You are half way through this journey. Your sleep position affects the quality of your sleep. Is your favorite position tummy down?&nbsp;<hr>Best sleeping positions during pregnancy<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1921/3ae1a6ae-98c7-4ae2-a97e-c03145e19914.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">🛏️Left sideSleeping😴 on the left side is considered ideal when you&#39;re pregnant. The inferior vena cava runs on the right side to carry deoxygenated blood granules🩸 back to the heart for oxygenation. Lying on the left side will avoid putting pressure on the blood veins and allow optimal blood flow to the heart.💓🛏️Right sideSleeping😪 on the right side will suppress the inferior vena cana, impeding the blood flow to the heart and decreasing placental blood flow. However, it doesn&#39;t cause danger to your baby👶 so sleeping on either side is considered equally safe.🙆&zwj;♀️<hr>Sleeping positions to avoid<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1921/c0301f59-7779-423c-8c56-70fde642f751.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">If you prefer your tummy down, you might feel uncomfortable as your uterus and breasts are growing. If you are used to sleeping on your stomach, try using a donut-shaped pillow🛏️ to support your belly so that it&#39;s not too heavy.💤Lying flat on your back compresses the inferior vena cava and totally blocks blood from flowing from your legs to your heart. The aorta is also pressured and the fetus👶 doesn&#39;t receive enough blood.🩸 Consequently, your baby is at risk of stillbirth while you may have dizziness, shortness of breath and fast heart rate.⚠️&nbsp;

Is it safe to sleep on the stomach during pregnancy?

To maintain a balanced and healthy diet during pregnancy, here are some tips for you when you prepare your meal. No matter what your options are, always choose meals that contain lean proteins, whole grains, vegetables and are low in sodium for your best health.&nbsp;<hr>What not to eat during the second trimester<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1903/492be6c1-a3ef-4c33-adfe-8b2c7a2fb59a.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">🍲SeafoodLarge fish🐟 such as swordfish, shark and king mackerel are known to contain high amounts of mercury which is dangerous to your baby. You should limit your portions to 8 to 12 ounces per week.🍥 Other types of seafood like shrimp, salmon, and canned light tuna are safer to consume.🍲Unpasteurized productsUnpasteurized products contain bacteria that can cause severe infections.🦠 Unpasteurized milk🥛, certain soft cheese made with unpasteurized milk are best avoided during pregnancy.🍲CaffeineIt&#39;s okay to drink coffee while you&#39;re pregnant.🤰 However, for a coffee addict and a workaholic, you should limit your consumption to 200 milligrams per day.☕🍲Artificial sweetenersRegular consumption of artificial sweeteners can increase your baby&#39;s risk of obesity in the future.👶 Although they are safe for you while you&#39;re pregnant, you should consume them in moderation.🍲AlcoholAvoid alcohol completely when you&#39;re pregnant.🍷 Drinking alcohol during pregnancy is extremely dangerous, causing birth abnormalities and severe complications.🙅&zwj;♀️<hr>Weight gain during the second trimester<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1903/2499465f-6ad1-40cf-b1ff-9a795dc7d434.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">If you have an average weight, it is highly recommended to gain 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy.🤰 The extra weight you gain provides vital nourishment and prepares you for breastfeeding after your baby is delivered.👶&nbsp;Don&#39;t worry if you are worried about your weight! The number of the scale is not as important as a healthy diet.🍜 Try to focus on eating a variety of nutritious foods and avoid dieting to lose weight. Clothes that flatter your chubby figure can help boost your confidence!👚&nbsp;

Tips for healthy eating

It&#39;s time for your body to prepare for breastfeeding. Your breast starts producing colostrum and you might notice some drops in your bra. No worries, you should thank your body for doing its job.😃<hr>Colostrum during pregnancy<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1946/c24b510a-4e8a-4185-befd-4268629f86c2.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">🤱What is colostrum?Colostrum is your baby&#39;s first meal which is rich in protein and mom&#39;s antibodies.👩 It&#39;s also called foremilk because it comes in before mature breast milk.&nbsp;Colostrum looks like a clear and creamy white, or yellow orange liquid.🍼 More mature milk looks more creamy, white-ish and sticky looking.&nbsp;🤱The vital role of colostrumColostrum provides nutritions, vitamins, proteins and is loaded with white blood cells⚪🩸 that produce antibodies used to combat with bacteria and viruses🦠. Not only does it contribute to building the baby&#39;s innate immune system, it also establishes a healthy gut microbiome and has a laxative effect that helps remove meconium from the gastrointestinal tract.🚽&nbsp;<hr>Causes of breasts leaking<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1946/ad983813-9036-45f4-b3b3-dc3e8826f7ea.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">When you&#39;re in the third trimester, prolactin hormone starts gearing up and producing a small amount of milk.🍼 After you give birth for three to four days, the hormone is at its full speed, producing milk for your baby.👶&nbsp;High levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones keep the quantity of milk in check so you don&#39;t see a large volume of milk leaking. Your hormones are trying to keep themselves balanced and only activate when it&#39;s the right time.😃 If prolactin level is slightly higher than other hormones, you will see colostrum leak out a bit.🤰&nbsp;<hr>How to cope with breasts leaking<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1946/491c6185-ce01-41fc-85cf-eca95e429429.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">Breast leaks are a minor problem during pregnancy and easy to handle. You can use nursing pads inside your bra and avoid nipple stimulation.🙆&zwj;♀️ If you see unstoppable leaking or blood in colostrum, you should tell your doctor immediately because there could be signs of a clogged milk duct.👩&zwj;⚕️

