Definition
The second month of pregnancy is a period full of contradictory feelings, a period of certainties but also of uncertainties at the same time. Certainties because this month you find out for sure that you are pregnant, or because your doctor confirmed this, or because you did the “stork” test at home alone, which came out positive. It can be a period of uncertainty because during this month, the most numerous accidents occur that put not only you but also your doctor on alert. These events can occur both at the level of pregnancy, some even having a tragic end, as well as at the level of your body, causing symptoms that sometimes make you take the world into your head. Compared to the first month of pregnancy, during this month you will notice other changes in your body, but also at the level of the psyche. In this month, major events also take place from the point of view of the development of the embryo. Let’s discuss the second(2nd) month pregnancy details below.
Table Of Content
1. Definition
2. Mother’s symptoms
3. Embryonic development
4. Visit to the doctor
5. Problems that may arise
6. Your responsibilities
Mother’s symptoms
During the second month of pregnancy, most women can already feel that they are pregnant (if you have not yet had that unique feeling of being a mother, you will at least feel this because of the nausea and fatigue that you no longer have give peace).
The hormonal environment necessary for the growth of the embryo in optimal conditions begins to affect you as well: changes appear, subtle at first and then more and more obvious, both physically and emotionally.
However, remember that this is a state of discomfort that is not only transitory but also unique in its essence. If you think that you are about to host and shape another life, that of your child, maybe you will bear all these unpleasantness more easily.
Breast changes. During the second month, your uterus grows, but it is still located behind the pubic bone and does not make its presence felt. Instead, your breasts betray the fact that you are pregnant long before your uterus does. Your breasts can be enlarged and sensitive to the touch much more obviously than in the first month, sometimes even with a more alert walk you can feel some discomfort.
Because during pregnancy the breasts are preparing for the breastfeeding period and at their level permanent processes of architectural restructuring take place, sometimes you can feel more acute pains, like stabbings, at their level. Also Read: What Happens Third(3rd) Month Pregnancy – Definition, Symptoms and Signs
The breast areola becomes darker in color and enlarged in the surface. There are small bruises on the entire surface of the breast (as in the poem “The Flyer” by Heliade) due to the hormonal impregnation of your body.
Nausea. The nausea and vomiting that started bothering you maybe since last month, in the second month they can not only persist but can intensify both in frequency and intensity. Although nausea means that the pregnancy is going well, feeling sick 24 hours a day is extremely unpleasant. For this, contact your doctor who will be able to determine whether this condition requires therapy or not.
Fatigue. The episodes of fatigue you had in the first month can now turn into real exhaustion. Last month you felt that you needed rest, this month you feel that you need to rest again!
You can feel “dead from fatigue” without actually making any great physical effort. Do not be scared! It is the way in which nature evades you from the various occupations so that you can direct your energies where they are really needed.
However, don’t be seduced by the idea of spending your entire pregnancy on the couch eating popcorn and watching videos. This fatigue can be “educated” by practicing a special form of physical effort, prenatal gymnastics. However, a 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon does not hurt.
Dryness and itching of the skin. Although integumentary itching is most often encountered in the last trimester of pregnancy (especially in the growing abdomen), some women complain of the appearance of this symptom as early as the second month. Also Read: What Happens Fourth(4th) Month Pregnancy – Definition, Symptoms and Signs
Some cause itching on the entire surface of the skin, others only in certain areas such as the palms or soles. These itches have no pathological significance. However, avoid strong soaps that “clean” the natural oils secreted by the skin.
Frequent urination. If you haven’t made a pleasant arrangement in the bathroom since the first month, it’s time to start, because during pregnancy you will spend quite a lot of time here during pregnancy, both because of frequent urination and maybe because of the constipation that starts to make his presence felt. The uterus grows in size and, being a neighbor to the urinary bladder, will irritate the bladder and hence this frequent urination. You may notice that it will take you longer to urinate. This is also caused by the pregnant uterus.
If you want to get rid of these unpleasant symptoms, it would be good to start practicing Kegel exercises. Don’t forget to tell your doctor if the urination disorders become really annoying: it could be a urinary infection! (permanent feeling of urination, pain when urinating, sometimes fever).
