It’s A Boy! My Second Trimester Pregnancy Symptoms
My OBGYN considers week 13 as the second trimester, so i’m going with it (hey, anything to get me out of the dreaded first trimester!)
Week 13:
I feel so GREAT! I actually feel my energy coming back whereas every task during the first trimester took so much more energy to do. I remember asking myself during first tri, “Am I making myself feel tired?”, “Are these food aversions in my head?”, “Is this all a game I’m playing with myself?” The answer: NO. You have absolutely no control over your body during pregnancy. It does whatever it wants to do. If you don’t like a certain food, it’s not by choice. If you’re tired, it’s not by choice. It’s your body preparing for baby! Looking back, I realize all of that now. I just started drinking coffee again, and I couldn’t stand the taste of it in first trimester. Isn’t that the craziest thing!? #thepoweroftheplacenta (speaking of placenta – have you read how big a role the placenta plays in pregnancy? It’s mind boggling. I’ll have to find the article that I read and link it here, but it helps level out your hormones allowing you to feel as good as you do in second trimester, and that’s just the beginning of all the miraculous things the placenta does!)
We got a call from our OBGYN this week with results from our Panorama test that we took last week at 12 weeks (a blood draw that tests for gender/chromosomal abnormalities). We were told our tests returned normal and low risk. We are grateful for a healthy baby. We asked them to stick the gender into a card and that i’d pick it up later that day. We had a fun night planned around the gender reveal with a picnic on the beach, but when I got home from picking up the card and it was only 1 PM, we COULD.NOT.WAIT. So we decided we would open the envelope (dun dun dunnn).
I placed the envelope on the kitchen table and waited for Tyler to break out the Welch’s Grape Juice and two glass flutes (you know – for cheers-ing). We both thought at one point we would pass out from pure anticipation. We got to where we were so nervous that we’d barely rip the envelope and then have to set it down just to catch our breath. I think we set the envelope down at least 5 times to jump and hug and laugh. It was seriously funny! Finally, we flapped open the piece of paper and my eye immediately went to “MALE”. Tyler said he was scanning the entire page looking for a color or a pie chart of percentages. Haha! Good thing I started crying, pointing and screaming, or I think it would’ve taken him all day!
I was wailing, “I knewwwwwww it was a booooooooy, iiiiiiii kneeeeew itttttt”, and I had to make sure Tyler knew I was crying from joy and not disappointment. It’s a boy! I am so happy! I really DID know it this whole time. After we collected our thoughts (and emotions), we poured another glass of sparkling juice and headed to the baby room where we sat and talked about our expectations as parents. I was asking Tyler questions like, “what do boys do all day?” (Haha!!) And I was telling him how I’ll need a lot of help with Christmas gifts since Tyler’s area of expertise is the boy’s section in Toys R Us. When dinner rolled around, we decided to get out and celebrate so we went to our favorite Japanese restaurant and ate a really great meal. It was truly a great, great day and one that I won’t forget.
The following day, we were so excited to know the gender that we decided to talk about names. I was in the middle of making S’mores Rice Krispie Treats and Tyler had the idea to write our name selections on a large piece of paper taped to the wall, so we headed to the baby room with snacks and a pen. It took us about a day to make the final decision, but it was a decision we both came to with ease, and I love that we can call him by his name when we talk about him now. We plan to keep the name our little secret ’til birth!
Like I mentioned at the start of this post, I’ve been getting new symptoms! My nipples are chapped and peeling. I have no idea why or where this came from, but I’ve asked other mothers and most have not experienced this symptom. So crazy! I have been putting coconut oil and Bio oil on them, both of which have helped over time. The good news is they are not as sensitive as they were in first trimester.
My pregnancy dreams are in FULL force – I had a dream that I was breastfeeding a cat. I mean, what the…?!
I’ve been getting intense leg pain when I sleep which is something that didn’t happen to me during my First Trimester. I’ll wake up with a sore/pulsating/tingling leg and switch sides which means I am in FULL fish-flopping mode, all night long.
This week was a pretty great week. I know we still have so many milestones ahead like the nursery, feeling the first baby kick, touring the hospital and a baby shower, but this week will be hard to top. If you’ve chosen to find out the gender in the next few weeks, can I just say what a difference it makes in the overall pregnancy experience!? I find myself at random times of the day seeing his face around the house and calling out his name. We are so excited!
Week 14:
This week has been a pretty easy one other than the itching. My boobs itch, my stomach itches, my sides itch. I’ve been trying not to scratch it for fear of stretch marks, but it’s so hard not to!