Breasts leaking colostrum during pregnancy

A good quality sleep seems like a distant memory when you enter the third trimester&hellip;&nbsp;<hr>How does sleep change in the third trimester?<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/2055/02c7f62e-786f-47c3-b3b5-bb9a58a89ce2.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">😴Can&#39;t get comfortableBack pain and sore muscles just keep reverberating even when you try to distract yourself🙁. Your belly is too big to allow you to lie down comfortably. Restless legs syndrome occurs more when your body is trying to rest and urges you to stay active, making it virtually impossible for you to get to sleep.💤&nbsp;As your digestive system slows down in late pregnancy, acid rising back up causes heartburn in the chest, making it hard for you to fall asleep. Not to mention that your baby👶 is kicking and moving around in your belly keeps you awake at night too.&nbsp;😴Bathroom visitsYour baby👶 is growing and putting more pressure on your bladder. You will find yourself visiting bathrooms🚻 more often as your need to pee increases. You can reduce the number of nighttime bathroom visits by cutting down fluids in the evening and emptying your bladder completely before you go to bed.🚽&nbsp;😴WorryPregnancy is a long journey that has all ups and downs. It&#39;s normal to be worried at this point since the baby is coming out in no time.😃 Anxiety is not sleep inducing!😢&nbsp;Talk about your concerns and worries with your partner and friends.👨&zwj;👧 Make sure to gain all information about labor and delivery, postpartum period to prepare yourself for the last phase and stay assured that everything is going to be just fine!🤗<hr>Irregular pregnancy sleep patterns are linked to mental problems<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/2055/4e233497-0639-4c29-95fc-93340b809043.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">Poor sleep😴 during this time is normal due to hormonal and physical changes. Pregnancy takes a toll on your body, making you feel physically drained but don&#39;t worry too much! Most symptoms won&#39;t develop postpartum depression.😃That said, late pregnancy depression can still progress into postpartum depression. Since it&#39;s difficult to tell exactly when depression actually hits you, it&#39;s important to express your worries and concerns with your healthcare provider and your partner and be heard.🤗 Don&#39;t be scared if you have difficulty sleeping with other symptoms of moodiness. You know that everyone is right here for you!🥰&nbsp;

Third trimester sleep

Do you look at yourself in the mirror recently and notice how your skin is glowing? Pregnancy glow is most evident during the second trimester so don&#39;t miss the opportunity to check out yourself.<hr>Pregnancy glow<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1922/230f4017-b155-462a-9047-8eb686f468e4.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">👩Pregnancy glowYour radiant, glowing appearance👩 these days is called pregnancy glow. Becoming a mom is not just about acne and pains, but it also gives you a flushed face and glowing skin. You&#39;re glowing!🤰&nbsp;👩When does it start and end?There is no specific timeline for your beauty to glow.🤗 You may notice the radiance and flushed face more easily in the second trimester when all dull symptoms such as morning sickness has been alleviated.😃&nbsp;The end of pregnancy is also the end of the pregnancy glow. After your baby is born👶, your hormones and blood flow go back to normal.&nbsp;<hr>Causes of pregnancy glow<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1922/3681b10b-eb03-4c68-9bf6-fb27a5daf7b1.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">👩Surging hormonesExtra estrogen, progesterone, hCG hormones contribute to the glow. The increased amount might have made your face look glowy and shiny.☺️👩Increased blood flowYour blood volume🩸 increases by up to 50% to support your baby and other organs. More blood in circulation accentuates your beauty features and makes your skin look glowy and lively. A higher body temperature during pregnancy leads to flushing.🌡️👩Oil productionThe sebum glands produce more oil on your face, making it look shinier. However, sebum also contributes to acne on your skin.😉Don&#39;t worry if you don&#39;t encounter this pregnancy glow since every pregnant body is different.😃 Pregnancy glow doesn&#39;t indicate anything about your pregnancy.🤰 &nbsp;

