Pregnancy Symptoms in the Second Trimester

1. Pregnancy Symptoms in the Second Trimester By Avantika Singh

3. The second trimester of pregnancy marks a few milestones in the development of the foetus. Consequently, physiological and anatomical changes occur in the body of the mother. In addition, some changes initiated in the first-trimester shift gear in the second one, either decreasing or increasing their rate. Throughout the pregnancy, women experience common risk during pregnancy and some may indicate events or conditions that may lead to health complications in the future. In these cases, Cryoviva biotech a cord blood bank in india provides potential options for personalised treatments. Additionally, they also offer solutions to diseases in the family members.

4. Cord Blood Banking Cord blood is the blood in the umbilical cord that connects the mother and foetus to transfer nutrients and oxygen to the baby. It contains stem cells that can be used to treat various diseases in the family members or the same baby diagnosed in the future. Cord blood banking allows the preservation of cord blood for future applications.

5. Major Developments in the Second Trimester A few landmark developments in the second-trimester women must be aware of are as follows: The foetus shows noticeable movement in the womb for the first time around the 20th week. The baby starts kicking and moving side to side. It is known as quickening. By the second trimester end, the foetus attains a length of about 13 to 16 inches and weighs about 0.9 to 1.36 kg. Eyebrows and eyelashes are well developed and appear distinctly. The baby starts to respond to certain stimuli and can show reflexes, such as swallowing and sucking.

6. Let us know more about the symptoms experienced during the second trimester of pregnancy. Morning Sickness Morning sickness refers to episodic nausea and vomiting in the morning. It usually starts around the sixth week of pregnancy and lasts for a few weeks or months. However, it improves during the second trimester. Symptoms due to Slow Digestion Initial digestion of food through the physical breakdown of food particles occurs through cyclic contraction and relaxation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. In pregnant women, contraction of the GI tract becomes slower due to the hormone progesterone, which plays a crucial role in maintaining the anatomical and physiological aspects of the womb and foetus.

7. Throughout the pregnancy, the progesterone level increases gradually with the gestational period. Hence, digestion in the second trimester is slower than in the first trimester as the hormone slows down the contraction of the gastrointestinal tract. It leads to the following difficulties. Constipation: It refers to difficulty in passing stool or bowel movement. Laxatives, increased fluid (preferably water) intake, and more fibre-containing foods and fruits help relieve the discomfort. Haemorrhoid: It refers to swollen veins in the rectum or anus, which eventually rupture and cause bleeding. It occurs when pregnant women force themselves too much while defecating. Heartburn Heartburn, one of the common complaints from pregnant women, is a burning sensation in the upper digestive tract up to the throat. A high progesterone level relaxes the valve between the stomach and the oesophagus, causing the backflow of food components in the stomach. Since digestive enzymes are highly acidic, it causes a burning sensation in the gut. Consuming smaller meals and avoiding dinner late at night helps reduce the symptom.

8. Symptoms due to Accelerated Growth of the Baby The size of the foetus by the end of the first trimester is about 3 to 4 inches, weighing about 140 to 280 grams. Through the second trimester of pregnancy, it grows up to 18 inches, weighing about 0.9 to 1.36 kg. It implies that the baby expands by manifolds, demanding more space in the womb. As a result, the uterus presses the surrounding organs, causing the following pregnancy symptoms: • Backaches: As the muscles and bones around the abdomen stretch to accommodate a growing baby, mothers have trouble maintaining their positions leading to back pain. In addition, a bundle of nerves called sciatic nerves gets pinched due to compression and induces a tingling sensation and shooting pain. Assisted exercise, walking, and massages may relieve pain. • Profuse Sweating: As the baby grows, its metabolic activity and movement increase, producing excessive heat. It causes profuse sweating to balance body temperature. In addition, the increased effort of the mother for physical activities contributes to sweating. • Low BP: Blood pressure reduces gradually from the beginning of pregnancy to the middle of the third trimester. Due to the dramatic increase in metabolic needs, such as nutrients and oxygen, more blood flows into different organs. As a result, blood pressure reduces.

9. Abnormal Heartbeat: Due to increased cardiac output to fulfil the nutritional needs of mother and baby, the work done by the heart varies greatly from time to time. It leads to a change in the rhythm of the heartbeat. During such times, mothers should try to avoid overthinking or panicking and always be positive during pregnancy, which may helps to stay healthy in pregnancy. • Dry, Itchy Skin: As the abdomen expands to make room for the baby, the skin expands rapidly. The pace does not allow sufficient time for the skin to complete the structure of expanded skin, causing dryness and itchiness. In conclusion, while the second trimester of pregnancy may be a more comfortable and enjoyable phase for many women, it's important to remain aware of potential symptoms and complications, and to continue receiving regular prenatal care to ensure a healthy pregnancy and delivery.

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