second trimester Content | Baby Billy

Screening for Maternal Depression

Why should I take the test?💡Pregnancy is a time of joy and celebration. However, stress and depression are inevitable parts of the journey for some moms. In fact, about 7% of pregnant women are reported to experience depression during pregnancy.Depression causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Healthcare providers and even you tend to pay more attention to physical health during pregnancy rather than mental health. Because some symptoms of depression are similar to those of pregnancy, they are often overlooked and not getting treated. How is the test done?💉During screening, your healthcare provider will ask you questions from a standardized screening questionnaire. Your answers to these questions will be scored and your total score will be used to determine whether you need mental help. Alternatively, psychiatrists may ask you questions about your feelings, worries and interests recently.TMI from Baby Billy👩‍⚕️: Risk factors for depressionSome risk factors for depression include anxiety, life stress, unintended pregnancy, and intimate partner violence. Little support or history of depression can make you fall into depression again easily.Signs and symptoms of depressionOther than symptoms that are similar to depression in the general population, additional clues are excessive worries about your baby, low self-esteem, inability to find pleasure in favorite hobbies. If you do not find yourself drawn to prenatal care and reassurance or you even have thoughts of suicide, you should definitely seek help.Treatment for depression Treatment for depression is extremely important! If you are sad all day long and you don't want to eat healthy foods that your baby needs, you can't have the energy to take care of yourself. Hence, you are at increased risk of postpartum depression and have difficulty bonding with the baby. Depending on your conditions, the doctor will prescribe you to help boost up your moods. You may be offered psychotherapy or antidepressants in addition to therapies. 

Round ligament pain during pregnancy

Your body is stretching to accommodate your baby's growth. That's why you experience this round ligament pain.Round ligament pain☹️What is round ligament pain?You experience round ligament pain when ligaments holding the uterus in place around the uterus stretch to accommodate your baby's growth👶. The irritation of nearby nerve fibers or the tightening of the ligaments causes pain.☹️You can feel achy, crampy or sharp. You notice the sensations of both sides more clearly when you change your positions suddenly. Even simple tasks like walking can be difficult.🚶☹️Causes of round ligament painAs your womb grows, the support ligaments lengthen and increase in diameter to hold the uterus in place and endure the baby's weight, causing extreme pains in the lower abdomen part.☹️ The pain intensifies when you start moving.🚶  The more babies you carry, the more painful your round ligament becomes. The pain will probably last for a few seconds to several hours.🕰️How to manage round ligament pain?☹️Wear a bandA belly band or a belly belt might become your best friend this time.🙆‍♀️ It offers great support and may ease round ligament pain more effectively, helping you move around.😃☹️Avoid sudden movementsPosition switches should be taken easily. Abrupt position switches can only cause pain, even for simple movements like lying down and getting up.🛏️ Also get plenty of rest and avoid heavy workload.☹️Pain relieversUsually round ligament pain doesn't require medical intervention.😃 If you're in excruciating pain, you can ask your doctor for a prescription of acetaminophen.👩‍⚕️ 

The 20-week-anatomy scan

Why should I take the test?💡Sometime between 18 and 22 weeks of gestation, the 20-week-anatomy scan is a great way to sneak peak how your baby is growing. It will be fun to take home a little souvenir from the hospital and laugh at it together when your baby is all grown up. If you have a special condition that needs to be monitored, you may have more ultrasound appointments with your doctor. Congratulations, you are halfway there! All moms-to-be should get an ultrasound anatomy as this one is more detailed and contains more valuable information about what's going on with your baby. How is the test done?💉Before your appointment, you should drink water to have a full bladder so that you can have the best ultrasound image. When it's time, you will lie down on an exam table with your tummy exposed. A sonographer applies gel on your belly and starts moving a transducer around. The high frequency sound waves of the ultrasound generates a moving picture of your baby. You will be able to spot your baby's beating heart, the face, arms and legs. How sweet it is to listen to the rhythm of your baby's heartbeat? TMI from Baby Billy👩‍⚕️:What can the 20-week anatomy scan tell you?Not just a merely moving picture of your little angel, the scan can measure your baby's size and check the development of all major organs. The baby's height is estimated and all four chambers of the heart are carefully identified. Other organs such as kidneys, stomach, bladder, diaphragm, genitals are also measured. A level 2 scan also checks for markers of genetic disorders. However, very few babies showing soft markers such as choroid plexus cyst, echogenic foci end up having chromosomal abnormalities. It is still a good indicator for follow-up testing if necessary.Are you curious about your baby's sex? The ultrasound can tell the sex of your baby if you have not found out through NIPT or CVS test. It also pinpoints the amount of amniotic fluid and the location of placenta to make sure everything is normal.Risks of the procedureThe 20-week ultrasound is one of the biggest and most important appointments of your pregnancy. There are no significant risks associated with the scan. You will get a glimpse of your little one's precious baby. It can also be the first official greeting between you and your little angel!  

