second trimester Content

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Why your pregnant belly feels tight and heavy?

Your belly is getting tight and heavy to prepare for labor. You're almost there so buckle up and get ready for the rest of the journey.Why does your belly start feeling hard during pregnancy?🤰Growing uterusAs you're stepping into the third trimester, your uterus pushes against your abdominal wall and makes your belly feel hard.🤰 Your growing uterus also crowds your internal organs such as lung and bladder. Stretch marks on your belly become more visible and itchy.🙁🤰Gas and bloatingGas and bloating can also contribute to belly hardness. You get gassy because hormone changes slow the rate of digestion, leaving the food longer in the intestine🍲 and giving time to bacteria to produce gas.🦨 🤰Braxton Hicks contractionsIf you feel sensations of stomach tightening, it could be Braxton Hicks contractions. They appear more frequently in the third trimester as they prepare your body for labor.😃 🤰Preterm laborSharp pains on one or both sides of your belly might be caused by round ligament pain. However, if you feel excruciating pain accompanied with your belly feeling hard, this belly cramping can signal a more serious problem such as preterm labor.🙁 When to call doctorIf your contractions are so painful that you can't endure it, you should consider calling your doctor.👩‍⚕️ Any signs like vaginal bleeding, less fetal movement, amniotic fluid leaking can be dangerous so you should call your doctor immediately.🏥

Common pregnancy aches and pains

Growing a new person in your body takes a toll on your body. You should expect some body aches and pains along the way. Causes of body aches during pregnancy😩Hormonal changesSurges of relaxin and progesterone hormones relax your ligaments and joints to prepare your body for labor.🤰 Your body then feels all the aching and pain😫 as these unstable ligaments slightly move.😩Weight gainYou're gaining weight and putting extra pressure on your joints. Your growing uterus👶 also shifts your center of gravity and stretches abdominal muscles, causing inevitable pain to your back and spine.Relieving body aches in pregnancy😩HeatYou can apply heating pads, a hot water bottle on your abdomen. However, don't apply heat to your body for longer than ten minutes because you don't want to heat up your baby.👶😩ExercisesOne of the best remedies to reduce pain is to stay physically active.🚶 Pregnancy safe exercises help keep weight gain in check, strengthen muscles, support your blood circulation🩸 and reduce swelling. Common body aches in pregnancy😩HeadachesFeeling a squeezing pain on both sides of your head is a sign of tension headache.🤕 It's usually a harmless symptom due to hormonal changes and increased blood flow.😩HemorrhoidsHemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels🩸 in the rectal area due to straining during bowel movements. The growth of the uterus puts pressure on your rectal veins, making you feel downright painful.😩 😩Heartburn Burning sensation in your chest strikes you after you eat. During pregnancy, progesterone hormone relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, allowing the stomach acid🍲 to travel up your throat. Your baby👶 also contributes to pushing on the stomach and adding to the burn.😩Leg crampsLeg cramps🦵 can be rooted from vitamin deficiency, electrolyte shortage or other reasons. Changes in your body🤰 during pregnancy can cause unprecedented pains in your body.😩Carpal tunnel syndromeDuring pregnancy🤰, you experience tingling pain in your hands✋, wrists and arms. Extra fluid and swelling are the main culprits causing these symptoms.

Pregnant belly button

Your pregnant belly's growth keeps pushing your belly button out. It looks weird and makes you feel a bit uncomfortable but it will return to its normal shape after delivery. During pregnancy🔘Belly button changesYour belly button🔘 doesn't connect to the uterus. It's just the remnant of your attachment to your mother in the womb from years ago.👩 As your belly grows, it puts pressure on your belly button and causes some inconvenience. The belly button is out in the open making you feel weird😕 when it rubs against your clothes.👚 🔘Belly button painsUmbilical hernia happens when a piece of your intestines protrudes through the small hole in abdominal tissue into your belly button and gets stranded.🙁 Umbilical hernia is usually harmless, but you'll experience intense pain😣 when this piece of intestines gets stuck and squeezed in a small space of your belly button.After pregnancyThe belly button is likely to return to its normal size and shape after delivery.😃 However, sometimes your belly button may stay permanently outside, making you uncomfortable and diffident.You can choose umbilicoplasty, a surgery that makes the stretched belly button more vertical and less wide.👩‍⚕️🏥 The surgery is only recommended for moms who have no intention of getting pregnant again because another pregnancy will give you the same result.🤰

