Second trimester week
Second trimester | Pregnancy Birth and Baby
Second trimester | Pregnancy Birth and Baby beginning of content5-minute read
Listen
The second trimester of pregnancy is a time when many women will feel energised and well. You will become visibly pregnant, but you won’t be so heavy that getting around is difficult. This is also a time of rapid growth and development for your baby, and you may find yourself busy with health checks and planning for the birth.
What is the second trimester?
Trimesters are a helpful way to think about pregnancy because the changes that happen to you and your baby fall into 3 broad categories of early, middle and late pregnancy, as reflected in the first, second and third trimesters.
The second trimester represents the middle part of your pregnancy, from weeks 13 to 26. For many women, one of the best things about this trimester is that nausea might begin to settle.
What happens to your body?
Your body will undergo some major changes during the second trimester. Your uterus will grow, and you may feel some discomfort or aches as uterine ligaments stretch. You will start to feel your skin stretch around your belly and your breasts, which may cause mild itching. Some women get stretch marks in these areas, which tend to fade over time.
Although your baby weighs less than a kilo, your blood volume will increase to meet the demands of all the growth happening inside you, which will mean you will gain some additional weight.
Your emotions
Pregnancy can be a wonderful and exciting time, but it’s also important to expect to feel some occasional days of heightened anxiety or low mood.
Sometimes one or both parents experience difficult emotions during pregnancy, such as being worried about the birth or about coping as a parent.
Feelings of anxiety are not uncommon, and some women will experience symptoms of a condition called anxiety disorder. Antenatal depression is a mood disorder that includes intense emotional changes beyond those you might expect during pregnancy.
If you are worried about feelings of anxiety, low mood or depression, you could:
- see your doctor, obstetrician, child health nurse or midwife
- phone Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436
- call PANDA - Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia on 1300 726 306
What happens to the baby?
During the second trimester, your baby will grow from being around 7.5cm, and weighing 30 grams in week 13, to around 23cm and 820 grams at week 26.
Your baby will be able to move freely within the amniotic sac in your uterus. By about week 19 (or sooner if this isn’t your first pregnancy), you may feel this movement – as a faint tickling or fluttering. During these 3 months, your baby’s organs will continue to develop and the liver, pancreas and kidneys all start to function.
This is also the time when babies might start to suck their thumb. By week 20 your baby can hear sounds, including the sound of your heartbeat, and they are learning to recognise your voice, although the ears are not yet fully formed.
What can you expect at your antenatal visits?
Regular antenatal visits are an important part of staying healthy and making sure your baby is healthy. How often you see your health professional will depend on your personal circumstances, but for many women, visits will be every 4 to 6 weeks.
At all visits during your second trimester, you will have your blood pressure checked, and your hands and feet will also be checked for swelling. You might be weighed, have blood taken for tests and have your urine checked.
Your doctor or midwife will check your abdomen to monitor your baby’s growth and will listen to your baby’s heartbeat. If you didn’t have an ultrasound in your first trimester, you may be offered one at around 18 to 20 weeks.
How to stay healthy
Eating well and staying active is as important as ever during pregnancy - it's good for your physical and emotional health, and good for your baby too. Light-to-moderate exercise in pregnancy is usually safe: consider walking, swimming, yoga and stationary cycling in your second trimester. High-impact exercise and activities where there is a risk of falling, getting hurt (especially around the stomach) or overheating are not recommended.
Your choice of food during your pregnancy is also important – but that doesn’t mean ‘eating for two’. What you eat during your pregnancy has been shown to affect how your baby grows as well as your baby’s health later in life.
Things to consider in the second trimester
Parental leave – discuss with your partner and then with your employer:
- How will you share the care of your baby with your partner (or other family members)?
- When do you plan to start your leave?
- When you intend to return to work?
- When is a good time to share your pregnancy news with your employer?
- Will your role at work change after your baby is born?
Antenatal classes:
- Ask your midwife or doctor about antenatal education available in your area.
- Consider going to classes together with your birthing partner – not only will you learn a lot about how to prepare for labour, you’ll meet people who will share their experience of becoming parents.
Your pregnancy journey
Follow your pregnancy week-by-week to find out how your baby is growing and what is happening to your body.