Carpal tunnel during pregnancy

Carpal tunnel during pregnancy refers to tingling pains in the fingers, wrist, hands and arms. It is a common symptom because of all the swelling you're expecting.Carpal tunnel during pregnancy👋What is carpal tunnel?Carpal tunnel is a common syndrome when you're pregnant.🤰 You experience numbness or a dull ache in your fingers, hands, wrists and arms.✋ You also have swollen fingers and go through trouble grabbing objects and performing simple motor skills in daily routines.👋Causes of carpal tunnelFluid retention collected in your tissue of the hands and wrists and increase in blood volume🩸 compress the median nerve, causing throbbing pain. You may feel more uncomfortable at night since the wrist is usually bent when you sleep.👌There's not much you can do to prevent the syndrome because eventually all the natural changes will find you when you're pregnant.🤘 You can mitigate the pain by making minor changes in your daily life and get used to it.🤟  How to relieve carpal tunnel👋Limit activities involving hands movementFigure out which activities cause you the most pain and avoid doing them. Try to limit them as much as you can, especially the ones where your wrists are mostly immobilized like working on computers.✍️👋Breaks when workingTake breaks to move your arms and stretch your hands. Moving around increases blood flow and relieves the pain.🤘 You can also use wrist stretches, such as wrist extension and wrist flexion.🤟  👋Sleep positionAvoid sleeping🛏️😴 on your hands and try to keep your wrists straight instead of bending them. If you wake up with pain, shaking your hands and doing a little stretching might help you.👋Pain relieversIf none of those methods work, you should consult with your doctor to ask for anti-inflammatory pain medications that are safe for pregnancy. They don't cure the pain but can only temporarily alleviate it.🤘✌️   

Triple Marker Screen Test

Why should I take the test?💡The triple screen test is a blood test that measures the level of three important substances in the placenta. Alpha - fetoprotein (AFP), a protein made by the babyHuman chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone created by the placentaEstriol, a form of estrogen produced by the placenta and the babyThe results of the blood test estimate the baby's chances of having genetic disorders. The screen helps parents prepare and assess options on pregnancy management and special care that the child might need. The screen also alerts doctors to watch the fetus more closely for signs of complications and take actions immediately if necessary.How is the test done?💉Triple screen is most accurate if done between the 16th and 18th weeks of pregnancy. There are no eating or drinking requirements beforehand. The test is administered in a hospital, clinic, doctor's office or lab. The doctor cleans the patch of your skin where the needle is inserted with aseptic. A rubber band or a tightening band is applied onto your arm to make the blood vein more accessible. Then, the needle is inserted to draw blood, and the doctor removes it when the vial is full. The site of injection is cleaned with a cotton swab and a cute bandage is applied on the wound. TMI from Baby Billy👩‍⚕️:Who should have the triple screen?Moms who are over 35 years old, have a family history of birth defects or genetic disorders will greatly benefit from this test. If you have diabetes and use insulin, you should also consider having the triple screen.Exposure to high levels of radiation or viral infection during pregnancy can danger the baby. Triple screen only shows a probability that your child might have birth defects and indicates additional testing; however, it is not definitive and infallible. Risks of the procedureBecause the triple screen requires only a blood sample, it's completely safe. The one risk is that you may get a false - positive or a false - negative result due to the level of accuracy of the test. Results of the testAfter measuring high and low levels of AFP and abnormal levels of hCG and estriol, the results are combined with the mother's age, weight, ethnicity, and gestational age to assess possibilities of any birth defects.High levels of AFP suggest the development of neural tube defects such as spina bifida or anencephaly. Low levels of AFP and abnormal levels of hCG and estriol may indicate that the baby carries trisomy 21, trisomy 18 or another chromosomal abnormality. Although the test is primarily conducted to screen for genetic disorders, the results of the triple screen can also detect a multiple pregnancy or pregnancy that is more or less advanced than thought.   

