Pregnancy - Second trimester

It is usually sometime during the fourth month that a woman starts “showing.” This means that the stomach becomes slightly, but visibly, distended with the growth of the fetus. This may not be noticeable when the woman is fully clothed.

By the end of the second trimester, the pregnant woman will probably have felt the baby move. The baby will begin by rolling and moving about in the amnion surrounding it. It eventually fills the space to keep from moving extensively, but arm and leg jabs will become more apparent and more vigorous as the baby grows. The baby will double in size during the second trimester, getting to an average length of 13 inches by the end of the sixth month. All of the organs and all of the features are in place and developing.

Constipation

The pressure of the growing uterus will shift slowly from the bladder to the intestines. This will relieve the need to urinate as frequently as before, but there will be increased difficulty with bowel movements because of the added pressure. This will result in constipation for some pregnant women.

Varicose Veins

With increased body weight concentrated in the pelvic area, some women experience problems with varicose veins. Leg veins are under increased pressure and may bulge into visible bubbles on the surface of the skin. This may be caused by weakened venal (vein) walls, expanded blood volume, and decreased tension in the muscles. By using aids such as support panty hose and avoiding prolonged standing, the pregnant woman can alleviate some of the problems. Her physician can guide her to other methods of avoiding or exacerbating the problem.

Breathlessness

Breathlessness can start in the second trimester, triggered by hormonal changes that affect the capillaries in the lungs. It will continue into the last trimester because the uterus will push up on the diaphragm, the muscle that controls lung expansion.