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A pregnant woman
pregnancy

what to expect during the second trimester of pregnancy

04/11/2019

The second trimester is often referred to as the ‘best’ stage of pregnancy as the nausea should have settled down, although you may have other symptoms such as a heightened sense of smell, food cravings, feeling hot and – if you’re lucky – thicker, healthier hair. (source - NHS)

When things get real

One of the best things about the second trimester is that things start to get real. You’ll start ‘showing’, (time to invest in some new maternity clothes); you’ll have your anatomy scan at around 18-22 weeks, which is where you can see your baby’s features, and of course, this is the time where you’ll feel those first ‘kicks’.

‘I had a difficult first trimester, so around week 13 I really felt like I’d emerged from the fog. I felt more energized, more excited and will always remember lying on the sofa feeling those first kicks, which were kind of like a flutter,’ says Zoe, mother to four-year-old Arabella.

‘But I also started freaking out a bit as it occurred to me how unprepared we were - my girlfriend had to talk me down every now and then when I started to obsess over things like baby monitors and Moses baskets.’

Preparing for the big day - focus on the basics

If you are feeling nervous, remember - there’s no need to have everything ready for baby’s arrival just yet. If you want to start getting ahead of things, focus on the very basics. Your baby needs something to wear, somewhere to sleep, and something to keep them clean (read our essential newborn baby starter kit for further guidance on this.)

And this is where WaterWipes can help - our new vegan and cruelty free baby wipes, they contain 99.9% water and a drop of grapefruit seed extract, making them the only choice for newborn skin.

Remember, this isn’t necessarily going to be the ‘best’ trimester for you, or easy, so never be afraid to share how you’re feeling with your partner, family, friends or midwife. And if you are concerned about anything, always consult a healthcare professional.

If you want to learn more about the final stage, why not take a look at our last article in our pregnancy series - what to expect during the third trimester.

references:

1) NHS, Second Trimester, https://www.nhs.uk, last accessed 6 August 2020