Oh, and BEWARE: In your second trimester, your taste for food will come back with a vengeance!!! You will be a hungry savage at every hour of the day – so hungry that you question having two lunches (and two dinners). I can eat at 8 AM, 11 AM, snack at 2 PM, and fight the urge to eat another meal at 4 PM (to which, I lose… and eat another meal). YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. Also, I’m still craving comfort foods. Give me all the mashed potatoes, bagels and spaghettio’s. I know, I know. None of it makes sense to me, either.
Week 15:
BREAST MILK. Yes, you heard me correctly. The boob leakage is in full force!
For your information: my boobs are small (they haven’t grown much during my pregnancy) so I don’t wear a bra around the house…like, ever…which is probably how I was aware of this symptom so early. It was a Saturday morning, and I was washing the dishes only to notice my shirt was wet, directly over my nipples. I told myself that water had gotten on my shirt, and I kept about my day. Lunch time: I’m eating at the table and look down to notice my nipples are wet. I was really shocked at how messy I’d been and couldn’t believe I got my shirt wet again! Skip to dinner: I’m on the phone with my mom and realize my nipples feel cold. I look down to notice my shirt is soaked. This time, it was obvious that the culprit wasn’t water. It was my colostrum coming through! I screamed over the phone, “MY NIPPLES ARE LEAKING” and my mom was like, “No way, already?!” …Crazy, right? Don’t let me freak you out: this symptom is on and off. It doesn’t happen all the time. In fact, the following day I had nothing! However, I’ve noticed a common pattern: when my breasts do begin to leak, I know that they will leak for the rest of the day. I’ve already woken up with a wet shirt, so I lined my bra with panty liners to catch the goods (only a temporary fix til I make a run to Target for breast pads). The doc says it’s a normal symptom to have during pregnancy, but I can’t believe I’m experiencing it earlier than some of my other pregnant friends.
Prepare yourself for bleeding gums and a bloody nose during the second trimester. I’m sure these symptoms don’t happen to everyone, but i’ve already woken up with a bloody nose and it’s not uncommon for me to brush my teeth and see blood (this is coming from an avid flosser)
We had our 2nd appointment this week! It was a quick one: pee in a cup, listen to the heart from a fetal doppler and talk to the doc. He had such a strong heartbeat! The nurse said the heartbeat is normally difficult to find at this stage in pregnancy, so when she found his heartbeat right off the bat, she was stunned. She couldn’t stop talking about how surprised she was that it was so easy to find! We didn’t get to see baby on ultrasound this time, but our next appointment in 4 weeks is a brain/organ scan, so I’m counting down the days until I get to see my babe again! My weight on the scale has gone up 1.5 pounds making that 3 pounds gained thus far in my pregnancy.
In the last days of week 15, I was sitting at my kitchen table and felt the baby flutter for the first time! As I’m typing this, I feel him kicking! It’s too early for Tyler to feel the kicks from the outside, but it has been pretty amazing to experience, and he seems to be squirm often! I feel him move every day now.
Week 16:
This week, I really feel like my bump has started to become visible. It’s not “large” by any means, but it’s extremely low and round, and I can wear a tight t-shirt and get comments from friends. Toting this little bump around makes me happy.
Don’t be fooled! The second trimester is great and all, but you will still experience some crazy (and painful) symptoms. For the past 2 weeks, I’ve been struggling with hip pain while I sleep. I wake up from a burning/aching hip (the one I’ve been sleeping on) and apparently it’s from a hormone called relaxin that relaxes the ligaments in the pelvis and softens and widens the cervix. I read that sleeping on your soft hip allows the bone to move from the joint causing the burning sensation I’ve been feeling. It’s pretty terrible! Not only do I have to avoid my back and stomach when I sleep, but the sides aren’t that great either! BOO HOO. You can read more about the symptom here and how other preggy ladies are combating the pain! So far, nothing seems to help me. I’m a lost cause!
Week 17: For the past 2 weeks, I’ve been trying to get Tyler to feel baby kicks from the outside. I’ll say, “He’s kicking, gimme your hand!” but our baby boy is still little, so it’s been almost impossible for Tyler to feel anything. Like I’ve said before, it’s such a magical feeling, but it’s difficult finding the words to describe it to him, so I was determined for Tyler to feel it for himself!
