Maternity Care
Your Second Trimester
Do’s and Don’ts for a Healthier Pregnancy
Improve your chance of having a healthy baby by making
some important lifestyle changes today.
Do:
•Keep all your scheduled prenatal care appointments.
•Contact your provider with any problems or concerns.
•Take a daily multivitamin containing 400 micrograms of
folic acid.
•Eat a well-balanced diet that’s divided into small, frequent
meals each day. This includes:
– Six to 11 servings of whole grains
– Three to five servings of vegetables
– Two to four servings of fruits
– Four to six servings of dairy products
– Three to four servings of meat and protein
•Limit fatty foods and sweets.
•Drink at least six to eight glasses of water, fruit juice or
milk each day.
•Avoid caffeine, including coffee, tea and chocolate.
•Avoid saunas, hot tubs or steam rooms.
Don’t:
•Take any prescription or over-the-counter medication
without your doctor’s advice.
•Use alcohol or street drugs.
•Smoke cigarettes.
•Handle cat litter.
•Eat undercooked meat or unpasteurized cheese.
If you have any questions about how to have a healthy
pregnancy, please call your maternity care nurse. She will be
happy to discuss them with you. Or, talk to your health care
provider about any concerns or questions you may have.
Is Something Wrong?
Call your health care provider if you
notice any of these symptoms, as
they may be caused by a serious
complication:
High Blood Pressure/Pre-eclampsia
•A headache not relieved by
over-the-counter medication
•Vision changes
•Sudden swelling of your
hands and face
Infection
•Fever greater than 100
degrees for more than
three days
•Vaginal discharge with foul
odor or leaking of fluids
•Burning or pain with
urination
Preterm Labor
•Contractions with your
abdomen tightening like
a fist every 10 minutes
or more often
•Cramping like your period
•Pelvic or rectal pressure
•Low, dull back pain despite
position change
•Abdominal cramps with
or without diarrhea
Baby May Be Sick
•Fewer than five “kicks”
from your baby each hour
15603-03-2014
Don’t Skip the Doctor
Ongoing prenatal care continues to be vital for your health and your baby’s. You will continue
to see your provider once per month during the second trimester. You also will begin routine
lab testing and measurement of your baby’s growth and development. To track your baby’s
growth, your provider will likely take a measurement of your abdomen. Typically, this measurement (in centimeters) is a close match to your weeks of pregnancy — for example, you’ll
measure about 30 centimeters during your 30th week. One of the more exciting moments
may come during the second trimester, when you can listen to your baby’s heartbeat. You
may also begin to feel your baby move at around 20 weeks. Be sure to tell your provider
when you start noticing your baby move.
Here’s a look at some of the lab tests you might undergo during your second trimester:
•Blood tests. Blood tests might be done to screen for a number of conditions including
gestational diabetes. To check for gestational diabetes, your provider will ask you
to drink a sugary drink. After a period of time, he or she will
draw a blood sample and measure the amount of
sugar in your blood. This is called a glucose
tolerance test. Your doctor may also test
for conditions such as spina bifida and
Down syndrome.
•Fetal ultrasound. An ultrasound is another
way your provider can check your baby’s
growth and development. It also allows
you to see your baby.
Make sure to jot down any questions or concerns
you have so you can discuss them with your
doctor. No question is too big or too small,
even if it seems silly. Your provider and your
maternity care nurse are happy to help.
Your Changing Body
•Growing belly: Your uterus becomes heavier
and begins to grow more rapidly to make
room for your growing baby.
•Braxton Hicks contractions: Think of these as
sort of a warm-up for labor. They are typically
weak and come and go unpredictably. If your
contractions become more painful or regular,
contact your provider immediately. This could
be a sign of preterm labor.
•Leg cramps: These are fairly common as you
move further along in your pregnancy. To help
prevent leg cramps, try stretching your calf
muscles before bed. And make sure you drink
plenty of fluids and stay active.
•Fuller breasts: The milk producing glands
inside your breasts begin getting larger
during the second trimester in preparation
for breast-feeding.
Protects against:
•Ear infections
•Diarrhea and other stomach problems
•Allergies
•Asthma
•Bone loss later in life
•Reduces risk of SIDS, diabetes and obesity
•Provides all the nutrition your baby needs
for the first six months of life
•Stronger bones and teeth
•Develops higher IQ and improves brain
development
•Promotes lower blood pressure and
cholesterol later in life
Where Does All
That Weight Go?
Eating right during your pregnancy is one
of the best things you can do for yourself
and your baby. Finding a balance between
getting enough nutrients while maintaining a
healthy weight is important for you and your
baby’s future health. Expect to gain about
one pound a week during this trimester. It
may seem like your weight gain is going
all to your belly, but during the average
pregnancy it looks more like this:
Reduces risk of:
•Cancer, including breast
and ovarian
•Postpartum depression
•Low iron
•Helps return uterus to its
normal size
•Promotes weight loss (burns
up to 500 calories per day!)
•Reduces health care costs
because babies are healthier
•Develops a special bond
between you and your baby
For You
Here are some of the changes you may see in
your body:
How you choose to feed your baby – breast, bottle or both – is an
important decision. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breast milk for the first six months of an infant’s life. No matter
what decision you make, your maternity care nurse is here to help.
Here are a few of the benefits of breast-feeding:
For Your Baby
At this point during your pregnancy, you’re probably
noticing a number of changes in every area, from
changes in your body to emotional changes. Many
women are more upbeat during their second
trimester as they are adjusting to pregnancy and
begin to feel less tired. If so, take advantage while
you can! Now may be a great time to get a jump
start on finding a childbirth class, a health care
provider for your new baby, and looking into day
care options if you plan to return to work.
Breast-Feed for the Best Start
Your breast growth
2-3 lbs
Stored fat for delivery
and breast-feeding
5-9 lbs
Baby
8 lbs
Placenta (the baby sack)
2-3 lbs
Your womb
2-5 lbs
Amniotic fluid*
Blood supply
2-3 lbs
Total weight gain
25-35
lbs.
*Amniotic fluid is the water around the baby
4 lbs