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2nd Trimester

The Baby Announcement!

The second trimester spans Week 13 to 28 of your pregnancy. Most women will feel comfortable announcing their pregnancy as they approach this milestone, as the risk of miscarriage is drastically reduced at this stage.

What’s Happening in the Second Trimester?

Your baby continues to grow and develop throughout the second trimester.
Between 16-20 weeks, you will feel your baby getting more active and fetal movements become slightly more obvious.
At Week 20, your baby can respond to surrounding sounds.
By the end of the second trimester, your baby is about 40cm long and weighs about 1kg.

Screening for Fetal Structure Abnormalities

In your second trimester, you will undergo a scan at the 20-week mark to detect for structural abnormalities in the foetus, especially in the brain, spine, limbs and other internal organs. The structural abnormality scan examines the growing baby from head to toe, picking up 80% to 90% of structural abnormalities. The scan however, cannot detect 100% of abnormalities as many organs are still in development at this stage. You can read more on the different scans and tests you can expect throughout your pregnancy here.

Why is it Important to Scan for Structural Abnormalities?

The risk of structural abnormalities in the baby is regardless of the mother’s age. Also, the tests done in the first trimester of your pregnancy help identify genetic problems and not structural problems of the baby, if any.

Boy or Girl?

Lastly, you will also be able to learn your baby’s gender at this stage of pregnancy. The baby’s growth will continue to be assessed with ultrasound scans at your regular check-ups.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect in my second trimester?

As you enter your second trimester, you will notice many of your first trimester symptoms disappearing, accompanied with an overall increase in energy levels. As your belly expands to accommodate your growing baby, stretch marks may start appearing on your abdomen, breasts, thighs and buttocks. These bodily changes may result in other discomforts such as body aches, breathlessness, swollen ankles and varicose veins. It is normal to have gained 7 – 10kg by the end of your second pregnancy trimester.

What can I do in my second trimester?

Eating a nutritious, balanced diet and staying hydrated will ensure you gain weight steadily and keep your baby nourished.
Continue to keep yourself active on a regular basis as this not only helps you stay healthy, but also helps prepare your body for the challenges of labour ahead. However, avoid exercises which involve heavy lifting or where you may be hit in the abdomen.
Avoid lying on your back for long periods of time. When sleeping, place a small pillow under one side of your back.
It is also a good time to check on antenatal package and start planning where and how you would like to deliver your baby.