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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

Falling pregnant can quite often be the most exciting time in a womans life, but it will also be a time full of questions and concerns.

Did you know that conception occurs about 2 weeks before your period is due?   The best times for falling pregnant are during this time,  so it is useful to keep a record of your menstrual cycle.  This may also mean that you might be more then 3 weeks pregnant and not even know it.

This is important to know, because your baby is most sensitive to harm in the period from two to eight weeks after falling pregnant.  This is when your baby’s facial features and organs such as the heart and kidneys begin to form.

Anything you eat, drink, smoke or are exposed to can affect your baby, so that why it’s best to start acting as if you are pregnant before you are sure that you have concieved, if you have been trying to get pregnant.

Things to Think About Before Falling Pregnant

Before falling pregnant there are a few things you may like to do to ensure the safe arrival of your little bundle and also for your own health and piece of mind.

• Visit your doctor and tell them you want to start a family.  He should give you a thorough check up including blood tests and pap smear (if you haven’t had one in a while)  He should also discuss your family medical history.
• Have a check up with your dentist, as if you need a filling it is best to get it done before falling pregnant so there is no concern of medication or pain killer side effects.
• Talk to your partner and make sure you are both fully committed to having an extra person in your family.  Babies take up a lot of time so you need to be ready to sacrifice some of that “me” time and be prepared for broken sleeps.
• If you are reliant on 2 incomes, make sure you have a financial plan for when you have to stop work.  Are you prepared to put the baby into childcare and go back to work after you have it?

The above is only a few things to think about before falling pregnant.  Education is the biggest gift you can give to yourself and your unborn baby to reassure you of any fears and quell any myths you have not doubt heard.

My wish for you is one of great happiness and fulfillment, which is what I recieved after I found out I was pregnant with my first baby.  Good Luck with your journey.

Have a Great Day

Jackie Stenhouse                                                 

When my husband and I decided to  start our family I felt excited but also apprehensive and a little scared of the huge changes that were about to take place in our lives.  I had never really thought about the actual pregnancy preparation steps but I felt to give the baby and myself the best possible outcome, I would do everything right.

That week I made an appointment for the doctor and had a thorough check up which included a pap smear and  blood tests to make sure everything was how it should be.   The doctor asked lots of questions about my family history, recent illnesses and my immunisation such as rubella was up to date.  My general health was perfect for a 23 year old,  which is what I expected as I had never smoked  and led a fairly active life.

I felt I did all the right things including going off coffee, drinking plenty of water, eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and having daily exercise and was elated that after just one month of trying, I fell pregnant.  We were definately one of the lucky ones who had absolutely no problems with concieving and I am so grateful.  I often think about the couples who try so hard for years to fall pregnant and still have no success and I really feel for them.

What You Can Do to Help With Your Pregnancy Preparation

You may ask, “Why it is important to be ready for pregnancy?” and, “What is the big reason for doing this?”

Well the reason is,  is that conception occurs about 2 weeks before your period is due.   That means that you may be more than 3 weeks pregnant  before you  even know that you’re pregnant!
This is important because your baby is most sensitive to harm in the period from two to eight weeks after conception.   This is when your baby’s facial features and organs, such as the heart and kidneys, begin to form.   Anything that you eat, drink, smoke or are exposed to can affect your baby.   That’s why it’s best to start acting as if you’re pregnant before you are sure that you have conceived, if you have been trying to get pregnant.

It is better to see your doctor when you’re just thinking about getting pregnant.   You can talk about your diet, bowel habits, lifestyle, weight control and any concerns that you have.   A thorough physical examination performed at this time may reveal unknown factors in your health that might have a significant effect on your ability to fall pregnant or successfully carry a child through to birth.
High blood pressure, diabetes, back disease and gynecological problems are examples of some that can be found.   A Pap smear test should be performed if you are due for one.   A blood test and a check of your family history of,   Rubella (German measles) infection will be arranged and a vaccination given if necessary.    You and your partner (father-to-be) will be asked about your medical history because that is very important for the progress of your pregnancy and your future baby.   Some medical problems, including genetic diseases such as Cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia, run in the family.   These problems aren’t caused by anything you do.  Talk with your doctor about your risk factors and whether screening tests are needed.   If you are over 35 years of age, a talk with your doctor is highly recommended.  You’ll both also have the chance to ask your doctor any questions you may have at this exciting time.

Conception, when life begins, is a miraculous process.   Today, we know more than we ever have about its wondrous ways,  but many aspects still remain a challenging mystery.

Have a Great Day

Jackie Stenhouse

After having two children naturally, I was quite happy to accept the doctors advice to have my third baby via a cesarean, as she was breech.  Not so deep down I was a little frightened of going through the pain of childbirth for the third time,  so it was a relief to not have to go through it again.  I wasn’t even concerned about the cesarean risks involved.  Now my daughter is twelve and I have a beautiful scar to show for her entrance into the world.

If I was to have anther baby, which isn’t going to happen in this life time, I would be doing a lot more research into what the real risks of delivering via a cesarean section are.

Most women you talk to who have had a baby will be happy to share her birthing story with you, so I will share a little of mine without the gory bits of course.

My Cesarean Story

When I was approximately 37 weeks pregnant I went for my routine check up and after the doctor had done her examination, she explained to me that the baby was breech, which means that she hadn’t turned and she had her feet first.  She gave me two options, one was to try and turn the baby around while she was in the womb and the second was to have a cesarean, which I jumped at without doing any research on cesarean risks.

At 39 weeks I went in to hospital to deliver my baby.  After preparation the aneathatist came in to give me an epidural which is a needle injected into your spine to stop all feeling to the lower half of your body. It was a very strange sensation not being in control of your legs.  I was then taken to the operating room with my husband in tow.  All was good until they unleashed the scalpal where I was instantly aware the epidural had not taken full effect.  (yes I felt it)  My husband went white as they ushered him out of the room quickly while they put me under general anaesthetic.  A short time later I awoke to find my husband and new baby beside me.

It felt strange to not have been there emotionally for the delivery of my daughter.  Sure I was there physically but I  had no connections with the passage of birth and the actual baby.  It took me three days to feel an emotional connection with my new baby girl, which is not what I felt with my other two delivered naturally.

In my next post I will tell you about the recovery side of things and some specific cesarean risks to think about.

Have a great day,

Jackie Stenhouse