Second Trimester

Common changes your body will deal with during the second trimester:

• Breast tenderness
• Increasing weight gain
• Braxton Hicks contractions in this trimester
• Skin changes like a rash or glow 
• Stretch marks may begin to appear
• Nasal congestion
• Swollen/bleeding gums is also very common
• Changes in blood pressure
• Leg cramps 

Click here to read a summary of changes you will experience during the second trimester

13 to 18 weeks pregnancy

Common symptoms you may feel during 13-18 weeks of pregnancy: 

• Feel your baby move for the first time (quickening)
• Nausea and vomiting might have gotten better by this time
• Breast tenderness decreases
• Nipples may have begun to become darker
• Start developing a dark line down the center of your abdomen
• Notice skin darkening around your nose and eyes

What happens inside your womb during 13-18 weeks of pregnancy?

• Baby’s weight is about 90gm and about 12.5 cm
• They weigh as much as a tennis ball
• Inner ears have formed and they can hear you
• Baby is covered in lanugo
• Hair and eyebrows begin to grow

Click here to read a summary of changes in the baby’s development during 13-18 weeks

19 to 22 weeks pregnancy

Common symptoms you may feel during 19-22 weeks:

• Your breast tenderness decreases
• Breast size increases 
• Your breasts may start to leak colostrum
• You sweat more and might start feeling more energetic
• May have cramping legs, backache, heartburn/indigestion

What happens inside your womb during 19-22 weeks?

• By end of 22 weeks they are 25 cm tall (10 inches) about the length from elbow to wrist
• Weighs about 250 gm
• Covered with a cream like vernix
• Will kick twist and turn, grasp, suck

Click here to read a summary of changes in your baby in weeks 19-22

23 to 26 weeks pregnancy

Common symptoms you may feel during 23 to 26 weeks 

• Breast size increases
• Have stretch marks by now
• Have veins in legs that swell up- these may be visible (varicose veins)
• Abdomen might begin to become itchy
• Feel your uterus contract and relax (Braxton Hicks contractions)
• Swollen, inflamed or easy to bleed gums
• Have gained about half of the weight that you will gain in your entire pregnancy

What happens inside your womb during 23-26 weeks? 

• Baby is about 32 cm, length from elbow to fingertips
• Weighs around 1 kg, as heavy as a small lemon
• Has a brain stem which monitors heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure
• Moves around often
• Has fingerprints and toe prints
• Has immature lungs
• Is developing a sleep cycle
• Can hiccup and can open and close its eyelids

Click here to read a summary of changes in you baby from weeks 23-26 weeks