After a big dinner of shrimp wraps and broccoli, we sat in bed talking. Baby Weir was kicking – hard – and I told Tyler to place his hand on top of my stomach. We really didn’t think he’d be able to feel anything yet, but one hard kick later, and I swear his eyes could light up a Christmas tree. His mouth dropped and he sat there, frozen and not moving. It was almost as if he was in disbelief. Experiencing his reaction has been one of the most precious sights I’ve ever witnessed in my life. I reminded myself in that exact moment to hold onto that feeling : watching a Dad feel his baby for the first time. I hope I will always remember the way his face looked. It was a true gift.
I haven’t had any pregnancy headaches in a while which is AWESOME! And I’ve been sleeping like Rip Van Winkle at night. I still wake up with leg pain, but I swap sides, and I’m out like a light.
I’ve been making breakfast every morning this week. It’s been my most favorite thing to do! I love to cook, and I read that breakfast is so important for a pregnant woman, so I’m up-and-at-em at 6:30 frying bacon, glazing cinnamon rolls, flipping eggs. It’s a special time I get to spend with Tyler before he leaves for work. I hope we can keep this up!
Cravings: still eating tuna fish like it’s my job. bagels and cream cheese. turkey sandwiches. Nothing has changed much!
Week 18:
I was making my bed the other day when I noticed I had four pillows on my side. Four! I used to sleep with just one! Now it’s as if I won’t sleep without a whole pillow fort around my body, and four doesn’t even seem to be enough! My current sleep position is as follows: left side sleeper with a pillow in between legs, pillow behind my head, body pillow on top of head pillow turned vertically to run down my side, large sham resting on headboard for when I wake up and want to sleep upright. If that’s the case, then I gather all of my pillows and put them under my waist and back. Whew!
The irony about my sleeping position is that I’m not even sleeping this week. Week 10 and week 18 have been my worst no-sleep-weeks. I don’t know if its because my body temperature is high, and I cant cool down, but there is no sleep happening for this girl at the moment.
Oh, and welcome, bloody nose #2!
Week 19: This week, I welcomed two stretch marks on my boobs – one on each boob in the exact same spot. I’ve been lathering them with oil, but they’re still there. I may lose the stretch mark battle, folks! I guess some things are just inevitable!
We had our 19 week checkup this week : brain/organ ultrasound scan and talking with the doctor. Baby Weir is measuring at exactly where he needs to be! His lips are full and show no cleft lip, his heart has four chambers that are pumping blood, his brain measures the right width, and we are beyond grateful! …though i’m not as grateful for the 5 pounds I’ve gained since my last visit. Whoops! Since the beginning of my pregnancy, I have gained 8 pounds thus far (thank you, ice cream and bagels) Grow, baby, grow! Here is an updated ultrasound pic of Baby Weir! His little feet are over his head. He is so active!
I’ve also noticed how hard my uterus is! I read that it’s muscles in the uterus tightening. It honestly feels like there’s a rock in there! Because it’s hard and rounded, this week is the first week that my belly has actually felt like a pregnant belly!
It’s also the first week that I’ve experienced Round Ligament Pain. It’s TERRIBLE! I walk around like a hobbled, old woman. It doesn’t hurt if I bend over and give my muscles some slack, but when I stand straight, I get crazy pains on the lower right side of my uterus. The pain is strong enough to bring me to my knees. Yyyyyouch! Lots of firsts this week.
Week 20: Well, I think the frustrations of pregnancy are hitting me hard this week. With my growing belly not showing signs of slowing down anytime soon, it’s been hard to dress myself lately. I’m officially at that point where all the clothes in my closet are too tight – belts hardly fit around my waist, all of my button down shirts want to pop open, vests wont close past my breasts, and any dress I wear is pulled up too high by my belly. I would love nothing more than to go out and buy some new clothes, but in a season when you’re busy buying for others, it’s just not in the budget! I just get stressed thinking about holiday parties and gatherings coming up that I have no clothes for. This part sucks. This part sucks real bad.
I’m also at the point where I have difficulty bending over to put on my shoes. Sitting on the staircase seems to help, but only if I don’t care for oxygen. Oh, and I can’t shave anything below my belly button because I can’t see! Does it sound like i’m whining? THAT’S BECAUSE I AM!
Other than my petty problems, I’m starting to get to where I can’t imagine not having dessert once a day, whether that be a donut, a slice of cake or a scoop of ice cream. I am literally a vampire that needs blood! I was telling Tyler recently how we used to rarely have desserts around the house. We never had bad food…only simple snacks like hummus, apples, peanut butter, nuts, etc. Now I just want shells and cheese and pop tarts and oatmeal cream pies and .99 cent boxed cake and cookie dough and anything processed. Ha! The good news is I’ve been walking twice a day (once in the morning, once after work). It just feels so incredible outside!