Is it safe to sleep on the stomach during pregnancy?

You are half way through this journey. Your sleep position affects the quality of your sleep. Is your favorite position tummy down? Best sleeping positions during pregnancy🛏️Left sideSleeping😴 on the left side is considered ideal when you'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't cause danger to your baby👶 so sleeping on either side is considered equally safe.🙆‍♀️Sleeping positions to avoidIf 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'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't receive enough blood.🩸 Consequently, your baby is at risk of stillbirth while you may have dizziness, shortness of breath and fast heart rate.⚠️ 

Common pregnancy aches and pains

Growing a new person in your body takes a toll on your body. You should expect some body aches and pains along the way. Causes of body aches during pregnancy😩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'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.Relieving body aches in pregnancy😩HeatYou can apply heating pads, a hot water bottle on your abdomen. However, don't apply heat to your body for longer than ten minutes because you don'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. Common body aches in pregnancy😩HeadachesFeeling a squeezing pain on both sides of your head is a sign of tension headache.🤕 It'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.😩 😩Heartburn  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. 

Cramps in the second trimester

Cramps don't end in the first trimester. In later pregnancy, cramping and abdominal pain can still occur due to the same reasons. More causes of cramps in the second trimester🤰Round ligament painRound ligament pain is a brief pain that occurs on one side of the body or both sides. As your uterus👶 is growing, the ligaments in your pelvis stretch and lengthen to accommodate its size, causing you sharp pain. If the discomfort prolongs for days, call your doctor for a checkup.👩‍⚕️🤰Braxton Hicks contractionsThe muscles of the uterus👶 tighten for approximately 30 to 60 seconds or even longer. This tightening sensation is considered a practice for the real event and allows you to practice breathing.😮‍💨 At the beginning, your tummy feels uncomfortable and infrequently contorted at the top of your uterine muscles and downwards.😟 As you're getting closer to your due date, you will feel the pain more intensely. 🤰Placental abruption It often occurs around 25 weeks of pregnancy.👶 It is a life-threatening condition in which your placenta detaches from the uterus before your baby is born. You will notice sudden bleeding, leaking amniotic fluid, severe back pain, and frequent painful contractions.🙁 How to relieve cramps in the second trimesterYou can move around and do some gentle exercises🚶 to relieve gas pain and constipation. Take a warm bath or shower🛁. Drink plenty of water and rest.Try lying down for a while and breathe to relax. If you want to have pain relievers, you should consult with your doctor to get directions before taking any medications.👩‍⚕️ 