Hypersalivation. You may have encountered this symptom since the first month. The composition and volume of saliva changes in the first months of pregnancy. You can also notice this by the strange taste in your mouth and by the excessive amount of saliva that can sometimes be annoying. Sometimes salivary changes can trigger nausea. For other pregnant women, the opposite phenomenon can occur, that is, nausea can trigger salivation. If the particular taste in your mouth irritates you, take a sugar-free Orbit.
Thirsty. The need to urinate more frequently can cause you to drink more water. The most important reason for the appearance of the feeling of thirst remains the body’s need to use as many fluids as possible in the complex process of forming the embryo’s habitat (which will begin to float in a special aquatic environment called amniotic fluid ). Water drunk in sufficient quantities also helps the maternal kidney to more efficiently purify the blood that now contains the metabolic waste of the growing child.
Constipation. Many women tend to become constipated during pregnancy. The occurrence of this unpleasant event in the early months of pregnancy can be attributed to the hormonal impregnation specific to pregnancy, which creates a state of relaxation in the digestive tract. Also Read: What Happens Fifth(5th) Month Pregnancy – Definition, Symptoms and Signs
Later, the constipation will be caused by the pregnant uterus. This state of intestinal relaxation also has a positive side, namely that by reducing intestinal transit, the mother’s body has time to more efficiently extract the necessary fluids and nutrients.
This efficiency together with the reduced motility determines the condition of constipation so unpleasant. To combat it, you must focus on a diet rich in plant fibers and liquids. Don’t forget the Kegel exercises.
The most important thing is to educate your gut: create a fixed schedule for it and last but not least, go to the toilet as many times as it “tells” (although modern women don’t really make time for this) and don’t put it off for longer Late.
Bloating. The same intestinal changes that cause constipation also cause bloating. As the pregnancy progresses, the feeling of bloating can intensify, because there is a competition for space between the pregnant uterus and intestines.
To avoid this inconvenience, you must keep your intestines working by avoiding constipation, be careful when you eat and not swallow air, avoid fatty foods and drinks that ferment and, finally, eat frequent and small meals.
Heartburn. Shortly after meals, some pregnant women may feel a burning sensation in the stomach along with that of intestinal fullness (translated by belching). Cause? Of course, like all hormones!
Intestinal stasis also makes its presence felt in the stomach, which digests more slowly so that the gastric juices make their presence more significant. To avoid these burns, it is good to eat little and often, to avoid bending over or lying down in bed immediately after a meal, to eat foods as natural and as little spicy as possible, to avoid fats and fried foods.
Thickened waist. Even if you can’t see it yet, it’s possible that the tight jeans you were rocking last months won’t fit you anymore. Even before you get fuller, it is possible to feel fuller yourself in the waist. It is normal. Your body starts to retain water and your abdomen will start to increase in size. It’s time to pay a courtesy visit to the seamstress. Also Read: What Happens Six(6th) Month Pregnancy – Definition, Symptoms and Signs
Vaginal secretions. During pregnancy, it is possible that vaginal secretions become more abundant and viscous, even more whitish. The mucous membrane around the vagina can become bluer and more congested, a sign that the body increases the blood supply at this level. If the secretions become troublesome (abundant, foul-smelling, accompanied by itching), it is good to inform your doctor.
Changes in the emotional state. Many times the “soul” tells you that you are pregnant before the first symptoms appear. During these first months, you can become introspective as you analyze the miracle of hosting a new life in your body.
Many of the emotions of the first month can be exacerbated during the second, especially if it is your first pregnancy. Sometimes you may feel the need to talk to your baby (don’t be embarrassed, I encourage you to do it whenever you have the opportunity), but it is possible that at other times you feel some antipathy for him because of him you have those unbearable states of nausea that I don’t give you peace anymore (this is also normal, especially since after they pass, your anger towards him will definitely pass). You can be highly sensitive, and things that used to be indifferent to you now mark you and sometimes make you react inappropriately.
You can sometimes wake up at home or at work feeling inexplicable sadness or prolonged reverie. You seem to think you are misunderstood because no one around you has any way of knowing how you feel, and you will especially notice this in your partner.