Week 21: Oh, Thanksgiving food. You tasted really good this week, but you came with acid reflux and IBS (x2). #WORTHIT.
We spent the Thanksgiving holidays with my mom and dad this week. I haven’t seen my parents since I’ve felt Baby Weir’s first kicks, so my mom finally got to feel him wiggle! I loved watching her reaction. It’s really special sharing that moment with friends and family.
This week has been pretty easy other than acid reflux and IBS. For lunch one day, we had tomato soup and grilled cheese, and for dinner that same night, I ate taco soup (also filled with tomatoes). Tomatoes are so acidic so this was my first bout of acid reflux. YOUCH! Apparently it’s not good to lie down when you get acid reflux, but it was 10 PM, and I had a full belly so I slept upright for the rest of the night.
And I’ll spare you the details about IBS (other than it was awful, and I think it was from all of the rich thanksgiving food I ate)
Week 22: I BOUGHT BREAST PADS. No more washing my bra every other day! Pretty pumped about this.
I am slowly realizing that I can’t do things the same way that I once could, pre pregnancy. Like i’ve mentioned above, putting on my shoes or bending over for anything is beginning to get difficult. Even more, I was surprised to find out that wearing high heels isn’t the best idea. I am a girly girl through and through: I like my sequins and my heels. Now that we’re smack in the middle of holiday season, I REALLY like my heels. I wore some for work the other day and when I took my shoes off at home, my feet were so swollen! I’m pretty sad about it considering there’s a Christmas party in the coming week…to which I will be wearing heels then, too 🙂
Week 23: It wasn’t a very eventful week, pregnancy wise and from what my OBGYN tells me, “boring is a good thing” so I’m not complaining!
I’ve gained a total of 13 pounds thus far, so I’m right on track! Woot woot. I still wake up with sore hips and flip flop throughout the night, so I think that symptom is here to stay ’til baby. My body temperature has been extremely hot as of late, so I sleep with just the top sheet on the bed, and turn the A/C on 70 degrees (even if it is winter time!) And I’ve noticed more stretch marks appearing on my boobs. Other than that, 23 weeks down, 17 weeks to go!
Week 24: Have you ever heard the saying, “Pregnancy prepares you for NO sleep when the baby comes?” It’s true. I haven’t been getting much sleep. I feel like as my stomach grows, my sides become harder and rounder so when I sleep on my side it feels like it’s being jammed into the mattress. I can’t wait to sleep on my stomach once the baby comes!
Also, I’ve been extra gassy this week. Why do I have a feeling that this part is only gonna get worse?
Week 25: I’ve jumped up to a total of 16 pounds thus far. 3 more pounds since week 23! I should probably slow down on the gingerbread men.
Week 26: Ah, there’s nothing like being pregnant during the holidays: the food! the post-food naps! the food! It has been such a treat. I’m at 16 pounds thus far. I do get frantic that I’m gaining too fast sometimes. It’s difficult watching the numbers on the scale grow! But I’m healthy and baby is healthy and that’s all that matters. Praise the good Lord!
I’ve been told by several family members this week that I’ve “popped” again. In laymen’s terms, that means I’m bigger than the last time they saw me which was around 21 weeks over Thanksgiving. I can definitely see a difference, too! I put on a shirt this morning and was like, “WOAH”. Baby is growing!
Let’s be real for a second. Some of this process hasn’t been so amazing. Can I take a moment to vent?
Throughout this experience, I’ve collected 3 of the most common questions that every single person asks when they see me:
1) When are you due?
2) How do you feel?
3) Do you have a name picked out yet?
Those are the 3 magical questions these days! I think it’s so thoughtful that people care enough to ask. I don’t mind answering them, even if it is 100x a day. The only question that’s a little frustrating is when we tell people that we’re not announcing the baby name until he’s here, and they take that as an opportunity to guess the name. I do NOT understand that. If I wanted you to know, I would tell you! So for the second baby, instead of explaining that we’re not telling, I’ll fib and say we haven’t picked one out yet. I wish I had thought to do that on this round. It’s not that we fear the name being taken; it’s that we don’t want to hear opinions about it. I also like the fact that it’s a little secret that’s shared between Tyler and I. To all you new mama’s out there, take heed: instead of being pestered, just say you don’t know.
