second trimester Content | Baby Billy

Lower back pain during pregnancy

Are you having lower back pain these days that makes walking difficult? The pain might get more serious as the uterus is growing. You can't cure it right away but definitely we will help you relieve your discomfort.😃 Lower back pain during pregnancy😩Posterior pelvic painThis is one of the most common types of lower back pain.😩 You will feel pain in the back of your pelvis either on one side or both sides of your buttocks or at the back of your thighs. Simple daily tasks such as climbing stairs, standing can cause discomfort.☹️😩Lumbar back painLumbar pain happens in the lumbar vertebrae in your lower back which is higher than the posterior pelvic.☹️ You will feel it over and around your spine approximately at waist level. Sitting💺 or standing🚶 for a long period of time deteriorates your pain and it tends to get more severe at the end of the day.😩SciaticaSciatica is not a common type of back pain that occurs during pregnancy. True sciatica appears when a herniated disc puts pressure on the sciatic nerve. If you have sciatica, your leg pain🦵 is more severe than your back pain. It even radiates to your foot🦶 and toes, creating a tingling sensation or numbness in your legs. Causes of lower back pain😩Your uterusAs the uterus👶 is getting bigger and bigger everyday, it shifts your center of gravity and also stretches out your abdominal muscles to accommodate its weight. Since it presses on surrounding nerves and increases stress on your joints, your back keeps being in pain throughout the day.☹️ 😩Hormonal changesWhen you're pregnant🤰, a surge of progesterone and relaxin hormones relax your joints and ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. Since muscles in your back are not stable, their mobility causes pain when you walk🚶, stand, sit💺 for long periods, lift things, or get out of bed🛏️. Ways to relieve your lower back pain😩ExerciseWhen your back hurts, exercise may actually be just what you need. Some stretching exercises, walking, prenatal yoga🧘 are helpful in gaining muscle strength and staying healthy. Swimming🏊‍♀️ is another great exercise because the buoyancy of the water relieves pressure off your joints and ligaments while you become a pregnant mermaid. 😩Pay attention to your postureAlways stand up straight and sit up straight.😃 As your center of gravity changes, it's hard to do at the beginning but you have to try to keep your posture correct. It's equally important to avoid standing for too long or lifting heavy things.🙅‍♀️ Take breaks, wear comfortable shoes to make sure your shoes have good arch support.👟

Breasts leaking colostrum during pregnancy

It'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.😃Colostrum during pregnancy🤱What is colostrum?Colostrum is your baby's first meal which is rich in protein and mom's antibodies.👩 It's also called foremilk because it comes in before mature breast milk. Colostrum looks like a clear and creamy white, or yellow orange liquid.🍼 More mature milk looks more creamy, white-ish and sticky looking. 🤱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's innate immune system, it also establishes a healthy gut microbiome and has a laxative effect that helps remove meconium from the gastrointestinal tract.🚽 Causes of breasts leakingWhen you'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.👶 High levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones keep the quantity of milk in check so you don't see a large volume of milk leaking. Your hormones are trying to keep themselves balanced and only activate when it's the right time.😃 If prolactin level is slightly higher than other hormones, you will see colostrum leak out a bit.🤰 How to cope with breasts leakingBreast leaks are a minor problem during pregnancy and easy to handle. You can use nursing pads inside your bra and avoid nipple stimulation.🙆‍♀️ 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.👩‍⚕️

Heartburn during pregnancy

Heartburn is one of the most common symptoms during pregnancy. Prevention is your best bet in minimizing discomfort and avoiding this fiery acid reflux.Heartburn during pregnancy😩What heartburn feels like?It is a burning sensation that starts from the bottom of the breastbone and travels up your esophagus to the lower throat😩. It's often related to gas and bloating. The discomfort that you experience will come and go after delivery.🤰😩What causes heartburn?  Progesterone hormone relaxes the muscles of the uterus and the lower esophageal sphincter, making gastric acid go back up burning your throat. The weight of your growing baby👶 also contributes to pushing stomach acid back up into the esophagus.🙁vvvvv Heartburn prevention😩Avoid food and drinks that upset your stomachCarbonated drinks like soda🥤, alcohol, and caffeine exacerbate heartburn symptoms. Citrus fruits and vinegar containing acids, fatty and spicy food should also be avoided.🙅‍♀️😩Eat small mealsInstead of eating three big meals per day, divide your meals throughout the day and give your body time to digest.🍲 Take your time eating and chewing. 😩Drink water between mealsStaying hydrated is important. Drinking water🥛 between meals helps neutral acids in your stomach and wash all remnants of food in your mouth away.😃 

