Second Trimester

Weeks 14-27

What is happening to me?

You may experience some of the following signs and symptoms of pregnancy. Please refer to COMMON PREGNANCY DISCOMFORTS for suggestions.

  • Mild swelling of hands and feet
  • Lower abdominal aches/backaches
  • Bleeding gums
  • Increased appetite
  • Constipation
  • Leg cramps
  • Increased vaginal discharge
  • Nasal congestion/nosebleeds
  • Baby movement or “quickening” first felt between 18-23 weeks

As you enter your second trimester, your baby’s eyelids, eyebrows and nails are formed. By the end of this trimester your baby will weigh around 2 pounds and is about 12 inches long. Baby will move, kick, sleep, wake, swallow and hear.

Warning Signs

Please call our office immediately if you experience any of the following:

  • Vaginal bleeding or spotting
  • Leaking of a watery fluid
  • Severe or persistent abdominal pain or tenderness
  • Trauma to the abdomen
  • Visual changes
  • Severe headache unrelieved by Tylenol
  • Severe or sudden swelling of the face
  • Pain in the leg associated with tenderness behind the knee and swelling of that leg
  • Chest pain and/or persistent difficulty breathing (normal to be short of breath after stairs while pregnant)

Second Trimester Tests

Anatomy Ultrasound

Your anatomy scan ultrasound will be scheduled at around the 20th week of pregnancy.  This is a longer and more thorough ultrasound and this appointment when combined with a visit with your physician may take two hours or more.  This particular ultrasound is an important step to check-up on your sweet baby.  During this appointment we measure the baby to check the rate of growth, we look at the baby’s position, the placement of the placenta, fetal heart rate, and an accounting of over 50 different views of the anatomy from brain to heart to kidneys and more.  The sonographers can usually identify the gender at this visit.  If you do not want to know the gender, they will not document it in the report.  Although you do not have to have a full bladder for this test being well hydrated and fed will ensure an active, happy baby which is easier to scan than a tired, sleeping baby.

Diabetes Screen

Diabetes screen instructions are found here.

Anemia Screen

When we screen for diabetes, we will also screen for anemia with a blood count.  It is a simple blood draw. If anemia is found, we will instruct you to supplement your iron intake.b

HIV screening

Tennessee law now requires that all pregnant women have a follow-up test for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) during the THIRD trimester of pregnancy. HIV transmission rates to babies are dramatically reduced with proper treatment of the mother during pregnancy. You will receive an HIV test with your glucola testing unless you decline testing in writing.

Vaccines in Pregnancy

Please see here for vaccine recommendations in pregnancy.