Another thing that has been frustrating is when someone comments on something other than my growing stomach, like, my growing butt. I am fully aware that it has gotten big: my thighs touch now; my boobs are exploding out of my bra; i’m sure I’ve gained some meat on my buns! But that has nothing to do with pregnancy, and if you wouldn’t tell someone that to their face non-pregnant, don’t do it now! It’s hurtful! I have always had “hips” and a “booty” so this is not news to me, but I’ve had more comments on my butt than I can count, and it doesn’t make me feel pretty.
I really have enjoyed sharing this process with everyone. Truly, it makes the experience so enjoyable! And maybe the comments come with the territory. I just wish people would second guess before saying certain things. I can tell you one thing – I have learned A LOT while being pregnant and know all the things to say (AND NOT TO SAY) to future pregnant women.
Week 27: I miss regular clothes. I thought maternity dressing would be fun, but when thousands of online choices are narrowed down to hundreds, it’s not my idea of a good time. Bah Humbug.
I’ve been battling a cold this week with a super itchy and sore throat. I clear it about 100 times a night and my husband now knows what it’s like to get no sleep (muahaha!) My OB says our immune systems are suppressed when we’re pregnant so my cold might linger longer. Goody, goody gum drops!
I know it doesn’t seem like it sometimes, but I am loving pregnancy. I complain a lot on here, but I simply want to tell both sides of the story – the fun parts and the not so fun parts. A fun part? The baby has been kicking so much lately that I saw my first stomach wave. I was so baffled by it that my mouth dropped wide open! I also felt his first set of hiccups. It feels like a tiny, rhythmic heartbeat that pulsates for 5 minutes or so. It’s pretty awesome.
I had my glucose test this week and I PASSED. I am so relieved! I drank the lime flavor sugar drink (which I hear is not as bad as the orange flavor) but it was still icky. My two other pregnant friends also took the glucose test the same time as me (in other states) and said it gave them cramps and an upset stomach. It didn’t do that to me, but just know that it happens! Both of them passed, too. Since you have to wait an hour to get your blood tested, my facility requires that I watch an epidural video during that waiting period, regardless if I’m having an epidural or not. After I watched it, I had to sign a sheet saying I did. I kind of wish they didn’t make me watch it. I was on board for an epidural and now epidurals seem scarrrryyyyy!
On another note, I made a baby registry this week. Woo Hoo! I used MyRegistry.com. Super easy! I was really overwhelmed at where to start since there are so many things you need when you have a baby, but after a ton of research and Googling, I got the hang of it. The only thing I could think to do for you is screenshot everything I registered for in hopes that it helps you! A few pointers: 1. Don’t register for nice newborn clothes. My friends (and Google) tells me that they’ll live in a few onesies those first months. Spend money on nicer clothes as they get older, like 6 months. 2. I’m also breastfeeding so I registered for a lot of stuff to make that easier (nipple cream!) 3. You’ll want to register for at least 3 sets of crib sheets because, chances are, one or two will be ruined with pee, poo and upchuck. 4. I didnt register for as many swaddles because I’ve already purchased a few but my good friend says you can never have enough swaddles! 5. We really liked the Nanit baby monitor because the goose neck hangs over the crib (and the app records the baby’s sleep) rather than placing a baby monitor inside the crib. 6. If you’re breastfeeding, I have read RAVE reviews on the Lanolin nipple gel pads. They offer so much relief for sore nipples. Also, I registered for a nipple everter because I read that when your breasts become engorged, your nipples can flatten giving babies a hard time to latch. 7. We prefer pampers over Huggies from the reviews we’ve read. Pamper’s diapers also have a yellow line on the back of every diaper that turns blue when wet. 8. Don’t forget a bottle steamer and scrubber. We had a friend gift us one, so you won’t see that below. 9. Baby books are a great way to bond with your baby and are so good for healthy brain development, even as an infant! 10. Humidifiers keep a baby healthy 11. You’ll see that I registered for baby gowns from Target. Some moms love these and other moms don’t. My mom personally loved them because diaper changes were easy. I also heard a mom say she didn’t love them because they would ride up and expose the baby’s legs a lot. The choice is up to you! 12. I’ve been told that it’s a good idea if your diaper bag is a backpack. It’s easier to carry when your load is heavy! 13. I registered for “Moms On Call” book because my friend swears by it. It’s written by two pediatric nurse moms who give you sleep schedule advice as well as other parenting advice. My friends baby is shy of 4 months old and sleeping straight through the night! And of course, I have not personally tried any of these products, but I have done extensive research and I think I picked a good bunch! Don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions!
How am I already in the third trimester, guys? This blows my mind. I’m trying to soak it all up while I can! Starting to get sentimental about it all.