Braxton Hicks contractions

Braxton Hicks contractions are also called false alarms of labor. You can feel them early on in your pregnancy, but usually most moms won't feel them until mid to late pregnancy.😃 Braxton Hicks contractions🤰What are Braxton Hicks contractions?Braxton Hicks contractions are mild and sporadic contractions that you probably won't notice until mid to late pregnancy.🤰 They feel like tightness in your abdomen, typically last less than 30 seconds, then go away. They are uncomfortable but rarely painful.😃 Since Braxton Hicks contractions are often mistaken for early signals of preterm labor, you should not make any diagnosis yourself just to be safe.🙅‍♀️ You should consult with your doctor👩‍⚕️ if you experience abdominal pain that doesn't get better even after you rest. More regular and stronger contractions accompanied with vaginal bleeding as you approach your due date are also warning signs of possible preterm labor.⚠️ 🤰What causes Braxton Hicks contractions?The exact cause of Braxton Hicks contractions is unknown but you can think of them as a practice before your true labor.🤔 You will notice them more clearly when you're dehydrated or have a full bladder, or after having sex or doing physical activities. The difference between Braxton Hicks contractions and true labor🤰PatternBraxton Hicks contractions often appear sporadically and don't get closer together. True labor signals come at regular intervals and get closer together over time.🧐 🤰DurationBraxton Hicks contractions are weak, rarely causing any pains and lasting shortly. True contractions last 30 to 90 seconds.⏱️ 🤰PositionBraxton Hicks contractions occur in the front of your abdomen. However, real contractions feel like they start in the back and gradually progress to the front.🤰 🤰ChangeBraxton Hicks contractions stop when you change your position.🚶 True labor contractions continue despite position changes and intensify over time.

Have your baby’s movements changed?

Can you feel your baby's movements today? There is a baby kicking in there!Fetal movement👶When does fetal movement start?The first fluttery movements are called quickening. You can expect to feel your baby's first kick between 16 to 22 weeks of your pregnancy.🤰 But there is no exact timeline to feel fetal movement so you may feel it a bit earlier or later.😃👶What's movement like in the second trimester?Your baby's movement is still unpredictable at the beginning. As your baby is getting warmed up, you can feel more intense and frequent kicks and punches from your little angel.👶 You can also put your hands on your belly and feel the moving underneath.🤗Kick count👶Kick countYou pick a time of day and count the number of times your baby kicks during that exact time frame.🧮 It's best to pick the same time frame everyday so you can compare and notice any movements drop off.🙆‍♀️ 👶Decreased movementsIf you accidentally start kick counts when your baby is napping, decreased movements are harmless. However, there are more potential reasons like your baby's growth might have been slowed down, or problems might happen with the placenta or the uterus.😟 Call your doctor immediately if you notice any strange silence when monitoring yourself at home.👩‍⚕️

👉 second trimester content list

Mood swings during pregnancy

You are angry because of stress and fatigue. The next moment you feel anxious and worried about becoming a parent. All these roller coaster of emotions you're having are called mood swings during pregnancy.Mood swings🥴What are mood swings?If you've ever oscillated between sadness☹️ and happiness🤗, joy and utter despair, you are having mood swings during pregnancy. It's a wild ride of emotions that is unpredictable and chaotic.🥴 🥴Causes of pregnancy mood swingsPregnancy can be stressful and overwhelming due to surges of hormones🤰, fatigue and morning sickness, sleep deprivation, anxiety and stress. One day you are excited at the thought of having a baby.👶 The next day you immediately fall into lugubrious low wondering whether the baby will be healthy, you'll be a good mom. Buckle up and enjoy the ride!🙆‍♀️How to manage pregnancy mood swings🥴Take it easyPut yourself, your health and your emotions at the top of the to-do list.👩 Pampering yourself is one of the most important parts of taking care of the baby. You have to be happy first in order to give birth to a healthy and happy baby.😃🥴Share with your partnerExpressing how you feel, communicating with each other👨‍👧 often, and reassuring yourself that you're more than enough will certainly boost your confidence and mental strength. You can always be there for one another after the baby comes.😃 ❤️🥴Do something that makes you feel goodHave some 'me' time. Taking time alone to do something just for you makes you feel relaxed and calms you down.😃 It can be taking a nap, going for a walk🚶, watching movies with your best friend, a pampering night with massages💆. Do anything that makes you happy.🥴Manage your stressDon't let your frustration bottle up, find ways to resolve it. Figure out why you're stressed and talk it out with friends and families.👨‍👧 If you still find that anxiety is creeping in, try taking yoga classes, practicing meditation or consulting with your therapist.👩‍⚕️