Braxton Hicks contractions

Braxton Hicks contractions are also called false alarms of labor. You can feel them early on in your pregnancy, but usually most moms won't feel them until mid to late pregnancy.😃  Braxton Hicks contractions🤰What are Braxton Hicks contractions?Braxton Hicks contractions are mild and sporadic contractions that you probably won'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.😃 Since Braxton Hicks contractions are often mistaken for early signals of preterm labor, you should not make any diagnosis yourself just to be safe.🙅‍♀️ You should consult with your doctor👩‍⚕️ if you experience abdominal pain that doesn'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.⚠️ 🤰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're dehydrated or have a full bladder, or after having sex or doing physical activities. The difference between Braxton Hicks contractions and true labor🤰PatternBraxton Hicks contractions often appear sporadically and don't get closer together. True labor signals come at regular intervals and get closer together over time.🧐 🤰DurationBraxton Hicks contractions are weak, rarely causing any pains and lasting shortly. True contractions last 30 to 90 seconds.⏱️ 🤰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.🤰  🤰ChangeBraxton Hicks contractions stop when you change your position.🚶 True labor contractions continue despite position changes and intensify over time. 

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.👩‍⚕️ 

Tips for healthy eating

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. What not to eat during the second trimester🍲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's okay to drink coffee while you'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's risk of obesity in the future.👶 Although they are safe for you while you're pregnant, you should consume them in moderation.🍲AlcoholAvoid alcohol completely when you're pregnant.🍷 Drinking alcohol during pregnancy is extremely dangerous, causing birth abnormalities and severe complications.🙅‍♀️Weight gain during the second trimesterIf 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.👶 Don'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!👚 

Essential nutrients in your pregnancy diet

A healthy diet is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, but especially more vital when you're pregnant. A few nutrients in your pregnancy diet deserves special attention.Top nutrients💊Folate and folic acidFolate helps prevent birth defects and serious abnormalities of the brain🧠 and spinal cord. Folate is often consumed in forms of folic acid supplementation and fortified foods such as cereals, leafy greens🥬, dried beans and peas.🥜💊CalciumCalcium is vital for strong bones🦵 and teeth🦷 development. It also helps your circulatory, muscular and nervous system run normally.🧠  Dairy products🥛 are the best sources of calcium that you can incorporate into your diet daily. Nondairy sources include broccoli🥦 and kale🥬. Fruit juices and fortified cereals also provide lots of calcium for you.  💊Vitamin DVitamin D builds your baby's bones🦵 and teeths🦷. Fatty fish🐟 such as salmon, fortified milk and orange juice🍊 are vitamin D rich sources that you can include in your meals.💊ProteinProtein is very crucial for your baby's growth during pregnancy. Lean meat🥩, poultry and eggs🥚 are great sources of protein. More 'vegan' options include beans, peas, nuts, seeds and soy products. 💊IronIron plays an important role in hemoglobin formation🩸 that carries oxygen to your tissues and allows your body to function normally. You need double the amount of iron because you're also supplying your baby.👶Iron deficiency anemia can make you become fatigued and lead to dangerous complications during pregnancy.⚠️ Lean meat, poultry, fish, fortified cereals and beans are good sources of iron. Pair them with foods rich in vitamin C such as orange juice🍊, strawberries🍓 to increase iron absorption.Other supplementsA healthy diet😋 high in all sources of nourishment might not be enough to supply nutrients for both you and your baby. Have regular health checkups👩‍⚕️ and consult with your healthcare provider if you have a strict diet that is mandatory to follow, a chronic health condition and need any special supplements.💊

Have your baby’s movements changed?

Can you feel your baby's movements today? There is a baby kicking in there!Fetal movement👶When does fetal movement start?The first fluttery movements are called quickening. You can expect to feel your baby'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's movement like in the second trimester?Your baby'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.🤗Kick count👶Kick countYou pick a time of day and count the number of times your baby kicks during that exact time frame.🧮 It's best to pick the same time frame everyday so you can compare and notice any movements drop off.🙆‍♀️ 👶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'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.👩‍⚕️