Pregnancy glow

Your belly is getting tight and heavy to prepare for labor. You&#39;re almost there so buckle up and get ready for the rest of the journey.<hr>Why does your belly start feeling hard during pregnancy?<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1936/75e7641f-9073-416c-ad4f-2a44e1d6578a.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">🤰Growing uterusAs you&#39;re stepping into the third trimester, your uterus pushes against your abdominal wall and makes your belly feel hard.🤰 Your growing uterus also crowds your internal organs such as lung and bladder. Stretch marks on your belly become more visible and itchy.🙁🤰Gas and bloatingGas and bloating can also contribute to belly hardness. You get gassy because hormone changes slow the rate of digestion, leaving the food longer in the intestine🍲 and giving time to bacteria to produce gas.🦨&nbsp;🤰Braxton Hicks contractionsIf you feel sensations of stomach tightening, it could be Braxton Hicks contractions. They appear more frequently in the third trimester as they prepare your body for labor.😃&nbsp;🤰Preterm laborSharp pains on one or both sides of your belly might be caused by round ligament pain. However, if you feel excruciating pain accompanied with your belly feeling hard, this belly cramping can signal a more serious problem such as preterm labor.🙁 &nbsp;<hr>When to call doctor<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1936/c85647e6-fa6e-4ceb-b4e1-5efa4a7214cd.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">If your contractions are so painful that you can&#39;t endure it, you should consider calling your doctor.👩&zwj;⚕️ Any signs like vaginal bleeding, less fetal movement, amniotic fluid leaking can be dangerous so you should call your doctor immediately.🏥&nbsp;

Why your pregnant belly feels tight and heavy?

Growing a new person in your body takes a toll on your body. You should expect some body aches and pains along the way.&nbsp;<hr>Causes of body aches during pregnancy<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1935/e4b9c864-49e2-41de-a5fb-14ae9579e561.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">😩Hormonal changesSurges of relaxin and progesterone hormones relax your ligaments and joints to prepare your body for labor.🤰 Your body then feels all the aching and pain😫 as these unstable ligaments slightly move.😩Weight gainYou&#39;re gaining weight and putting extra pressure on your joints. Your growing uterus👶 also shifts your center of gravity and stretches abdominal muscles, causing inevitable pain to your back and spine.<hr>Relieving body aches in pregnancy<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1935/ac9252df-0a4d-4f9f-9e94-bd8d0881ae45.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">😩HeatYou can apply heating pads, a hot water bottle on your abdomen. However, don&#39;t apply heat to your body for longer than ten minutes because you don&#39;t want to heat up your baby.👶😩ExercisesOne of the best remedies to reduce pain is to stay physically active.🚶 Pregnancy safe exercises help keep weight gain in check, strengthen muscles, support your blood circulation🩸 and reduce swelling.&nbsp;<hr>Common body aches in pregnancy<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1935/184ef5c8-d8f7-46a2-996a-553954aab526.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">😩HeadachesFeeling a squeezing pain on both sides of your head is a sign of tension headache.🤕 It&#39;s usually a harmless symptom due to hormonal changes and increased blood flow.😩HemorrhoidsHemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels🩸 in the rectal area due to straining during bowel movements. The growth of the uterus puts pressure on your rectal veins, making you feel downright painful.😩&nbsp;😩Heartburn &nbsp;Burning sensation in your chest strikes you after you eat. During pregnancy, progesterone hormone relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, allowing the stomach acid🍲 to travel up your throat. Your baby👶 also contributes to pushing on the stomach and adding to the burn.😩Leg crampsLeg cramps🦵 can be rooted from vitamin deficiency, electrolyte shortage or other reasons. Changes in your body🤰 during pregnancy can cause unprecedented pains in your body.😩Carpal tunnel syndromeDuring pregnancy🤰, you experience tingling pain in your hands✋, wrists and arms. Extra fluid and swelling are the main culprits causing these symptoms.&nbsp;

