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The second trimester of pregnancy is commonly known as the middle stages or the fourth, fifth and sixth months of your pregnancy. This is usually the best time of a woman’s pregnancy, as most women recover from morning sickness and you haven’t yet put on too much weight to feel uncomfortable.

With all of my pregnancies, I absolutely loved the second trimester.  I felt really well and happy and excited about being pregnant.  All three pregnancies were different at the beginning and the end but my second trimester of pregnancy was very much the same.

Common Symptoms of the Second Trimester

There are a few common symptoms of the second trimester of pregnancy but all women are different, so if you have any concerns at all, please see your doctor. Some of these may include

• Larger Breasts
• Weight Gain
• Growing Abdomen                                     
• Skin colour changes
• Stretch Marks
• Leg Cramps
• Cravings for particular food

During the second trimester you should also start feeling your baby moving.  I remember vividly when I  felt my first baby move for the first time.  I was around 18 weeks pregnant and it felt like little butterflies in my stomach.  It was a fantastic feeling and that’s when it really hit home that I had a baby growing inside of me.

What Does Your Baby Look Like in the Second Trimester of Pregnancy?

By around four months into your pregnancy, your baby will be around 4 1/2 inches long or close to 12cm and weigh around 110 grams.  It should be apparent what sex it is by around the 15th week and he will be starting to develop bones in his skeleton.   The eyes and ears will be moving to their final position and your baby should now be starting to make sucking motions with his mouth.

By the end of your second trimester,  your baby would have grown rapidly to around 9 inches and weigh close to 820 grams.  Their vital organs will be developing and they will be covered with fine hair.  Your babies hands are fully developed and he will have grown fingernails.  They will also be getting very active and like to have a kick around inside.

I hope you enjoy your second trimester of pregnancy as much as I did and keep well. You are over half way.

Until next time,

Jackie Stenhouse

The first stages of pregnancy is commonly called the First Trimester.  This is such an exciting time for most women, especially if you have been trying to get pregnant for some time.

You will always remember the time when you found out for the first time, you were going to have a baby.  I have had 3 children and still remember the feeling of excitement and apprehension I felt when I knew for sure I was pregnant.  All 3 were planned babies and all 3 were different.

I just want to tell you what to expect in the first stages of pregnancy to help you quell any fear you may be feeling.

What to Expect in Stage One of Your Pregnancy

The first thing you need to do if you have done a home pregnancy test or want to find out if you’re pregnant, is go and see your doctor.   They will give you a thorough check up which may include blood tests to check your iron levels and overall health.  It is also important to note when your last period was,  as this is the date they will start your 40 week gestation from.

Usually a woman won’t even know she is pregnant until she is officially 5 weeks on,  so if you are trying to become pregnant it is vital you look after yourself well and refrain from drinking alcohol, taking harmful drugs or smoking cigarettes, as these may harm your baby before you even know you are actually pregnant.

Symptoms You May Be Feeling

Some women are very lucky and don’t have any symptoms during their first stages of pregnancy, but if you are like me and many thousands of other women, you may experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tender breasts, fatigue, swelling and generally unwell.  These symptoms usually only last during the first 3 months and will vary in levels of discomfort, but it is very important if you are worried about anything, to check with your doctor.

Your body is going through an amazing process of growing another human being, so it is expected to have some side effects while this is happening.

You may also find that some foods will trigger the nausea, and I know myself I couldn’t bring myself to eat green beans – even though these are my favourite vegetable.  I also had to revert to bottled water, as I found the water from the tap gave me severe diarrhea.

What You Can Do to Help Yourself Through the First Stages Of Pregnancy

The most important thing to remember is if you feel unsure of anything, no matter how silly you think it is, go and check with your doctor. It is definitely better to be safe then sorry.  Below I have set out a few points for how you can get through your first stages of pregnancy while helping keep your baby happy and healthy:

• If you are a smoker, you really do need to try and quit or at least cut back. It is a known fact that  smoking really can harm your growing baby.

• Check with your doctor before taking any drugs at all, whether they be over the counter or subscription drugs.

• Limit your alcohol intake, as drinking too much alcohol can cause Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and birth defects.

• Try and get as much rest as possible.  I know this may be difficult if you are working full time or have other small children, but its important to look after yourself.

• Eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables.  These will help  give you the vitamins and minerals you need to grow a healthy baby.

• Most of all, enjoy this time of your life and keep the stress levels down.

In my future posts,  I will be talking about the next stages of pregnancy, what you may be feeling and how to best manage your changing body.

Until then, keep happy and healthy and most of all, enjoy these first stages of pregnancy.

Jackie Stenhouse

There are many things which  should be avoided while you are  pregnant and the most common of these are cigarettes and alcohol.

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can harm the growing fetus and cause ‘fetal alcohol syndrome’ (FAS) which is when alcohol crosses the placenta and can lead to stunted fetal growth or weight, create distinctive facial stigmata, damage neurons and brain structures and cause other physical, mental and behavioural problems.

Why would you risk this, when FAS is a 100% preventable disease by simply not drinking alcohol while pregnant.

Cigarettes is another health risk for your unborn baby. Every time a pregnant mother takes a drag from a cigarette, normal fetal breathing movements (a sign of a healthy
fetus) are reduced within five minutes. Women who smoke cigarettes (or anything else for that matter) while pregnant are at increased risk of many things.
Infants that are born to women who smoke during pregnancy have lower than average birth weight and are more likely to be small for their age. Low birth weight is associated with increased risk or death.

To give your baby and yourself the best possible start in life, which I know you want to, abstaining from cigarettes and alcohol for 9 months is the best possible thing you can do for your precious unborn baby.  If you are having difficulties doing this, speak with your doctor and they should be able to help you.

Have a Great Day

Jackie Stenhouse

ps. If you would like to find out more, you can order a free mini version of Pregnancy from A-Z which will give you some great tips and information about what to expect during your pregnancy. Simply click on the link below.

http://creativewomenonline.com/freegifts.php

If you have a burning pregnancy question about what is happening to your body, or would just like some information on the stages of development of the beautiful baby growing inside of you, check out this great ebook, Pregnancy From A-Z.  It was written by a female doctor by the name of Dr Irina Webster who specializes in women's health and is also a mother and a wife, so she knows first hand about what you are going through during pregnancy.  

During the first three months of pregnancy, or the first trimester, your body undergoes many changes. As your body adjusts to the growing baby, you may have nausea, fatigue, backache, mood swings and stress.

Nausea and Vomiting

Usually called “morning sickness,” nausea and vomiting are common during early pregnancy. For many women, though, it isn’t limited to just the morning. Although it can seem like it will last forever, nausea and vomiting usually go away after the first trimester.

Some women might not feel any discomfort at all! If you have been pregnant before, you might feel differently this time around. Just as each woman is different, so is each pregnancy.

Personally I felt fine with my first pregnancy, but was practically bed ridden during the first trimester of my second pregnancy, but once the three months was up it was like flicking a switch and I felt great.

By the end of the first trimester, your baby is about three inches long and weighs about half an ounce. The eyes move closer together into their positions and the ears also reach their proper position. The liver is making bile and the kidneys are secreting urine into the bladder. Even though you can’t yet feel your baby move, your baby will move inside you in response to pushing on your abdomen. Keep this to a safe minimum.

A fetus at 12 weeks can make a fist and suck their thumb, has fully formed eyelids and well formed digits and ears.

New life is amazing.

Have a Great Day

Jackie Stenhouse