3 months 2 week
2nd Trimester
26 more weeks to go..
The little one is doing many antics: turning around, making faces, squinting, frowning, and taking in amniotic fluid to practice swallowing. The intestines are making bowels: a sticky black or dark green tar-like substance, comprised of epithelial cells, bile, mucus, and lanugo will be the first bowel. The liver is making bile. A soft sprout of hair has made its appearance on the head and so have eyebrows. Lanugo, or hair over the body is also appearing. The baby’s movement inside are smoother now, not jerky as they were till a week earlier. But, mum, you won’t be feeling any movement, yet. Welcome to the comfortable second trimester!
तृतीये हस्तपादशिरसां पंचपिण्डका निर्वर्तन्ते अंगप्रत्यंग विभागश्च सुक्ष्मो भवति ॥ (सुश्रुत शारीरस्थान)
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Your baby has started looking like a little human now, with earlobes having taken shape and the arms and legs flexing easily. By this week, your baby's palate, or the roof of his mouth, has completely formed. The baby can close her tiny fingers to make a fist now.
All the organs are fully formed and are getting started on their jobs. Even the sense of smell has started to form. The kidneys have started producing urine and are releasing it into the amniotic fluid.The intestines have moved to their final position in the abdomen.The larger bones and the skull are beginning to harden. Little hair follicles are forming under the surface of the skin.
The placenta, which is shaped like a thick, round roti, and means 'flat cake' in Latin is the gateway between mummy and baby. It supplies nutrients, oxygen and hormones, and removes waste products such as carbon dioxide. The interesting fact is that it does not let mum’s blood come in contact with the baby! That is how mum and baby can have different blood groups but not get endangered by each other. How the Universe has planned every little detail!
Around this time, almost 50% of pregnant women report swollen, red, tender gums that bleed when brushed. This happens because of hormonal changes that make your gums more sensitive to the bacteria in plaque. If left untreated gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) might set in.
iMumz Tip: You can massage with clove oil (dabbed on some cotton) as it has strong germicidal properties. Also, add a spoonful of triphala powder in warm water and gargle with it 3-4 times a day. Eat fruits that are loaded with Vitamin C.
You might notice large, swollen blood vessels on your legs. Since you have extra blood volume in your body that is meant for the baby, this symptom could occur. When the uterus applies pressure to the large vein (the inferior vena cava) that ferries blood back to the heart from your feet and legs it causes these itchy, uncomfortable, and sometimes, painful swellings.
iMumz tip: "Tailadhara" helps to reduce inflammation and reduce stiffness and pain . Dab warm to hot oil on the swollen veins using a cotton ball.
Estrogen and progesterone are increasing the flow of blood in your body. When the mucous membranes get this surge, they tend to swell. Up to 30 percent of pregnant women have pregnancy rhinitis which may get worse as the weeks pass.
iMumz tip: While sleeping, elevate your head either by raising the bed or using an extra pillow. Place a small quantity of ajwain in a clean, heat it and sniff it. You can also apply oil inside nostrils (nasya) to relieve the congestion. Continue doing pranayama to strengthen your breathing techniques.
Is the growing weight giving you a stiff back or upsetting your balance? Try the simple ‘Tadasana’.
Stand with your feet hip-width apart and your toes pointing right ahead. Join your hands together close to your heart, with your fingers pointing upwards, like one would do in a namaste. Close your eyes and breathe in and out slowly and steadily. Spend some time focussing on the breathing. Then, extend your hands above your head and arch your back as much as its comfortable to do so.
