Second Trimester Pregnancy Symptoms
Often the second trimester of pregnancy is called the honeymoon phase because many women find that they feel their best during this time. It's often the time the nausea has disappeared (or at least it has significantly lessened) and breast tenderness isn't as painful. During the second trimester your baby isn't big enough to uncomfortably crowd your abdominal organs, so you won't be experiencing the discomfort often associated with the third trimester.
Shortness of Breath
Your body is working very hard to provide enough oxygen for you and your growing child. It's crucial for fetal development that the baby and placenta get enough oxygen. And your body compensates for this. Unfortunately, because your lungs are now processing more air, you may find yourself feeling short of breath and breathing slightly faster.
Dizziness
Many women find that they feel just as dizzy during the first part of their second trimester as they did in their first trimester. This is common and nothing to be worried about. It's caused by rising hormones that make your blood vessels widen and relax to increase blood flow and oxygen to your baby. On the bad side, the widened blood vessels means the return of blood to you is reduced which can cause blood pressure that's lower than normal which causes dizziness when there's not enough blood reaching the brain.
In the second trimester, dizziness can be increased as the growing uterus creates more pressure on the blood vessels.
Low blood sugar can make the dizziness worse, so try to make sure you eat enough and get enough protein and iron in your diet. If you have varicose veins, which can't be prevented, you may find that you're more susceptible to dizziness.
If you find that you're very dizzy during the day, try to lie down on your left side to restore your blood pressure. Realistically, this isn't always an option so you'll need to rely on eating well and drinking plenty of fluids, especially water. Make sure you get up slowly from sitting or lying down to reduce dizziness.
Other things you can do to reduce dizziness is to avoid standing for long periods of time. If this can't be avoided, try to keep your feet moving to increase circulation. Wear loose, comfortable clothing and avoid lying on your back past the middle of the second trimester. The size of your uterus can put additional pressure on your veins.
Nasal and Gum Problems
During this time in your pregnancy you may notice that you begin to become more congested or have more nosebleeds. This is caused by the increased hormone levels increasing blood circulation. The increased blood circulation can cause the lining of your nose airway and lining to swell restricting airflow. The restricted airflow can cause congestion, snoring and nosebleeds. The increased blood circulation can also cause gum sensitivity. You may notice that your gums bleed easier and that flossing causes bleeding. Don't give up flossing, but try switching to a softer toothbrush to help reduce the gum irritation you experience.
Skin Changes
In the second trimester, you might begin to notice skin changes. Certain areas of your skin may become darker and your skin will likely become more sensitive to the sun, especially if you have fairer skin. This can't be avoided and is simply another symptom of pregnancy and is caused by the increased blood circulation. Use sunscreen even if you already have olive or brown skin.
Bladder and Kidney Infections
By the second trimester the flow of your urine is slower due to the hormonal changes and enlarging uterus. This means there's an increased chance of kidney and bladder infections. You can reduce the chance of this happening by drinking plenty of fluids and relieving yourself as soon as you can. A burning sensation, backache, fever or abdominal pain could indicate an infection. Make sure you get this treated right away since these types of infections increase the risk of preterm labor.
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