Sources:
NSW Health (Having a baby), Royal Women's Hospital (Pregnancy and birth), Raising Children Network (Pregnancy week-by-week), Women's and Children's Health Network (The first 3 months of pregnancy: the first trimester), Queensland Health (How much weight will I gain during pregnancy?), Healthy WA (Emotional health for parents during pregnancy and after the birth)Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: May 2021
Back To Top
Related pages
- Pregnancy week-by-week
- Third trimester
- First trimester
Need more information?
Second trimester of pregnancy: for men | Raising Children Network
Tiredness and morning sickness often ease up in pregnancy’s second trimester. Our guide explains how this can be a special time for men and their partners.
Read more on raisingchildren.net.au website
Pregnancy changes video: second trimester | Raising Children Network
In this video mums and dads describe physical and emotional changes in the second trimester of pregnancy. A midwife says tiredness and nausea might ease.
Read more on raisingchildren.
net.au website
Exercise in second trimester: dads guide | Raising Children Network
How much exercise is safe for pregnant women in the second trimester? Light to moderate exercise is usually OK. This Dads Guide explains and has tips.
Read more on raisingchildren.net.au website
Pregnancy second trimester: men’s feelings | Raising Children Network
It’s pretty common for men to feel pregnancy is happening at a distance. Even in the second trimester, it might not feel real. Read more in our Dads Guide.
Read more on raisingchildren.net.au website
Pregnancy at week 13
At week 13 of pregnancy, you officially enter your second trimester and hopefully any morning sickness has eased off.
Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website
Pregnancy at week 25
As you are approaching the end of the second trimester, you might be starting to feel a bit uncomfortable as your baby continues to grow.
Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website
Late term abortion | Marie Stopes Australia
Having a late term abortion, also known as a second trimester abortion, is never easy. Given the often exceptional circumstances and more complex procedure required they require special care and support. We specialise in later term abortions in most states, in line with legal gestation limits.
Read more on MSI Australia website
Maternal screening - Pathology Tests Explained
Why and when to get tested for maternal screening
Read more on Pathology Tests Explained website
Pregnancy at week 14
By week 14, your baby’s organs have formed, their face is becoming more recognisable, and you may be feeling more energetic.
Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website
Pregnancy at week 16
At week 16, you might begin to feel your baby moving, while hormonal changes may be affecting your libido.
Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website
Disclaimer
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is not responsible for the content and advertising on the external website you are now entering.
OKNeed further advice or guidance from our maternal child health nurses?
1800 882 436
Video call
- Contact us
- About us
- A-Z topics
- Symptom Checker
- Service Finder
- Linking to us
- Information partners
- Terms of use
- Privacy
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is funded by the Australian Government and operated by Healthdirect Australia.
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is provided on behalf of the Department of Health
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby’s information and advice are developed and managed within a rigorous clinical governance framework. This website is certified by the Health On The Net (HON) foundation, the standard for trustworthy health information.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
This information is for your general information and use only and is not intended to be used as medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes.
The information is not a substitute for independent professional advice and should not be used as an alternative to professional health care. If you have a particular medical problem, please consult a healthcare professional.
Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, this publication or any part of it may not be reproduced, altered, adapted, stored and/or distributed in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Healthdirect Australia.
Support this browser is being discontinued for Pregnancy, Birth and Baby
Support for this browser is being discontinued for this site
- Internet Explorer 11 and lower
We currently support Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Firefox and Safari. For more information, please visit the links below:
- Chrome by Google
- Firefox by Mozilla
- Microsoft Edge
- Safari by Apple
You are welcome to continue browsing this site with this browser. Some features, tools or interaction may not work correctly.
20 Weeks Pregnant | Pregnancy
What's happening in my body?
You may have your anomaly scan this week. The sonographer will be checking your baby's development and will also examine your placenta (that's the pancake-shaped organ that feeds your baby and removes waste).
You might find yourself being woken up at night by sudden sharp pains in your calves.
It's probably cramp, which is common in pregnancy and caused by muscular spasms. Rub the muscle hard or pull your toes up towards your ankle. Exercising more in the day could help you avoid this and you could try these foot exercises.
Whooping cough jab
Whooping cough is on the rise – but you can protect your baby from this dangerous condition by having a vaccination.
The NHS recommends that all pregnant women should have the jab, ideally between 16 and 32 weeks.
The immunity that you get will be passed on to your baby through the placenta and then offer protection until the routine jab that most babies have at 2 months.
Find out more about the whooping cough vaccination.