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Experts advise that in this trimester, instead of counting calories, you should make sure that all food groups are represented. Focus on foods that don’t mess with your blood sugar and cholesterol. Swap ice-cream or brownies with unsweetened dried fruits or jaggery chikkis. Here are some guilt-free suggestions for that sugar-craving:
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Date and Nut Laddoos
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Dry roast 1/4 cup coarsely chopped almonds and walnuts for few minutes on a tawa and, set them aside. To the same pan, add 3/4 cup dates and heat them till turn soft. Add desiccated coconut to this mixture. Knead or blend the dates in a blender, set the blended dates aside. Mix nicely with the nuts, take small portions and roll them into balls. Store in an air-tight jar and stick a label on it which says, ‘My Guilt-Free Pleasure!’
Fruit Cookies
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Take 3/4 cup oatmeal, 1/4 cup coarsely chopped dried apple slices, 1 ripe banana, mashed, 1 tablespoon soy milk, 1 tablespoon powdered jaggery, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 cup coarsely chopped nuts. Mix them together well (add more milk if too dry). Drop by the spoonful on a baking sheet placed on your oven tray. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Have with your evening beverage without feeling guilty!
iMumz provides micro nutrients week by week for your daily dose of nutrition. Diet charts and recipes are made by mothers to give your daily dose of health for your baby and you.
In the second trimester, you can add an extra 340 calories per day for your baby's growth and development. Don't follow the old saying of “eating for two" since that can make you obese and also possibly lead to poor outcomes for you and your baby.
Also, the more weight you gain, the more tough your weight-loss journey post-delivery will be.
If your BMI (BMI calculator can be given here) is ‘optimum’ at conception (between 18.5-24.9), you should gain 10 to 14 kgs in the 40 weeks of pregnancy.
If your BMI is under 18.5, you should gain 12-18 kgs.
If you are overweight (BMI 25-29.9), you should gain 6 – 11 kgs during pregnancy,
If you are obese (BMI 30 and above), should aim for 4 – 9 kgs of weight gain during pregnancy.
Between weeks 13 and 20, the risk of experiencing a miscarriage is less than 1 percent. So, you are in a relatively safe phase of the pregnancy. However, you might experience cramps in Week 14 of pregnancy because of:
Round Ligament Pain: Towards the end of Week 13, when the ligaments that surround the uterus stretch because of the growth of the uterus, a sharp pain can be felt. It is usually a short, stab-like pain on one side. Some women feel it on both sides of the abdomen and also in their lower abdomen, groin and hips.
Urinary Tract Infections. If you have a mild UTIs you could experience cramps during pregnancy in the second trimester. It could be cause by intake sour, salty, bitter, oily, spicy, and fried foods and tea, coffee that have aggravated the Pitta (fire) in your body and/or because of low hydration and stress. The cramps will be accompanied by painful urination, the frequent need to pee, and lower abdominal discomfort. You will need to see your doctor.
Uterine Fibroids: This is quite uncommon, but if you have uterine fibroids, their tissues can start breaking down in the second trimester (usually between 15 and 18 weeks of pregnancy) because there's not enough blood to fuel their growth. This cramping will be intense. If you have a history of uterine fibroids, please watch out for this pain and contact your doctor.
iMumz has a team of doctors working round the clock to prepare a rich repository of such tips.
You can give a cold to your unborn baby.
While a cold during pregnancy may make you uncomfortable and sick, the infection cannot reach the foetus. Colds are mild illnesses that your immune system can handle relatively easily. Try Mulethi kadha (1/4 teaspoon mulethi powder, a pinch of cinnamon powder, black pepper powder and few tulsi leaves, add to 1 cup of boiling water. Let it simmer for 5 minutes, transfer to a cup and add 1 teaspoon honey to it. Have it twice a day and get well soon without worrying about the baby!
According to a study, a group of pregnant women that was asked to listen to Raag Kalyani for at least 20 minutes each day reported amazing benefits. After 20 days, the researchers saw improvement in the unborn baby’s reflexes, responses, movement and mental stimulation. In the mum, noticeable calming effects were noted.
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We have weekly bonding activities, music included, to help mums to connect with babies for their all-round development.
The award-winning iMumz App is helping 350,000 + women make their pregnancies healthier and happier.
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