1 Dec 2016 | 4 min Read
Baby 360 Degrees
Author | 62 Articles
Give yourself a pat on your back, you’ve now entered the second trimester! This period is also called the fun phase of pregnancy as most of the annoying pregnancy symptoms from trimester one generally fade away by now. Yay for you!
Your baby is on a growth express now. S/he weighs 14 to 20 grams and is about 8 cms in length. Her/his eyelids are completely formed but they are fused shut and will not open for few more weeks. Fingerprints also start to form this week. Wow, your little one is gaining her/his own identity already!
Signs and Symptoms
You might find your appetite making a comeback now that nausea is out of the way. Focus on eating healthy from now on.
The need to urinate frequently will also reduce as the uterus is now away from the bladder.
You might feel drowsy more often though, especially after having a heavy meal. Try to eat 5-6 mini meals to keep yourself energised!
If possible, take a short power nap during the day as your baby grows more when you’re resting. If you are a working mom-to-be and cannot take frequent breaks, just pause, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths every now and then. Peace out!
Physical Development
By now, you surely have a small yet distinctive bump near your lower abdomen. If you wish, you can still hide your pregnancy by wearing loose, flowy clothes. Time for all those A-line dresses to make an appearance!
Emotional Development
People around you might treat you differently from now on if they know of your pregnancy. Friends and family will smile often, hold doors for you and ask about your well-being. This change might feel a bit weird but that’s how it will be from now on. Bask in all the attention!
Red Flags
Your haemoglobin levels may drop in the next few weeks as your baby pulls out nutrients from your reserves. This can make you feel tired and lethargic. Make sure you take your iron supplements as prescribed by the doctor regularly.
In addition, it is advisable you eat a lot of iron-rich foods such as spinach, beans, roasted nuts, raisins, apricots and seafood. Supplement your diet with foods rich in Vitamin C as it helps you absorb iron.
Amla (Indian gooseberry), green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, tomatoes etc are some foods high in Vitamin C.
Make sure your diet includes sufficient protein and calcium as well. Protein is vital for cell and brain development and calcium is required to nurture your baby’s teeth and bones. Consult a prenatal nutritional counselor if you feel you need help with planning your meals.
Old Wives’ Tales
Your well-wishers might tell you to consume several glasses of full-fat milk in a day along with your meals. Milk is indeed a good source of protein and calcium and you do need adequate amounts of both these nutrients in your pregnancy.
However, you do not need full cream and high fat milk, you can consume toned or skimmed milk as the calcium and protein content is the same. If you’re not too fond of milk, have curds made from skimmed milk or buttermilk instead.
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Suggestions offered by doctors on BabyChakra are of advisory nature i.e., for educational and informational purposes only. Content posted on, created for, or compiled by BabyChakra is not intended or designed to replace your doctor's independent judgment about any symptom, condition, or the appropriateness or risks of a procedure or treatment for a given person.