Second trimester: How you may feel physically

Better than you did in your first trimester You're probably not as nauseated, and you may feel less fatigued and more energetic. Many women report a general sense of well-being during the second trimester.   Breathless Your growing baby and expanding uterus take up more room, giving organs like your lungs a little less space. In addition, you are now carrying around more weight than usual. As a result, you may occasionally feel breathless, especially when you climb stairs or otherwise exert yourself.

Like you have indigestion

The more space your baby and uterus take up, the less space there is for your abdominal contents. And the hormones of pregnancy relax and slow intestinal movement.

It may take you longer to digest meals and you may feel gassy and queasy.

• Avoid gas-producing foods.
• Eat smaller, more frequent meals.
• Get regular exercise.

Comfortable traveling

This trimester is often the easiest and most comfortable time for most women to travel.

Prone to heartburn

Pregnancy hormones relax the sphincter muscles in your stomach, allowing stomach acids to "backflow" into your esophagus, causing heartburn.

• Eat small, low-fat meals.
• Eat slowly.
• Eat low-fat snacks, such as Melba toast or fruit, often.
• Go easy on the spices.
• Avoid lying down for one to two hours after eating or drinking, and don't eat before bed.
• When you sleep, elevate your head to decrease the flow of secretions up into the esophagus.
• Drinking milk may decrease the burning feeling. Check with your health care provider before taking an antacid.
• Drink fluids mainly between meals, rather than at meals.

Constipated

Your growing baby is taking up more and more of your abdominal space, and pregnancy hormones can slow down your digestion. Both things can lead to constipation.

• Drink 2 to 3 quarts of fluids daily: water, milk, juice and soup.
• Try a hot or warm beverage first thing in the morning
• Include high-fiber cereals and whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables in your daily diet.
• Walk, swim or exercise. Don't take laxatives unless your health care provider recommends it.

Crampy

Circulation changes can cause "charley horses" and cramping in your legs and calves. See the stretches in Exercises -- pregnancy, labor and birth.

To relieve a cramp in your calf, have someone stretch it for you:

1. Lie on your back extending your cramped leg straight up.
2. Have your partner rest one hand on your knee while grasping your heel with the other.
3. His or her forearm should rest against the bottom of your foot, slowly pushing your toes up toward your knee, stretching the calf. Don't do it too fast or the cramp may get worse.
4. Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat as necessary.

Related Links

How you may feel emotionally

How you may feel sexually

What is happening to your body

What is happening to your baby

First published: 10/04/2002
Last updated: 06/19/2003

Reviewed by: Allina Patient Education experts