Second Trimester of Pregnancy

Weeks 15 Through 26 of Gestation

During the second trimester of pregnancy, the enlargement of your uterus will become more apparent...and you will start showing.

You will also begin to feel your baby move - this is referred as quickening.

By now, the early complaints of pregnancy - mainly nausea and fatigue - will start to go away. You will feel well again!

Know that your baby may grow in spurts rather than in a regular pattern. This is normal. You may experience spurts in your weight gain as well. Do not be sad at the weight gain, your body is doing its job...

If you are well nourished your blood volume is gradually continuing to climb. Malnourishment during this time will lead to an inadequate blood volume expansion***, and also an inadequate growth of your baby's placenta - further affecting your baby's growth. Pregnancy is NOT the time to diet! Good prenatal nutrition is vital.

***Blood volume: During pregnancy, your blood volume needs to increase as your pregnancy advances, with the peak volume occurring during the second trimester of your pregnancy between 28 and 30 weeks.

Your blood volume needs to increase by 50 to 60%. An inadequate blood volume expansion is a sign that a pregnancy is unhealthy.

Nobody wants to get "bigger" in a society which is fixated on weight. However, your baby needs you to gain an appropriate amount of weight. This is very important. Your baby's birth weight is a predictor of future health AND survival.

Remember, you are not getting fat...you are having a baby!

You may start to feel some Braxton-Hicks contractions - also known as false labor or practice contractions. Braxton Hicks are sporadic - irregular - uterine contractions that actually start at about 6 weeks, although you will not feel them that early. Most women start feeling them during the third or even the second trimester of pregnancy.

Braxton-Hicks are a sign of health: your uterus is healthy and practicing. Unless your diet is inadequate or you have cervical or uterine abnormalities, they will not lead to premature labor.

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The Second Trimester of Pregnancy: Fetal Development

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