What happens during the third trimester of your pregnancy. So mother-dearest-to-be, you've reached trimester number three! Usually this is between 28 to 31 weeks. Pregnancy and the Vegan Diet. Pregnancy meal planners: trimester by trimester. We've created 1. 2 meal planners to help you have a healthy pregnancy. There are four planners for each trimester, so you'll have plenty of choice. Each planner features a variety of delicious snacks and dishes that are just right for you at your stage of pregnancy. First trimester meal planners.
Our first trimester planners have dishes that are rich in folate, which is great for your baby's developing nervous system. It also includes foods that contain vitamin B6, which may help ease nausea. In planner four you'll also find iron- rich meals. Iron helps your blood to move oxygen around your body. It's essential in pregnancy, as your blood volume increases. Second trimester meal planners. Our second trimester planners have dishes that are rich in calcium and vitamin D. These nutrients will help your baby grow strong bones and teeth. You'll find recipes containing omega- 3 fatty acids, which are important for your baby's brain development. Third trimester meal planners. Our third trimester planners offer dishes that will give you a real energy boost, just when you need it most! There are also foods that contain vitamin K, which is essential to helping your body to heal well after the birth. Talk healthy diets, pregnancy symptoms and body changes with other mums- to- be in our friendly community. You may also like. Last reviewed: October 2. Second Trimester of Pregnancy . With the arrival of this milestone, you’ll experience some welcome changes. Most early pregnancy symptoms will ease up or even disappear. You’ll likely feel less queasy (which means food may finally smell and taste good for the first time in a long while), your energy levels should be picking up, and your breasts will still be bigger but feel a whole lot less tender. Most amazing of all: By the end of this trimester, the bulge in your lower abdomen may be looking less like the remains of a large lunch and more like the beginnings of a pregnant belly. When does the second trimester start and end? The second trimester starts in week 1. Baby's growth in the second trimester. Your baby is very, very busy in the second trimester. By week 1. 8 of pregnancy, he weighs about as much as a chicken breast, he can yawn and hiccup, and he's got fingerprints on those tiny digits. By week 2. 1 you should be able to feel his newly coordinated arms and legs give you little jabs and kicks. By about week 2. 3, your baby takes a cue from you and starts to pack on the pounds; in fact, he'll likely double his weight in the next four weeks. By the end of your second trimester, you'll have a 2- pound human in your belly! A few more exciting things going on this trimester: Hair, skin and nails: By around week 1. Baby’s skin is now covered in lanugo (a downy “fur coat” that keeps him warm until builds up more fat in the third trimester) and, by week 1. Digestive system: Baby’s digestive system was fully formed by the end of the first trimester. So now baby is starting to suck and swallow in preparation for life outside of the womb. What’s more, he can even taste the foods you eat via your amniotic fluid — which research has shown can influence his preferences outside of the womb (all the more reason to chow down on a healthy pregnancy diet filled with a variety of fresh fruits and veggies). Baby’s waste systems are working hard too: Although he still gets his nutrition via your placenta, all of that swallowing means he’s also peeing about every 4. Senses: Baby’s ears and eyes are moving into their correct positions. By week 2. 2 of pregnancy , his developing senses mean he’s starting to smell, see and hear, and those little eyes are beginning to open. Heart: By 1. 7 weeks, baby’s heart is no longer beating spontaneously, as his brain is now regulating his heartbeat — which you should be able to hear with a stethoscope by week 2. In week 2. 5, capillaries begin forming to carry oxygenated blood through his body. Brain: In addition to controlling your baby’s heartbeat and inducing kicks, by 2. Changes in your body. This trimester certain pregnancy symptoms may persist (like heartburn and constipation). At the same time, others may pop up for the first time as your belly continues to grow and levels of pregnancy hormones rise, including: Congestion as blood flow is increased to your body’s mucous membranes (including your nose). You may even find yourself snoring for the first time! Fortunately there are some OTC medications that are safe to use during pregnancy. Mild swelling of the ankles and feetis experienced by about three in four pregnant women, starting at about week 2. To reduce puffiness, try to keep active, kick up your feet when you’re not moving, avoid long periods of standing or sitting and sleep on your side. Sensitive gums and even some bleeding is normal — but be sure to see your dentist if your gums are bright red and bleed easily, as it could be a sign of gingivitis (which is relatively harmless but can develop into a bigger problem if not properly treated). Leg cramps, which usually start in the second trimester and last through the third. It’s due not only to hormones and weight but also possibly a shortage of calcium or magnesium — so be sure to keep eating a healthy, well- balanced pregnancy diet. Dizziness caused by lower blood pressure due in part to all the extra blood your body is pumping. Take it easy, eat plenty of small meals and fill up on fluids to reduce symptoms. Achiness in the lower abdomen — otherwise known as round ligament pain — as the ligaments that support your belly stretch to support your belly’s increasing size. Varicose veins