shape or two, but this one not only lasts much longer, but you can clearly see the profile of the head and see the tiny hands and feet wriggling about. Forget what they tell you about only becoming a father at the birth, it all starts here and from now on, each time you feel a kick or movement in your partner's tummy, you will have a picture in the back of your mind from this scan session.
What they look for and measure in the scanFirstly they will confirm the number of foetuses present and the location in the uterus where the placenta is attached. The quantity of amniotic fluid will be checked also. If a Doppler system is included in the system, the heart beat will be measured and the blood flow through the umbilical cord and the main arteries will be seen. The image looks similar to this.
 The doctor will look for the 4 distinct heart cavities and for good operation of the ventricular valve. He/she should be able to get a picture of the valve both opened and fully closed. The kidneys are also usually checked at this point. The movement of hands, arms, legs and feet are checked as well as the correct number of fingers and toes. Your baby can usually be seen practicing breathing. The amniotic fluid is taken into the lungs then a few seconds later expelled in a cloud.
The Spine
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By now your pregnancy will begin to show. Some mums-to-be even experience the odd soft 'kick' or 'flutter', but this is uncommon at this stage.
At last, your little treasure will begin to 'kick' - at times painful and annoying but a delightful experience non-the-less. Your GP is likely to ask you to record these movements. You are also getting big enough to truly feel the physical strain. It's more important the ever now to take it easy.
