Your 2nd Trimester 4-6 Months (week 14-26)

Breast Care & Colostrum

Preparing your breasts in any special way during pregnancy for nursing is not really necessary, although it will do no harm to apply a nourishing lotion to keep the skin supple.
Do not be tempted to brush nipples with a nailbrush or toothbrush as this common old wives' tale will just hurt breast tissue and possibly lead to infection.
The massaging of breasts in pregnancy to try and increase colostrum or milk supply is without any positive effects and might well hurt breast tissue, and is also best avoided.
Colostrum, which is the precursor to mother's milk, is made in the mammary glands from as early as 8 weeks of pregnancy.
Colostrum is a sticky, yellow-white substance and is very nutrient-rich and sweet.
Sometimes a little colostrum trickles out in pregnancy but often not at all and this is not indication of whether or not one will produce sufficient milk once baby is born.
Colostrum helps break down or thin any mucus baby has swallowed or produced for easier sneezing out after birth.
Colostrum acts as a laxative on meconium, the thick green-black stool that coats baby's bowels while in the womb.
Colostrum contains an amazing immunity package of antibodies that will last the baby for quite a few months after birth.
Colostrum is extremely nutrient rich, so that baby only needs a teaspoonful at a time to be the equivalent of 50ml of mother's milk.
Colostrum contains excellent levels of Vitamin K, which protects baby against bleeding.

Pigmentation:

Pigmentation marks mostly start in the second half of the pregnancy, resolve spontaneously in the months after birth, and are mostly gone by 3-6 months.
Freckles and other blotches usually either become bigger or darker in pregnancy.
Moles often increase in size in pregnancy, mostly without any problems.
Pigmentation and related changes are due to the hormones of pregnancy and seldom of any concern although one should also avoid prolonged exposure to the midday sun.
Darker skinned women and brunettes are more prone to pigmentation changes in pregnancy.
Chloasma is the medical name for the common butterfly-like pigmentation over the nose and cheeks and brownish discolouration around the mouth.
Increased areola size (brown area around the nipple) and a darker pigment of this area is common in pregnancy too.
The linea nigra is the stripe down the centre of the abdomen and through the navel which develops in the second half of pregnancy.

Weight Gain/Showing

Many women are the picture of radiant beauty and health with a lovely feminine glow, lustrous hair and beautiful skin and nails now. Most niggles improve in this trimester.
In the first trimester one gains about 10% of total pregnancy weight, from 12-20 weeks about 25%, the most in the following 8 weeks until the end of the second trimester at 45% and this drops to about 20% in the last stretch.
The swelling of one's abdomen in pregnancy becomes visible to oneself long before others notice it.
Just when one notices one's belly starting to grow is very varied for women and depends on a number of factors.
Women with good muscle tone might show pregnancy a lot later as the abdominal muscles keep the womb deeper inside the abdominal cavity.
Short women might show sooner as the pregnancy per force grows 'outwards' sooner.
First pregnancies take longer to show than subsequent ones, when the abdominal muscles have already stretched considerably previously.
Pregnant women often notice a slight bulging around the waistline or above the pubic area from about 16 weeks.
Others might well only notice your 'bump' growing from 20 weeks.
Some women feel they carry more in their 'bums', but this is just putting on some extra fat, an evolutionary 'supply' for your body, should you need more energy after birth!

Babies Movements

Some women feel baby's movement as early as 16 weeks, but it depends on one's weight, how baby lies in the womb, the amount of amniotic fluid and various other factors.
Initially movement feels like air bubbles or butterflies and is not a constant sensation from day to day, so might seem like it comes and goes. It is quite common that in a first pregnancy a woman only really identifies movement at about 22 - 24 weeks.

Braxton-Hicks

Rest a little more and Braxton-Hicks contractions often dissipate.
Take a warm bath for rapid relief of uncomfortable Braxton-Hicks contractions.
Massage your abdomen gently with light oil when Braxton-Hicks contractions become a little too uncomfortable.

Exercise

One of the aims of exercise in pregnancy is to feel and look good.
Exercise helps ensure maximum fitness and have sufficient stamina to see one through labour and birth.
Women who exercise regularly find that they have far less mood swings, tearfulness and even cravings during pregnancy.
Physical fitness ensures less aches and pains in pregnancy because posture is improved, tone of muscles and ligaments maintained better and one's body is generally stronger.
The final weeks of pregnancy, which are so trying for many women, will feel far easier too if in good shape.
Recovery after birth is far more rapid, as you start from a position of greater strength.
High impact exercise like heavy aerobics and some forms of horse riding carry more risk and should preferably be avoided in pregnancy.
If you have a spotting vaginal discharge or cramps in the lower pelvis, cease all exercise immediately and see your doctor before resuming your programme.
Exercise should suit you as a person and be enjoyable- if you have already found your ideal body movement form, stick to that once you have checked safety.
Warming up gradually at the start of an exercise programme and stretch and relaxation exercises are non-negotiable routines to include.
Never over-exercise as this can be detrimental to pregnancy, make labour more difficult and baby more fretful after birth.
Walking and other forms of exercise like swimming and dancing are excellent for overall strength and posture and can improve ligament pain.
Massage of painful areas using safe oil may provide some relief from pregnancy ligament pain.
Correct posture by pulling in tummy muscles and buttocks, keeping shoulders back and down and slightly tilting the chin upwards when walking, alleviates ligament pain.
Yoga in pregnancy is an excellent form of exercise and strengthens both mind and body.
The control needed in yoga helps tone even the smallest of muscle groups, while keeping an expectant mom optimally supple.

Lifting Heavy Objects

Although it might well do no harm to lift heavy objects while pregnant, the ligaments in the back are all softer and stretch due to pregnancy hormones and so could ache or tear more easily.
When lifting objects in pregnancy, always bend at the knees and lift close to your body, keeping your back as straight as possible as you come upright.
As pregnancy progresses, reduce the weights lifted in accordance with comfort levels.
Once one's preggy 'bump' is quite big, it is far more difficult to bend effectively at the knees when picking up heavier objects, and one needs to exercise caution.
Picking up older toddlers is a particular challenge in pregnancy as they are not a 'steady' weight, but might well wriggle or perform sudden movements - rather be seated and encourage a child to clamber on to your lap.

Itching During Pregnancy

It is not clearly understood why itching occurs in pregnancy, but it is fairly common.
Especially the abdomen and breasts, and sometimes areas like the buttocks, labia (lips around the vagina), upper arms and thighs are prone to itching in pregnancy.
Itching is sometimes attributed to stretching of the skin or hormonal changes.
Itching is mostly not serious but extremely irritating.
Vitamin E cream often soothes itching skin in pregnancy.
Add a handful of bicarbonate of soda to your bathwater to soothe itching skin.
See your doctor if you experience undue itching in pregnancy and also feel ill, nauseous or you notice signs of jaundice (yellow staining of the whites of your eyes, for example) as this would need treatment.
Extreme itching in pregnancy may be linked to a condition called obstetric cholestiasis that requires medical treatment.

This marks the end of your second trimester!