3D and 4D Ultrasounds

Why should I take the test?💡Are you anxious to see your growing baby in your belly? 3D and 4D ultrasounds allow you to see your unborn baby in depth and detail which you could not see in a standard 2D ultrasound. Your midwife may offer you an ultrasound if your baby is at risk of complications. Depending on the trimester and your needs. If you have any existing medical conditions or experiences of eclampsia, you are the right candidate for ultrasounds. Ultrasounds in 3D and 4D are performed only to closely examine fetal demise or monitor something specific. These are usually not included in routine prenatal exams. How is the test done?💉A sonographer will put some gel on your tummy and move a transducer over your skin. 3D ultrasoundsMultiple two-dimensional images are taken at various angels and put together to create a three-dimensional rendering. 4D ultrasounds4D ultrasounds provide you with baby's movements in real time. You can see your baby opening and closing his eyes or even sucking his thumbs. TMI from Baby Billy👩‍⚕️: Risks of the procedureThere are no known risks of ultrasounds for pregnant moms. However, ultrasounds should only be performed by qualified medical professionals when necessary.

Carpal tunnel during pregnancy

Carpal tunnel during pregnancy refers to tingling pains in the fingers, wrist, hands and arms. It is a common symptom because of all the swelling you're expecting.Carpal tunnel during pregnancy👋What is carpal tunnel?Carpal tunnel is a common syndrome when you're pregnant.🤰 You experience numbness or a dull ache in your fingers, hands, wrists and arms.✋ You also have swollen fingers and go through trouble grabbing objects and performing simple motor skills in daily routines.👋Causes of carpal tunnelFluid retention collected in your tissue of the hands and wrists and increase in blood volume🩸 compress the median nerve, causing throbbing pain. You may feel more uncomfortable at night since the wrist is usually bent when you sleep.👌There's not much you can do to prevent the syndrome because eventually all the natural changes will find you when you're pregnant.🤘 You can mitigate the pain by making minor changes in your daily life and get used to it.🤟 How to relieve carpal tunnel👋Limit activities involving hands movementFigure out which activities cause you the most pain and avoid doing them. Try to limit them as much as you can, especially the ones where your wrists are mostly immobilized like working on computers.✍️👋Breaks when workingTake breaks to move your arms and stretch your hands. Moving around increases blood flow and relieves the pain.🤘 You can also use wrist stretches, such as wrist extension and wrist flexion.🤟 👋Sleep positionAvoid sleeping🛏️😴 on your hands and try to keep your wrists straight instead of bending them. If you wake up with pain, shaking your hands and doing a little stretching might help you.👋Pain relieversIf none of those methods work, you should consult with your doctor to ask for anti-inflammatory pain medications that are safe for pregnancy. They don't cure the pain but can only temporarily alleviate it.🤘✌️