and/or hemorrhoids (a type of varicose vein) — which, fortunately, should shrink or go away after pregnancy if you didn’t have them before you conceived. All of the above are perfectly normal and temporary — as are feelings of apprehension, irritability, forgetfulness and even frustration at looking positively plump but not definitively pregnant. There may be some big changes in the bedroom as well during the second trimester. Pregnancy can wreak havoc on your sex life as you and your partner cope with your changing body and mood- killing symptoms like fatigue and nausea. Some (lucky) ladies find themselves hotter than ever, with extra blood flowing to all the right spots. A few things to keep in mind: Communication is key to avoiding resentment, so keep talking through the dry spells. And remember — sex will neither hurt your fetus nor scar him emotionally. If you started out your pregnancy at a normal weight, expect to gain around one pound per week for a total of about 1. Symptoms to have checked out. Odds are that once you make it to your second trimester it should be relatively smooth sailing for the next three months. However there are a few symptoms that do always warrant a call to your doctor, including heavy vaginal bleeding, severe abdominal pain and fever over 1. F. Also keep an eye out for signs of gestational diabetes (which usually starts around week 2. Also talk to your doctor if you notice sudden weight gain, severe swelling in the face and hands and vision changes, which can be signs of preeclampsia. Second trimester to- dos. Words to live by now: Eat well, exercise regularly and get plenty of rest. Here are the top to- dos for the second trimester: Prepare for routine monitoring: At each checkup this trimester, your practitioner will check your weight, the size of your uterus, height of your fundus (top of your uterus) and the baby's heartbeat to ensure everything is progressing as expected. Schedule a level two ultrasound: Usually between 1. Keep in mind that while it’s exciting to get a peek at your developing baby, only your doctor should perform ultrasounds, including 3. D and 4. D ultrasounds (in other words, avoid the keepsake versions from your local mall). Get your glucose screening: About one in 1. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that all women be screened for the condition around week 2. If your test result comes back positive for extra glucose in your urine, it doesn’t always mean you have gestational diabetes — you’ll need further testing for a diagnosis. If you do, your doctor will probably refer you to a nutritionist who can help create a meal plan, and you’ll have to keep track of your blood sugar levels regularly. Talk to your doctor about prenatal genetic screening: If you haven’t already and if you have certain risk factors, your doctor may suggest a genetic screening including NIPT or a quad screening, both of which are blood screens that look for increased risk factors for chromosomal or congenital abnormalities (such as Down syndrome or neural- tube defects). If either of these screenings comes back positive, your doctor may recommend amniocentesis — where amniotic fluid is extracted and analyzed for genetic abnormalities — to get a more definitive diagnosis. It’s up to you ultimately whether you get a genetic screening, so it’s a good idea to learn more about what they can tell you, testing benefits and questions to ask your doctor first. And keep in mind that while all this might seem overwhelming and even a bit frightening, the majority of babies are born healthy. Get immunized: If you’re pregnant in cold and flu season, make sure to get the flu shot, and plan to get the Tdap vaccine in the third trimester to protect baby against whooping cough when he’s born. Also make sure to avoid these vaccinations during pregnancy. Shop for maternity clothes: Now that your bump is finally starting to show, you’ll need a maternity wardrobe to match. Here are a few essentials you’ll want in your closet. Sleep on your side: While pregnancy sleep is usually easier to catch in the second trimester than in the first or third, you will want to start sleeping on your side now, since the weight of your growing uterus puts pressure on the vena cava (the vein bringing blood from your lower extremities back up to your heart), which can interfere with circulation. Keep doing your Kegels: Keep your pelvic floor in shape for birth by getting in the habit of doing Kegels regularly— aim for ultimately three sets of 2. Decide if you’ll find out baby’s sex: Your second trimester ultrasound, around week 2. Make prenatal workouts a priority: Given all of the benefits of exercise for you and your baby, if you haven’t already it’s never too late to pick up a pregnancy- friendly workout. Just avoid activities that aren’t as safe now that your belly is bigger. Bump up your caloric intake: If you were normal weight before getting pregnant, you’ll need about 3. Track your weight gain: Now that you should be steadily gaining weight, your doctor will likely recommend that you keep track of it every week. Take bump shots: While you’ll likely want to wait until the third trimester to have your “official” baby bump photo shoot, it’s a smart idea to schedule it now — and in the meantime, take plenty of selfies as souvenirs of your ever- growing bump. Think about taking a babymoon: Since first- trimester nausea should be quelled (and some airlines put restrictions on traveling later in pregnancy), now’s a good time to plan one last hurrah before baby’s arrival. Envision your baby shower: While you won’t be the one actually planning your baby shower, you can certainly let your host(s) know any theme/food/d. If it’s your second or third time, think about having a baby sprinkle.
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