Health checkups in the second trimester

Just as you have had regular visits with your doctor in the first trimester, remember to continue doing so in your second trimester. These checkups monitor your baby's development and your health!During a checkup🩺Fundal heightFundal height is the height of your uterus measured from the top of your pelvic bone to the top of your uterus.🤰 Although it's not an accurate indicator of how healthily your baby👶 is growing, it can be considered as a marker for fetal growth.🩺Fetal heartbeatUsing Doppler ultrasound, doctors will check whether your baby's heart rate❤️ is too fast or too slow to indicate the baby's development. You can also hear your baby's heartbeat and get a sneak peak of your little angel that you're growing.😃🩺EdemaYour legs🦵, ankles and feet will be examined for swelling, or edema. Swelling is just a side effect of pregnancy, however, abnormal swelling might infer problems such as blood clot, preeclampsia.😟ccccc 🩺Weight gainWeight data⚖️ is recorded to compare your weight gained during pregnancy and your weight before pregnancy. The amount of weight gain recommended depends on your pregnancy weight, the number of babies you carry and the amount of weight that you have already gained so far. Your nutritionists will help you design a suitable diet plan accordingly.👩‍⚕️🩺Blood pressureBlood pressure🩸 decreases during pregnancy due to the overdrive or hormones and the increase of blood volume. The pressure is at its lowest when the baby is 24 to 26 weeks old.Low blood pressure makes you feel tired and fatigued easily. As long as you feel well, it's not a big concern.😃 Other tests during the second trimester🩺UrinalysisYour urine🚽 is always examined to make sure that your protein and sugars are under the threshold. Dangerous complications such as preeclampsia due to high blood pressure with swelling and excessive protein in your urine can happen if your urine is not monitored.⚠️High blood glucose in your urine can signal gestational diabetes. If you have painful urination symptoms, you have to check for bacteria infection.🦠🩺UltrasoundUltrasound🩺 is an essential tool to determine the stage of your pregnancy, the placenta, the amniotic fluid and confirm the menstrual dating. It's perfectly safe for you and your baby.😃 🩺Triple screen testYou're usually offered a triple screen test if you're under the age of 35. The test, also called multiple marker screening, tests your blood🩸 for AFP which is a protein produced by your baby, hCG which is a hormone produced in the placenta, and estriol which is a type of estrogen produced by both placenta and baby.🏥 🩺Cell-free fetal DNA testA DNA test🧬 is conducted to assess your baby's possibility of having abnormal chromosomes. Cell-free fetal DNA is a genetic material released by the placenta and found in your blood. Chromosomal disorders can affect the baby's learning ability and development in the future.⚠️

Pregnancy brain

Are you becoming more forgetful recently? You don't remember where you put your phone? Don't worry, you're just having a pregnancy brain!Pregnancy brain🧠What is pregnancy brain?Pregnancy brain refers to the forgetfulness and brain fog that you might be expecting during pregnancy.🤰 You may find yourself struggling to remember details or focus on anything. Some symptoms that are easily noticeable are memory problems🥴, forgetfulness, poor concentration, disorientation, and trouble recalling words or names.😕🧠When does pregnancy brain start?There is no scientific research on when pregnancy brain starts.🤰 According to surveys, pregnancy brain can start as early as the first trimester and get worse during the third trimester of pregnancy.⏰Causes of pregnancy brain🧠HormonesA fluctuating hormones throughout your body when you're pregnant are the culprit to blame. They may trigger some physical reactions and make changes in your body that affect your brain and memory.☹️🧠Trouble sleepingSleep😴 is necessary to consolidate a memory and help you remember details in the past to recall in the future. A consistent lack of sleep impairs your cognitive functions and ability to focus and remember.☹️ 🧠Stress and anxietyAren't you anxious about this new journey that you're going? You may be distracted by worry or excitement so much that you can't seem to concentrate on your work.🖨️ Everything will be just fine.😃🧠Changes in brain structure Some theories suggest that the brain structure has been slightly modified to get rid of unnecessary neural networks and license itself to fit your new job, being a mother👩‍👧 and effectively responding to your baby.👶 Changes in brain structure might be associated with impaired memory.How to cope with pregnancy brain🧠Set alarms and notificationsSchedule alerts⏰ will definitely help you remember things to do within a day. You can also keep memos on your desk or stick them on your computer.💻🧠Take snapshotsNow you tend to forget everything easily. Try to use your smart phone📱 to take snapshots of where you park your car so you can find it easily. You can also use photos as visual notes🤳 to remind you throughout the day.🧠ExerciseWorking out🏃‍♀️ regularly keeps you healthy during pregnancy. It can also boost your memory and help you sleep better at night, increasing your consciousness and alertness in the day.😃🧠Try to get good sleepA good night's sleep😴 always makes you feel better, giving you time to recharge and rest. It will also refresh your memory and make all memories stick to your brain longer.😃🧠SimplifyTake a break from multitasking and start doing one work at a time. Decide your priorities so you can feel less overwhelmed.😃