Shortness of breath during pregnancy

Running out of breath soon?😮‍💨 Even a minimal amount of exercises can take your breath away fast. Sit down, take a deep breath and here's what you need to know about shortness of breath during pregnancy.😃 Shortness of breath during pregnancy😮‍💨Causes of shortness of breathPregnancy hormones stimulate your body to breathe in more frequently and deeply😮‍💨 to take in more oxygen for your growing baby-to-be. Your blood capillaries🩸 are also swollen, muscles in the lung are relaxed to absorb more air.As your uterus👶 keeps growing bigger, it puts pressure on your diaphragm and lungs, limiting their full potential to inhale as much oxygen as they want, causing you to feel out of breath. 😮‍💨When will shortness of breath ends?When you reach closer to your due date, your baby👶 is moving to the position and preparing to come out. As your baby drops down into your pelvis, the lung and diaphragm will be less compressed and you will breathe more easily.😃 What you can do about shortness of breathTo ease your symptoms a little bit, you should stand🧍🏼 as straight as you can to expand your lungs and let them do their job. Take it easy when you exercise🚶 by having breaks in between. Sleep on your left side😴 so you can easily breathe and blood circulation works better.

Screening for Maternal Depression

Why should I take the test?💡Pregnancy is a time of joy and celebration. However, stress and depression are inevitable parts of the journey for some moms. In fact, about 7% of pregnant women are reported to experience depression during pregnancy.Depression causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Healthcare providers and even you tend to pay more attention to physical health during pregnancy rather than mental health. Because some symptoms of depression are similar to those of pregnancy, they are often overlooked and not getting treated. How is the test done?💉During screening, your healthcare provider will ask you questions from a standardized screening questionnaire. Your answers to these questions will be scored and your total score will be used to determine whether you need mental help. Alternatively, psychiatrists may ask you questions about your feelings, worries and interests recently.TMI from Baby Billy👩‍⚕️: Risk factors for depressionSome risk factors for depression include anxiety, life stress, unintended pregnancy, and intimate partner violence. Little support or history of depression can make you fall into depression again easily.Signs and symptoms of depressionOther than symptoms that are similar to depression in the general population, additional clues are excessive worries about your baby, low self-esteem, inability to find pleasure in favorite hobbies. If you do not find yourself drawn to prenatal care and reassurance or you even have thoughts of suicide, you should definitely seek help.Treatment for depression Treatment for depression is extremely important! If you are sad all day long and you don't want to eat healthy foods that your baby needs, you can't have the energy to take care of yourself. Hence, you are at increased risk of postpartum depression and have difficulty bonding with the baby. Depending on your conditions, the doctor will prescribe you to help boost up your moods. You may be offered psychotherapy or antidepressants in addition to therapies.

Health checkups in the second trimester

Just as you have had regular visits with your doctor in the first trimester, remember to continue doing so in your second trimester. These checkups monitor your baby's development and your health!During a checkup🩺Fundal heightFundal height is the height of your uterus measured from the top of your pelvic bone to the top of your uterus.🤰 Although it's not an accurate indicator of how healthily your baby👶 is growing, it can be considered as a marker for fetal growth.🩺Fetal heartbeatUsing Doppler ultrasound, doctors will check whether your baby's heart rate❤️ is too fast or too slow to indicate the baby's development. You can also hear your baby's heartbeat and get a sneak peak of your little angel that you're growing.😃🩺EdemaYour legs🦵, ankles and feet will be examined for swelling, or edema. Swelling is just a side effect of pregnancy, however, abnormal swelling might infer problems such as blood clot, preeclampsia.😟ccccc 🩺Weight gainWeight data⚖️ is recorded to compare your weight gained during pregnancy and your weight before pregnancy. The amount of weight gain recommended depends on your pregnancy weight, the number of babies you carry and the amount of weight that you have already gained so far. Your nutritionists will help you design a suitable diet plan accordingly.👩‍⚕️🩺Blood pressureBlood pressure🩸 decreases during pregnancy due to the overdrive or hormones and the increase of blood volume. The pressure is at its lowest when the baby is 24 to 26 weeks old.Low blood pressure makes you feel tired and fatigued easily. As long as you feel well, it's not a big concern.😃 Other tests during the second trimester🩺UrinalysisYour urine🚽 is always examined to make sure that your protein and sugars are under the threshold. Dangerous complications such as preeclampsia due to high blood pressure with swelling and excessive protein in your urine can happen if your urine is not monitored.⚠️High blood glucose in your urine can signal gestational diabetes. If you have painful urination symptoms, you have to check for bacteria infection.🦠🩺UltrasoundUltrasound🩺 is an essential tool to determine the stage of your pregnancy, the placenta, the amniotic fluid and confirm the menstrual dating. It's perfectly safe for you and your baby.😃 🩺Triple screen testYou're usually offered a triple screen test if you're under the age of 35. The test, also called multiple marker screening, tests your blood🩸 for AFP which is a protein produced by your baby, hCG which is a hormone produced in the placenta, and estriol which is a type of estrogen produced by both placenta and baby.🏥 🩺Cell-free fetal DNA testA DNA test🧬 is conducted to assess your baby's possibility of having abnormal chromosomes. Cell-free fetal DNA is a genetic material released by the placenta and found in your blood. Chromosomal disorders can affect the baby's learning ability and development in the future.⚠️