However, your libido can be increased during this period, although sometimes you would like to see him go to his mother… The feeling that you are dependent on others can mark you quite seriously, and especially that it will deepen as the pregnancy progresses and evolves. Avoid these problems through methods of relaxation, concentration and meditation under the guidance of a specialized instructor, and why not? practicing light forms of yoga. Also Read: What Happens Seven(7th) Month Pregnancy – Definition, Symptoms and Signs
Embryonic development
The embryo continues its growth undisturbed. During this month he will go from the appearance of a tadpole with a tail and gills to an appearance closer to, say, a monkey (which, however, no longer has the tail from previous weeks).
All his internal organs are about to form and begin to function. The heart starts beating at the beginning of the month and at the end of it is almost completely formed, beating at a rate of about 150 per minute.
The nervous system is forming, the spinal cord and the central nervous system are becoming better and better (it’s interesting that your baby’s brain is already functioning, because at the end of the month the brain waves can be recorded!). At the beginning of the second month, the buds of the future limbs appear, which are already formed together with the fingers at the end of it.
The teeth and palate are forming. But not the mouth. Likewise, the larynx begins to form, but your baby will not start singing or crying yet! The ears and eyes of the embryo are clearly visible at the end of the month (although he keeps his eyelids closed).
The musculature of the embryo begins to form and make its presence felt at the end of the month when the little one begins to perform real jumps in the liquid that surrounds it. The embryo’s head is larger than the rest of the body because its brain is growing rapidly. His skin is almost transparent and through it you can see the blood vessels through which his blood circulates.
Amazingly, already at this age, he has his personal blood type! At the end of this period, your embryo will “pass the grade” and become a fetus (the name it will bear until it is born). Also Read: What Happens Eight(8th) Month Pregnancy – Definition, Symptoms and Signs
Visit to the doctor
You reached the second month and called your doctor, who made an appointment for you. What should you expect from this meeting? He will most likely want to consult you. It’s logical. At this age of pregnancy, your uterus is still small, but it is globular (like a tennis ball) and is located behind the pubic bones, so it will not give much information yet.
After he has consulted you and found that you are ok, he will write on a piece of paper a series of tests that you must do, most likely at the polyclinic you belong to. If he is not very busy and if he feels like it, he will tell you what it consists of and why each of these tests is needed, but the most likely thing is that you will leave his office without understanding much of what is written there, even though you have all the right to be informed. For this, I am going to review some of the tests that should be passed on the paper in your hand when you leave the doctor’s office.
The pregnancy test
Why is this test done? To be sure that the cycle delay is due to the pregnancy. Should I take this test? Certainly yes. It is possible to do it by yourself, at home, by buying a ” pregnancy test ” from the pharmacy. When should I take this test?
When you have a delay in menstruation and previously had unprotected sex because of this. How is this test done? Put a little urine in a small container (test tube, a medicine bottle) and insert that cardboard stick into the urine. When are the results ready? Approximately after 5 minutes, that is relatively on the spot, the test is positive if two clearly visible dashes appear. Also Read: What Happens Nine(9th) Month Pregnancy – Definition, Symptoms and Signs
blood type
Why is this test done? It is particularly important to find out the ABO blood group in the unfortunate event of an emergency that requires a transfusion (in the old days the police gave a fine for missing the blood group from the report), but also due to a possible incompatibility between you and your partner. Rh blood type is important in case of incompatibility between you and your partner (only if you are Rh-negative and he is Rh-positive).
Should I take this test? Mandatory. When should I take this test? Prenatal or at the first visit to the obstetrician. How is this test done? A little blood taken either from the fingertip or from the arm (together with the blood taken for the rest of the blood tests). When are the results ready? Depending on the laboratory, on the spot or in a few days.
CBC
Why is this test done? This test gives information to your doctor about the quality of your blood: if you are anemic, if you have an infection, if you have coagulation disorders, etc. Should I take this test? Mandatory. When should I take this test? At the first visit and whenever recommended by your doctor when there are suspicions that can be elucidated by interpreting this test. How is this test done? Blood sampling from the arm. When are the results ready? It depends on the laboratory, from a few hours to 2 days.
Antibody titer
Why is this test done? This test is essential for detecting the presence in your blood of traces of infections that can affect the embryo: rubella, chicken pox, toxoplasma, syphilis, cytomegalic virus, parvovirus, genital herpes, AIDS (HIV), Brucella, etc.