Maternity Certificate to claim maternity pay and benefits
Ask your doctor or midwife for a Maternity Certificate, also known as a MAT B1 form. It's issued from 20 weeks onwards. You'll need it to claim maternity pay and benefits.
2nd trimester pregnancy symptoms (at 20 weeks)
Your signs of pregnancy this week could include:
- tiredness and sleeping problems (week 19 has information about feeling tired)
- stretch marks (read about stretch marks on week 17's page)
- swollen and bleeding gums (week 13 has information about gum health during pregnancy)
- pains on the side of your belly, caused by your expanding womb (known as "round ligament pains")
- headaches
- nosebleeds
- bloating and constipation (read about bloating on week 16's page)
- indigestion and heartburn (week 25 talks about digestive problems)
- sore breasts
- leg cramps
- feeling hot
- dizziness
- swollen hands and feet
- urine infections
- vaginal infections (see week 15 for vaginal health)
- darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the "mask of pregnancy"
- greasier, spotty skin
- thicker and shinier hair
You may also experience symptoms from earlier weeks, such as:
- morning sickness (read about dealing with morning sickness on week 6's page)
- weird pregnancy cravings (read about pregnancy cravings on week 5's page)
- a heightened sense of smell
- mood swings (week 8's page has information on mood swings)
- a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)
Read Tommy's guide to common pregnancy symptoms.
What does my baby look like?
Your baby, or foetus, is around 25.6cm long, which is the size of a banana. Measurements are now taken from head to heel. In earlier weeks, babies are measured from the head to the bottom because the legs are curled up and hard to see. Your baby weighs around 300g. That's approximately the weight of 3 apples.
Your baby is now covered in a white, greasy layer of "vernix". It's thought that this protects their delicate skin from drying out in the amniotic fluid. This slippery layer also helps babies to make their way down the birth canal.
Your baby will be getting more active each day. As well as kicking, punching and turning around, your baby could be sucking their thumb – this develops their sucking reflex, which they'll need to feed once they're born.
You may start to feel a bubbling or fluttering in your belly – this could be your baby moving around.
Action stations
This week you could:
You don't have to tell your employer for several more weeks, but as soon as you do, you will have maternity rights.
You can attend antenatal appointments during paid work time.
You can also ask for a risk assessment of your work place. If you want to wait, the latest you can leave it is 15 weeks before the baby is due, which is around week 25.
It's a good time to tone up your pelvic floor muscles. Gentle exercises can help to prevent leakage when you laugh, sneeze or cough. Get the muscles going by pretending that you're having a wee and then stopping midflow. Visit Tommy's for more ideas about pelvic floor exercises.
Ask your midwife or doctor about online antenatal classes – they may be able to recommend one. The charity Tommy's has lots of useful information on antenatal classes and preparing you for birth.
Ask your partner if they would like to take part in the antenatal classes. Even if you've had children before, they're still worth going to as you can meet other parents-to-be. The NCT offers online antenatal classes with small groups of people that live locally to you.
To keep bones and muscles healthy, we need vitamin D. From late March/early April to the end of September, most people make enough vitamin D from sunlight on their skin. However, between October and early March, you should consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement because we cannot make enough from sunlight.
Some people should take a vitamin D supplement all year round, find out if this applies to you on the NHS website. You just need 10 micrograms (it's the same for grown-ups and kids). Check if you're entitled to free vitamins.
It's recommended that you do 150 minutes of exercise a week while pregnant. You could start off with just 10 minutes of daily exercise - perhaps take a brisk walk outside. Check out Sport England's #StayInWorkOut online exercises (scroll to the pregnancy section). Listen to your body and do what feels right for you.
There's no need to eat for 2. You don't need any extra calories until the third trimester, which starts in week 28. Try to eat healthily, with plenty of fresh fruit and veg, and avoid processed, fatty and salty foods.
You may be able to get free milk, fruit and veg through the Healthy Start scheme.
You and your family should follow the government and NHS guidance on coronavirus (COVID-19):
To find out about about COVID-19 and pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, have a look at advice on the:
Second trimester of pregnancy (from 13 to 28 weeks)
The beginning of the second trimester is traditionally considered one of the calmest. Walk more. Walking is very helpful. Sit down to rest only when you are tired. Movement in the fresh air improves the supply of oxygen to the fetus, which is very necessary for its normal development.