Heartburn during pregnancy

Heartburn is one of the most common symptoms during pregnancy. Prevention is your best bet in minimizing discomfort and avoiding this fiery acid reflux.Heartburn during pregnancy😩What heartburn feels like?It is a burning sensation that starts from the bottom of the breastbone and travels up your esophagus to the lower throat😩. It's often related to gas and bloating. The discomfort that you experience will come and go after delivery.🤰😩What causes heartburn? Progesterone hormone relaxes the muscles of the uterus and the lower esophageal sphincter, making gastric acid go back up burning your throat. The weight of your growing baby👶 also contributes to pushing stomach acid back up into the esophagus.🙁vvvvv Heartburn prevention😩Avoid food and drinks that upset your stomachCarbonated drinks like soda🥤, alcohol, and caffeine exacerbate heartburn symptoms. Citrus fruits and vinegar containing acids, fatty and spicy food should also be avoided.🙅‍♀️😩Eat small mealsInstead of eating three big meals per day, divide your meals throughout the day and give your body time to digest.🍲 Take your time eating and chewing. 😩Drink water between mealsStaying hydrated is important. Drinking water🥛 between meals helps neutral acids in your stomach and wash all remnants of food in your mouth away.😃

Amniocentesis

Why should I take the test?💡Amniocentesis is a procedure in which the amniotic fluid is removed from the uterus for testing. Not only does amniotic fluid protect the fetus from injury, allow the baby to develop healthily, and control the temperature of the fetus, but it also helps check fetal well-being and diagnose problems. If you have a family history of genetic disorder or receive abnormal prenatal screening test results, the test is recommended to identify any chromosomal abnormalities. If preterm labor occurs, amniocentesis may be done to check for uterine infection, fetal lung maturity and determine whether the baby's lung is mature enough for birth. If you accumulate too much amniotic fluid, the test alerts the necessity of draining out excess fluid from your uterus.The test can also evaluate the severity of anemia in babies who have Rh sensitization, a rare condition in which the baby's and mother's blood are mixed up and the mother's immune system produces antibodies against Rh protein on the surface of the baby's red blood cells. If you carry any risk of a sex-linked genetic disease, or risk of open neural tube defects in the second trimester, you are recomended to take the test.How is the test done?💉Amniocentesis is usually done between week 15 and 20 of pregnancy. If you have amniocentesis before week 20 of pregnancy, having a full bladder during the procedure is beneficial. You should check with your provider how much fluid that you should drink before your appointment. On the other hand, after 20 weeks of pregnancy, your bladder should be empty to lower the risk of puncture with the needle. After locating your baby using ultrasound, you will lie on your back, expose your abdomen while the doctor cleans your abdomen with antiseptic and inserts a thin, hollow needle through your abdominal wall and into the placenta. Then, a small amount of amniotic fluid is suctioned into a syringe and the needle is removed. The specific amount of fluid withdrawn depends on how the pregnancy has progressed. TMI from Baby Billy👩‍⚕️: Before the procedureYou will be given a consent form before the doctor conducts the procedure. Generally, there is no restriction on diet or activity before an amniocentesis.If you are allergic to latex or sensitive to any medication such as anesthetic agents, you should notify your doctor immediately. Tell the doctor if you have a history of bleeding disorders, or take anticoagulant medications, aspirin or other medications that affect blood clotting. During the procedure, your blood and the baby's blood can be mixed up so make sure you already inform your doctor if your blood type is Rh negative. Finally, be ready!After the procedureAfter the procedure, your vital signs and the baby's heart rate will be monitored for a while. You can continue your activities throughout the day but avoid strenuous activities for at least 24 hours. You may feel some cramping, a bit lightheaded or dizzy. Tell your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any bleeding or leaking of amniotic fluid at the puncture site, fever or chills, severe belly pain, or any changes in the baby's activities. Risks of the procedureAmniocentesis is associated with various risks, including miscarriage, needle injury, Rh sensitization, infection or amniotic fluid leakage. The risk of pregnancy loss is higher if you do the test before 15 weeks of pregnancy. During the procedure, the baby might slightly move around into the path of the needle, causing mild injuries. The test rarely triggers infection. The decision to have an amniocentesis is totally up to you. Your healthcare provider will help you weigh all your options before you make this important decision.