Should I take this test? It is not mandatory, but it is recommended. When should I take this test? Prenatally or at the first visit or when you have a history of unexplained lost pregnancies or if before the pregnancy or during the first 2 months you presented symptoms suggestive of the above diseases. How is this test done? Blood sampling from the arm. When are the results ready? It depends on the laboratory, at least one day.
Glucose
Why is this test done? To detect the existence of a possible diabetes or your predisposition to diabetes. Both blood and urine are tested. Should I take this test? Mandatory. When should I take this test? On the first visit. How is this test done? Blood is taken from the arm or a prick from the finger if it is done with the glucotest. Urine collected overnight. When are the results ready? On the spot (with the glucotest) or in a few days.
Albumin
Why is this test done? To explore kidney function. Should I take this test? It is not mandatory. When should I take this test? At the first visit and later in the pregnancy if the doctor recommends it. How is this test done? Urine collected overnight. When are the results ready? Either on the spot, if it is done with a tester, or in a few days.
Liver samples
Why is this test done? Exploring your liver function. Should I take this test? Advisable. When should I take this test? At the first visit and whenever the doctor recommends. How is this test done? Measurement of bilirubin, albumin, transaminases, and other liver enzymes from the blood taken from the arm. When are the results ready? In a few days.
Renal probe
Why is this test done? Exploring the kidney’s ability to purify (cleanse) the body or kidney integrity. Should I take this test? Advisable. When should I take this test? At the first visit and as many times as necessary. How is this test done? Measurement of creatinine and urea from the blood taken from the arm and from the urine collected overnight. Detecting the presence of white and red cells in the urine, as well as possibly stones (sand or stones) or bilirubin. When are the results ready? In a few days.
Test Chlamydia
Why is this test done? Detecting the presence of chlamydia in vaginal secretions. Should I take this test? It is not mandatory. When should I take this test? Prenatal or at the first visit. How is this test done? Collection of vaginal and cervical secretions on a cotton pad. When are the results ready? A week.
GONORRHEA
Why is this test done? The discovery of a possible gonorrheal infection. Should I take this test? It is not mandatory, only if you have purulent vaginal secretions. When should I take this test? At the first visit or when there are suggestive symptoms. How is this test done? Collection of vaginal secretions on a cotton pad or with a loop. When are the results ready? In a few days.
Pap
Why is this test done? Determining the presence of abnormal cells in your cervix. Should I take this test? Mandatory. When should I take this test? Prenatal or at the first visit (in fact, it would be good to do it every 6 months and after you give birth). How is this test done? Vaginal secretions are collected with a small cotton pad. When are the results ready? In a few days.
Blood pressure
Why is this test done? Blood pressure measurement. Should I take this test? Advisable. When should I take this test? At all visits, especially in the last trimester How is this test done? Blood pressure is measured using a sphygmomanometer placed on the arm. When are the results ready? Immediate.
Ultrasound
Why is this test done? First of all, it can confirm the existence of the pregnancy. Then it is extremely important to accurately locate the place where the embryo was implanted (in the uterus or outside it, on the bottom of the uterus or below, towards the cervix).
It is a powerful tool used to find out the age of the pregnancy, the viability of the embryo (from 7 weeks it can detect the embryonic heartbeat). Afterward, it is essential for monitoring the normal development of your embryo/fetus.
– Should I take this test? Advisable.
– When should I take this test? At all visits.
– How is this test done? The ultrasound doctor visualizes on a screen the data collected with the help of an ultrasound probe that he walks on your abdomen.
– When are the results ready? Straight away.
Problems that may arise
Nausea, vomiting
It is good to know that these symptoms can become so pregnant that they create real problems for the pregnant woman. Sometimes the nausea can be so serious that the pregnant woman can no longer eat or drink anything, there is a danger of a significant weight loss, the spoiling of the mother’s body of minerals, dehydration, a decrease in the amount of urine with the appearance of a state of intoxication of the body, which it can no longer eliminate the products of metabolism.
I don’t want to “encourage” you, but most of the time, these symptoms are not major in the second month but have a maximum manifestation around weeks 10-12. If the nausea already gives you no peace, contact your doctor because these nausea can also hide a more serious pathology that is not good to leave undiscovered.
Bleeding
It may seem unlikely, but bleeding during the first months of pregnancy can be very common (up to 30% in the first trimester). There is a whole procession of causes that lead to bleeding, some without pathological significance, others particularly serious.