Emergency medical symptoms during the second trimester

During the second trimester, you should pay attention to differences between normal pregnancy problems and medical concerns. Stay alert, don't hesitate to call your doctor, seek emergency care immediately if you notice anything abnormal.Medical symptoms during the second trimester🤰Abdominal painAbdominal pain😣 can signal preterm labor or ectopic pregnancy. When you feel pain in your abdomen, it's usually a symptom of ligament and muscles in the pelvis stretching to accommodate the growth of the uterus.👶 Sometimes, abdominal pain is related to past surgeries.💉 If you've had any abdominal surgery, you may experience pain due to the expanse of remnants of surgical scars. Infections can also occur but they are harder to diagnose because the exact locations of infections may have been shifted while the uterus is growing.🙂 🤰Back painBack pain is very common during pregnancy. As your uterus is growing, your center of gravity also changes. The way you walk🚶 or sit🪑 also alters to endure the added weight. However, if you're experiencing lower back pain with painful urination🚽, you may have a bladder or kidney infection. Low, dull and consistent back pain may signal preterm labor and other serious problems so you have to call doctors immediately.👩‍⚕️🤰HeadachesHeadaches🤕 during pregnancy are normally caused by hormonal changes, tension, fatigue, hunger and stress and last for a short period of time if you stay well rested. However, if the headache is particularly severe or lasts for a few more hours, you also notice a fever, swelling in the face and hands✋, you have to call doctors immediately because these may be signs of preeclampsia or other complications.👩‍⚕️  🤰Leg crampsLeg cramps🦵 are unknowingly common in the second trimester. You may lack calcium or have too much phosphorus in your diet, or are tired.😫 However, if the cramps elongate for hours, cause swelling and excruciating pain, change the skin color of your leg, you may have thrombosis🩸 in a leg vein that requires immediate treatment.👩‍⚕️  Other medical symptoms during the second trimester🤰BleedingAs your blood volume increases🩸, pregnancy hormones cause blood vessels to dilate and expand. However, bleeding is a scary symptom that indicates serious problems during pregnancy. Especially vaginal bleeding with lots of clots of blood may signal miscarriage.😟 Rectal bleeding which is usually a sign of either hemorrhoids or anal fissure can also be related to ectopic pregnancy or other problems. Seek medical care immediately if you're bleeding heavily.👩‍⚕️   🤰Vaginal DischargeAs pregnancy progresses, slightly odourous and silky white vaginal discharge is common. However, any thick, cheese-like discharge associated with painful urination, irritation may signal yeast infection.🦠 A rush of watery discharge may be a sign of premature labor or a tear in the amniotic sac that requires treatment immediately.👩‍⚕️ 🤰Rectal dischargeRectal discharge is often caused by STIs, physical wounds in the rectum or bowel and gastrointestinal problems. STIs can be detected by foul-smelling, green or yellow, and thick discharge.💧 Bowel problems are usually identified by mucus and watery discharge from the anus. If you notice any strange discharge, you have to report to your doctors immediately for further checkups.👩‍⚕️🤰Nipple dischargeWhen you prepare for breastfeeding🤱, your nipple may release colostrum which is a precursor to breast milk. If you notice any sign of nipples becoming inverted, dry, cracked, nipples having rash, bumps and strange smells, you need to visit doctors to discuss your symptoms.👩‍⚕️  

Do your feet grow during pregnancy?

Are you stocking new shoes because you can't fit in the old pairs? You may notice your feet get swollen as your pregnancy progresses.Feet grow during pregnancy\👣Swollen feet during pregnancySwollen feet👣 and ankles are common symptoms during pregnancy because of the heavy weight of the uterus. There is also a chance that your feet will actually grow during pregnancy.🤰 👣Causes of feet growthWhen you're pregnant, the pregnancy weight gain puts pressure on your ankles and arches of your feet. Your feet then flatten and lengthen. The surges of relaxin hormones relax ligaments in your feet, allowing the bones to get longer and wider.👠 The bones are not actually growing, but the compactness of ligaments gets unleashed, increasing your shoe size.👟Ways to ease the foot swelling👣Take break and sit downStanding all day long makes blood flow concentrate more in your feet and swollen them up. Take breaks and sit down when you can.🪑👣Comfortable shoesA pair of good shoes👟 will definitely make you feel comfortable and at ease when walking. Avoid shoes that pinch or have tight straps. Look for the ones that have a low heel and provide good support for your arches.👢👣Elevate your feetYour sitting position also affects blood circulation. Elevating your feet🦵 while you sit helps refrain fluid from accumulating in your lower limbs and improve blood circulation.🩸 👣Drink plenty of waterDrinking lots of water helps you visit the bathroom faster.🚽 Excess fluids that cause swelling will be discarded making your feet less inflamed.🥛