Common pregnancy aches and pains

Your pregnant belly&#39;s growth keeps pushing your belly button out. It looks weird and makes you feel a bit uncomfortable but it will return to its normal shape after delivery.&nbsp;<hr>During pregnancy<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1924/e417077f-0a28-48be-b8e3-c29212adeb4c.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">🔘Belly button changesYour belly button🔘 doesn&#39;t connect to the uterus. It&#39;s just the remnant of your attachment to your mother in the womb from years ago.👩&nbsp;As your belly grows, it puts pressure on your belly button and causes some inconvenience. The belly button is out in the open making you feel weird😕 when it rubs against your clothes.👚&nbsp;🔘Belly button painsUmbilical hernia happens when a piece of your intestines protrudes through the small hole in abdominal tissue into your belly button and gets stranded.🙁 Umbilical hernia is usually harmless, but you&#39;ll experience intense pain😣 when this piece of intestines gets stuck and squeezed in a small space of your belly button.<hr>After pregnancy<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1924/589c6da4-c82a-4691-82e1-889c3cfecf6b.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">The belly button is likely to return to its normal size and shape after delivery.😃 However, sometimes your belly button may stay permanently outside, making you uncomfortable and diffident.You can choose umbilicoplasty, a surgery that makes the stretched belly button more vertical and less wide.👩&zwj;⚕️🏥 The surgery is only recommended for moms who have no intention of getting pregnant again because another pregnancy will give you the same result.🤰&nbsp;

Pregnant belly button

Braxton Hicks contractions are also called false alarms of labor. You can feel them early on in your pregnancy, but usually most moms won&#39;t feel them until mid to late pregnancy.😃 &nbsp;<hr>Braxton Hicks contractions<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1989/9bfd4c16-e699-42a4-af01-386b7d5a5937.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">🤰What are Braxton Hicks contractions?Braxton Hicks contractions are mild and sporadic contractions that you probably won&#39;t notice until mid to late pregnancy.🤰 They feel like tightness in your abdomen, typically last less than 30 seconds, then go away. They are uncomfortable but rarely painful.😃&nbsp;Since Braxton Hicks contractions are often mistaken for early signals of preterm labor, you should not make any diagnosis yourself just to be safe.🙅&zwj;♀️ You should consult with your doctor👩&zwj;⚕️ if you experience abdominal pain that doesn&#39;t get better even after you rest. More regular and stronger contractions accompanied with vaginal bleeding as you approach your due date are also warning signs of possible preterm labor.⚠️&nbsp;🤰What causes Braxton Hicks contractions?The exact cause of Braxton Hicks contractions is unknown but you can think of them as a practice before your true labor.🤔 You will notice them more clearly when you&#39;re dehydrated or have a full bladder, or after having sex or doing physical activities.&nbsp;<hr>The difference between Braxton Hicks contractions and true labor<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1989/e619422a-bb0f-4441-ac51-d97098548628.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">🤰PatternBraxton Hicks contractions often appear sporadically and don&#39;t get closer together. True labor signals come at regular intervals and get closer together over time.🧐&nbsp;🤰DurationBraxton Hicks contractions are weak, rarely causing any pains and lasting shortly. True contractions last 30 to 90 seconds.⏱️&nbsp;🤰PositionBraxton Hicks contractions occur in the front of your abdomen. However, real contractions feel like they start in the back and gradually progress to the front.🤰 &nbsp;🤰ChangeBraxton Hicks contractions stop when you change your position.🚶 True labor contractions continue despite position changes and intensify over time.&nbsp;

Braxton Hicks contractions

Can you feel your baby&#39;s movements today? There is a baby kicking in there!<hr>Fetal movement<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1899/fdb85cf9-4686-4dcf-8f3e-50c846831515.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">👶When does fetal movement start?The first fluttery movements are called quickening. You can expect to feel your baby&#39;s first kick between 16 to 22 weeks of your pregnancy.🤰 But there is no exact timeline to feel fetal movement so you may feel it a bit earlier or later.😃👶What&#39;s movement like in the second trimester?Your baby&#39;s movement is still unpredictable at the beginning. As your baby is getting warmed up, you can feel more intense and frequent kicks and punches from your little angel.👶 You can also put your hands on your belly and feel the moving underneath.🤗<hr>Kick count<img src="https://s3.ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/images.villagebaby.kr/posts/1899/73c2ff85-9356-4928-8ff0-fd5fabcdb666.gif" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;">👶Kick countYou pick a time of day and count the number of times your baby kicks during that exact time frame.🧮 It&#39;s best to pick the same time frame everyday so you can compare and notice any movements drop off.🙆&zwj;♀️&nbsp;👶Decreased movementsIf you accidentally start kick counts when your baby is napping, decreased movements are harmless. However, there are more potential reasons like your baby&#39;s growth might have been slowed down, or problems might happen with the placenta or the uterus.😟 Call your doctor immediately if you notice any strange silence when monitoring yourself at home.👩&zwj;⚕️

Why your pregnant belly feels tight and heavy?

Common pregnancy aches and pains

Pregnant belly button

Braxton Hicks contractions

Have your baby’s movements changed?

Exercises that are safe in the second trimester

Vision changes during pregnancy

The Quad Screen

Braxton Hicks contractions

Pregnancy sleep during the second trimester

Ultrasound During Pregnancy

Triple Marker Screen Test

Common pregnancy aches and pains

Late miscarriage

Alpha - fetoprotein (AFP) test