It is particularly important that the moment you notice that your panties are stained or that you have bleeding to notify your doctor. Spots on the panty or small pinkish or brownish bleeding without other signs usually do not portend something serious.
Red bleeding already reflects a disorder that could be serious. Most of the time this bleeding can be caused by a cervicitis (disease of the cervix) or by the future placenta which is in full implantation process at the level of the uterine wall, so that the pregnancy can progress to the end without these episodes it repeats itself.
It is important to make a correlation between the occurrence of bleeding and a certain activity such as sex, physical effort, stress, etc. In these cases it is better to avoid them afterwards. Bleeding can still foretell the existence or initiation of a serious pathological process such as egg release, ectopic pregnancy, hydatidiform mole, or even frank spontaneous abortion, especially if it is accompanied by other manifestations, the most important of which is pain.
pains
Sometimes pain can occur in the lower abdomen, most often having a cramp-like character. It is good to notify your doctor, although sometimes these cramps can be caused by indigestion.
Cramps can also be caused by an appendicitis in full development, by a neglected adnexitis or by an infection of the urinary bladder ( cystitis ). That’s why, I repeat, don’t be shy to bother your doctor whenever you feel that something is wrong, because the pain can foretell an impending abortion, but it can also be a sign that there is a faulty implantation of the pregnancy outside uterine cavity ( ectopic pregnancy ), both conditions requiring immediate treatment.
Varicose veins
If you have a predisposition, either family or constitutional, to have varicose veins, pregnancy is the most favorable moment for their appearance. The causes of the appearance of varicose veins are related to increased blood volume and increased pressure due to pelvic congestion. Although it does not affect the course of pregnancy at all, the appearance of varicose veins will definitely affect you from an aesthetic point of view.
The accompanying signs of this unpleasant condition are pain or a feeling of heaviness in the lower limb, as well as the appearance of blue lines or even turgid veins anywhere from the calf level to the upper thigh level.
The skin may become dry, irritated or swollen. There is only one effective method to prevent the development of varicose veins: behavior vis-à-vis effort and sedentarism, and this can be done through physical exercises.
Problems that can occur without any symptoms
If you don’t have any problems that make you go to the doctor and you say “I’ll go to the doctor later” it’s good to know that there is a possibility that the pregnancy will not proceed normally. There are very serious cases that do not manifest their presence during this month. Not yet… They can make their presence felt later, sometimes with serious consequences for the mother.
That’s why I emphasize the importance of the first visit to the doctor as well as the most detailed ultrasound scan, preferably at specialized ultrasound clinics. Particularly serious pathological conditions such as ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy implanted outside the uterus), hydatidiform mole (pregnancy formed only from the paternal genetic material, with an incompletely developed embryo, therefore non-viable, and with a defective placenta) or potentially serious such as areas of take-off of of the future placenta, called decidual hematomas (small spaces filled with blood appearing between the placenta and the uterine mucosa), can have a hidden evolution until they become manifest, endangering the life of both the child and the mother. Be wise, contact your doctor.
Your responsibilities
Even if you have contacted your doctor and he has “outlined” certain “tasks” that you must carry out, it is good to know that beyond your responsibilities vis-à-vis the “official” requirements (the analyzes up to date, visits to the doctor when you are scheduled, etc.) you still have a series of responsibilities both towards your baby and towards your body.
That’s why, even at the risk of repeating what I wrote for the first month, I emphasize the importance of diet, stress avoidance, and physical exercise during this period of pregnancy.
The stress
Always bearing in mind the fact that any change in your emotional state can significantly influence the development of the embryo, you must continue the mental behavior you have imposed on yourself since the first month of pregnancy: relaxation and serenity.
Smile all the time, show a happy face (and why, you will give birth to a beautiful child), talk non-stop with your little one (don’t be afraid of ridicule, he understands you, don’t forget that his brain activity can already be measured starting from this month), listen to good music, watch only non-violent programs on TV, read relaxing and interesting things.
Try to make those around you understand how important the environment is, both physical and especially the mental environment around you (or rather yours, because there are two of you from now on), and to try to help you and to protect you (but don’t take too much advantage of this indulgence, you might fall into the other extreme).