Doppler ultrasound

Why should I take the test?💡Doppler ultrasound is a noninvasive test that can estimate the blood flow through your blood vessels by using high-frequency sound waves. This helps to show whether different parts of your baby's body are getting all the oxygen and nutrients via the placenta.Your midwife may offer you a Doppler scan if they think you may be at risk of complications. If your baby is measuring small for dates or not actively kicking these days, you need extra care during your pregnancy. Doppler ultrasound is also offered to moms who have previously suffered the loss of a baby or had existing medical conditions. It is also a useful way to check your baby's well-being and growth if there are any concerns. How is the test done?💉A sonographer will put some gel on your tummy and move a transducer over your skin. Depending on what information doctors need, there are two types of Doppler scans.Uterine artery Doppler scansUterine arteries are the vessels that carry your blood to your womb. These small arteries will expand to give the baby all nutrients and oxygen the baby needs to grow at a healthy state. An uterine artery Doppler scan will check the blood flow through these arteries so that you can receive extra care if any risks to the baby are detected.Umbilical artery Doppler scansIf your baby's movements are reduced, the scan will check the blood flow in umbilical arteries which carry blood from your baby to the placenta via the umbilical cord. If any issues are found during an umbilical artery Doppler scan, your obstetrician may request additional scans to look at the blood flow in the baby's brain and aorta. TMI from Baby Billy👩‍⚕️: Risks of the procedureSince the scan is noninvasive, it's perfectly safe for your baby to have frequent Doppler scans. The benefits of having lots of checkups to monitor the baby's health outweigh any potential risks.Doppler scans at homeAlthough it is possible to hire or buy a portable Doppler machine to listen to your baby's heartbeat at home, it is not recommended for you to try it by yourself. Hand-held Dopplers are sensitive to sounds so they can pick up the sound of blood flowing or your heartbeat easily and mistake it for your baby's heartbeat. Hence, you should leave Dopplers to trained health professionals who can differentiate them apart and interpret patterns more precisely and correctly.

Pregnancy sleep during the second trimester

Are you accustomed to your sleeping habits these days? Stay strong, you are fully equipped with coping strategies to fight against sleep disturbances now. How you may be feelingYou used to be tired and drained😫 all the time. All those restless nights filled up with anxiety and worries now have been the past.😴 A brighter future is knocking on your door as your hormone levels are rising more slowly, you might have more energy in the morning and more sweet dreams at night. Morning sickness has also passed, too. You can feel peaceful now.😃How to establish good sleeping habitsDuring the entire pregnancy journey, probably the second trimester is the best time for you to have high quality sleep🛌🏾 and establish a good sleeping habit. Unlike the first trimester, your body is getting used to all changes and everything seems more stable.😃 Make the switch to side sleeping if you haven't already. Set a sleep routine and implement things that you should do before sleep such as going to the bathroom🚻, drinking a cup of warm milk🥛, or putting your phone away. All these good deeds will be paid off in the months ahead.Exercise can helpThis is the golden opportunity for you to start exercising🏃 regularly. Your body is not as tired as it was in the first trimester. You can start gentle exercises to boost your mental and physical health.🤗When you stay active and use up energy, you will also fall asleep better at night. Exercises too close to bedtime can backfire as they energize you up, so it's better to exercise in the morning and start a new day.🙆‍♀️

second trimester Content | Baby Billy