Second Trimester Maternal Health

28/04/2021

Welcome to the second trimester! This is the period between week 13 to week 27 of your pregnancy.

Some of your pregnancy symptoms from the first trimester may ease up; the second trimester is often a nice break from nausea for many women. You may begin to experience new symptoms – chat to your doctor or health professional to learn how to take care of yourself through the second trimester.

Mothers-to-be in the second trimester can look after themselves by considering:

Skincare:

As your skin begins to stretch, particularly around the stomach area, it may become itchy. Though this is nothing to worry about, you may want to let your doctor know or chat with your pharmacist about appropriate soothing lotions.

Diet and exercise:

You likely have an exercise routine and a good idea of a healthy diet from your first trimester. As your baby grows, your nutrient and exercise needs can change, so you may need to adjust these routines.

Chat to your doctor about how much food you should be eating to nourish yourself and your baby while staying within your healthy weight range. With your professional's advice, you should continue to focus on including protein, calcium, folate, iron, and iodine in your diet.

Your recommended exercise may change as your body grows and changes. Typically, good exercises for trimester two include yoga, swimming, walking, and stationary cycling. Always consult a doctor or physiotherapist before trying exercises, and if you have an instructor, make sure they know you are pregnant.

Pregnant people should avoid high-intensity exercises or anything with the potential for falling or impact to the stomach. Remember to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles with gentle exercises like Kegels to help prepare for birth and post-birth.

Checkups:

Keep up with your antenatal appointments. Ask your professional any questions you may have and let them know about any changes to your mood, thoughts, or body.

Mental health:

With hormone changes and lifestyle changes come changes to mood. You may experience anxiety during this trimester; this is normal, but please talk to your doctor or loved ones if you are experiencing negative emotions for two weeks or more.

Planning ahead:

You've still got many months before your little one arrives. Now could be a good time to begin making arrangements for bringing the baby home, such as who can drive you home from the hospital. Do you have a partner, family, or friends who can help babysit, help around the house or just spend some time with you while you're home with the baby?

Does your workplace know about your pregnancy yet? Sometime during the second trimester is usually a good time to share your news, and you can begin making arrangements with your employer during these months.

The second trimester is sometimes thought of as a bit of a break between the more intense symptoms of the first and third trimester, so enjoy these three months and remember to take care of yourself physically and mentally.