If you have started a relaxation, concentration and meditation program based on yoga, tai-chi-chuan or autosuggestion, continue it at any cost, it is absolutely beneficial for the harmonious development of your embryo.
Diet
It is of primary importance to understand that it is not important how much you eat, but how you eat and what you eat. Continue your diet started last month. Eat the same foods as little as possible, fresh, and natural.
Foods rich in fiber will prevent constipation. Don’t forget to continue taking the folic acid supplement you started taking last month (studies have shown that the supplement of 0.4 mg folic acid per day dramatically reduces the incidence of neural tube defects in the embryo). Also, don’t forget the prenatal vitamins.
Physical exercise
If you were not a loyal client of fitness or aerobics gyms before becoming pregnant, now, in the second month, it is extremely important to start exercising regularly and under professional guidance. Why is it important to adopt this attitude? The benefits of exercise are inestimable:
– They increase self-confidence, reducing depression and anxiety;
– Maintain a healthy and constant rate of weight gain;
– Helps to reduce discomfort due to pregnancy;
– Decrease the risk of reaching a caesarean operation;
– Shortens recovery time after birth;
– Accelerates postpartum weight loss;
– Increase the energy level of the mother’s body;
– Improve the quality of sleep;
– Increase labor efficiency;
– Reduce fatigue during labor.
Although it would be good to perform these exercises under professional guidance or supervision (physiotherapists or midwives specializing in this field), it is good to know some details about physical exercise.
Fitness. If you were already frequenting the gym before becoming pregnant, you will definitely be able to make some adjustments to your training program now. If you are just starting to do physical exercises, you must start this new path wisely and respecting certain principles:
– Start with very easy exercises;
– Do these exercises at least 4 times a week;
– Do the stretching exercises in moderation (it is not desirable to change the obstetrician with an orthopedist, even temporarily);
– Impose an adequate breathing rhythm (to learn how to breathe during physical effort, contact the specialized staff);
– Try to check your heart rate during fitness sessions, maintain a constant heart rate and do not exceed 120-130 beats per minute;
– Do not lift weights;
– Try to drink a lot of liquids at least one hour before the fitness session.
Swimming. It is, in my opinion, the most complete way of toning the maternal body antepartum. It tones almost all large muscle groups and, very importantly, teaches you to breathe rhythmically (something that will help you during labor). However, it is good to avoid aggressive styles such as crawl or butterfly (no shark is hunting you, so don’t rush). Swim breaststroke and don’t brag about how many “pools” you’ve done.
Also, don’t jump off the block start, you might get a “belly” that might not give you so much pleasure, especially since yours is about to grow bigger and bigger. Do not hold your breath for more than 15 seconds, avoid underwater swimming. When you enter the pool, do it gradually, not suddenly. If you don’t know how to swim, it’s good to go to the pool with small water.
Yoga. If you did not practice yoga in your youth or before you were pregnant, it is good to contact an instructor and go to a beginners’ group or a special one for pregnant women.
Contrary to the widespread representations in local folklore, it is good to know that yoga is not a way to put your feet behind your neck (which in your case would be completely useless, not offering you any help during pregnancy or childbirth). Yoga is first of all a form of transposition into life of an entire philosophy.
In short, yoga seeks to create a healthy body capable of hosting a stable mind. Yoga means not only bodily postures (which are called “asanas”), but also a vegetarian diet, breathing exercises, mental concentration and meditation, and last but not least, a new and special way of looking at and acting in life.
Outdoor walks. They will replace jogging if you practiced it successfully before pregnancy. It tones the muscles of the lower limbs and the pelvis, increases pulmonary ventilation, oxygenates the blood better, and produces special mental relaxation (on the condition that you do not take these walks through the neighborhood market, but in a large and quiet park).
Kegel exercises. It represents the simplest way to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles (the one that is most requested during labor). Although its name carries some air of mystery and complexity, in reality this exercise is nothing more than the rhythmic contraction and relaxation of the muscles of the perineum (contraction of the anus and urethra).
It is advisable to do this exercise whenever you remember: at work if you have an office job, on the tram or bus (if you were lucky enough to have someone give up your seat), at home watching TV, etc.
A minimum of 100 consecutive contractions are required, for starters. Later you can exceed the million! These exercises are excellent to avoid the occurrence of genital prolapse and it is advisable to do them even when you are no longer pregnant…