Nausea disappears, appetite improves.
Do not eat a lot of salty, refuse marinades, smoked meats, if you have not done this before. The increased need of the child's body for proteins and vitamins begins. The daily diet should include meat or fish (boiled or stewed), dairy products, especially cottage cheese, eggs. Do not forget about vegetables, fruits, greens. An excellent source of vitamin C is sauerkraut (rather than salted) cabbage. Salads from carrots, cabbage, beets, apples, green radish should be on your table every day.
At 17-20 weeks you will feel your baby's first kicks. From them you can determine how comfortable the baby feels. Intense tremors are a signal of lack of oxygen. Maybe you haven’t walked for a long time or, on the contrary, you are engaged in hard physical labor. Get out into the fresh air or lie down to rest and you will immediately feel how the child has calmed down.
But the lack of movement is an alarm. See a doctor immediately!
The fetal need for calcium sharply increases - intensive growth of the skeleton has begun.
If you don't have enough free calcium in your body right now, you could lose your teeth. To prevent this from happening, start taking calcium supplements in consultation with your doctor.
At this time, toxicosis of the second half of pregnancy may occur, the child suffers greatly from it. Therefore, if the doctor suggests hospitalization, do not refuse. Toxicosis can, if not be avoided, then at least reduce its manifestations. Be sure to follow your diet. Completely exclude salty, smoked, fried, spicy, canned food, chocolate. Do not eat a lot of grapes and drink fresh milk. Limit flour and rich products. As before, your diet should include boiled meat and fish, oatmeal and buckwheat porridge, vegetables and fruits
Periodically, once a week, check for fluid retention in the body. It is allowed to release liquid 200-300 ml less than what was drunk. If little urine is released, this is a signal of latent edema and the onset of toxicosis.
It is very good if you can measure your blood pressure at home.
Show the results of measurements at the next visit to the doctor. Both high and too low pressure should alert. With low pressure, blood sluggishly crosses the placenta, and the baby does not receive enough nutrients.
Do not neglect blood tests - it is important not to miss the development of anemia. In this case, you will be prescribed iron supplements and multivitamins. The diet should include beef liver, tomato juice, buckwheat porridge, apples, preferably Antonovskie (they contain more iron than other varieties).
Women who are at risk of giving birth to a child with a genetic pathology (those who have severe hereditary ailments in their families), as well as women over 35 years old (they have an increased likelihood of having a child with Down syndrome) are referred for a consultation by a geneticist.
In case of a normal pregnancy at 20-22 weeks of pregnancy, a second scheduled ultrasound examination is prescribed.
Second trimester of pregnancy | Chicco.
ru Russian
In Attesa
Tips to help you prepare for the second trimester of pregnancy
When does the second trimester of pregnancy begin?
The second trimester occurs from the 4th to the 6th month of pregnancy, namely from the 14th to the 27th week.
The most common physiological changes in the body and typical complaints
For a future mother, the second trimester is usually the calmest stage of pregnancy, when the manifestations of toxicosis disappear. During this period, a woman's pregnancy becomes noticeable, and her body continues to change. What changes occur in the body in the second trimester and what sensations can they be accompanied by?
- Abdominal and breast enlargement : The abdomen grows as the uterus enlarges. The chest is also slowly but surely increasing.
- Skin changes : skin may darken due to increased production of melatonin; this is most noticeable in the areola of the nipples, and a dark vertical line (linea nigra) may appear on the abdomen.
All these changes are temporary and after childbirth, as a rule, disappear. - Cramping and pain in the legs : in this case, it may be advised to stretch the calf muscles before going to bed, drink more water and do not forget about physical activity; exists special exercises that can be done during pregnancy . It is also recommended to wear comfortable shoes and avoid tight, squeezing socks.
- Back pain : back pain during pregnancy due to poor posture due to weight gain and belly growth.
Weight in the second trimester
Weight gain becomes more noticeable from the 4th month: in the second trimester, the rate of weight gain increases, and then decreases in the third trimester, when weight gain is mainly due to active growth of the fetus . As a rule, at this stage, weight gain is 300-500 g per week, but this is a very individual indicator and may vary.
Diet of a pregnant woman in the second trimester
The general recommendation is to adhere to the principles of a healthy and balanced diet: eat small portions, but often, prefer light meals, consume as much dietary fiber as possible and drink plenty of water to maintain optimal water balance.
