Second Trimester Health
Well into your second trimester, you start to see your OB or midwife on a regular basis. Every 4 weeks, than every other week, every week as you get closer to your due date. On these appointments you will usually be expected to check in, step on the scale, pee on a stick (tests for sugar & protein), wait for your OB, ask your list of questions and set up your next appointment. For my third pregnancy they did stop the routine urine tests.
Occasionally they will ask for extra blood work or urine samples. And as your belly grows, they start measuring it and physically examining position of the baby. Again this might be a little different with a midwife, but all these things get done one way or another. It can be a little nerve wracking to weigh yourself every visit (I usually avoid the scale and just go by how I feel etc). But remember this is the time to gain weight gradually and yes there may be some weeks where you gain more than average (1lbs), but other weeks where you will gain less. Don't read into it unless your doctor is pointing out a concern!
This is also a time where you can do more in depth testing if you are high risk pregnancy or you have concerns about health of your baby… (note these are all optional and really only suggested if their are some concerns with your pregnancy) …
anatomy ultrasound
Brooklyn first baby with the hubby
amniocentesis
Multiple marker test (2nd round of genetic screening)
PUBS (testing fetal blood from umbilical cord)
Regular testing within the 2nd trimester include:
Ultrasound 12-14 weeks (Dating scan/nuchal scan)
Anatomy ultrasound (around 20 weeks)
More blood work ! (are you over being queasy with the needle?)
Baby Doppler (hear your babies heartbeat)
Flu shot ?! (not a test, but something recommended if you are pregnant during flu season)
The ultrasound around 12 weeks is part of the genetic screening discussed in first trimester testing. I put it in both 1st/2nd trimester testing since it’s done just on the cusp of first trimester/into the second trimester. They are constantly updating how testing is done and when. Now they recommend doing a dating ultrasound so in this ultrasound they do the Down syndrome testing (coupled with blood test) while also collecting a more accurate due date (how developed baby is) and also check for twins/triplets. On a positive note you get to see the baby once again and this time he/she is starting to look like a baby and less like a blob! My OB referred me over to a 3D clinic with my 3rd pregnancy for this one so was really cool to get the whole picture of baby. I was so fascinated for seeing baby so early I forgot to ask for a picture!
The anatomy ultrasound is one of the most exciting tests to do if you can call testing fun. You get to actually see your baby! It’s little head, little hands and feet! EVERYTHING. It is a pretty surreal experience finally seeing a proper visual of your baby to be. Another perk is you get to find out the gender of your baby if you choose to. With our first we wanted to know! She was a surprise to us already and we wanted to be prepared as much as possible! But we did do a gender reveal party (discussed in the next post).
With our second, we wanted to be surprised. Or realistically I wanted to and convinced my husband to play along. TIP: If you do go this route, remember to tell the lab technician right away that you do not want to know the gender so they don’t accidentally let it slip! Even with your follow up appointment with your doctor remind them as well. It is easy to say he or she without even thinking. I had this done to me in my third trimester by a trainee OB. I was so pissed!!! They quickly made some excuse like that was the last patient and when I asked my OB after she said they don’t even have it in the file. But who really knows since it did end up being correct. I guess it is a 50/50 chance.
ANatomy ultrasound
2nd baby Charlotte- didn’t find out gender
During this ultrasound with my second baby, I was diagnosed with placenta previa. It is when the placenta partially or completely blocks the cervix (exit point for baby). Mine was a slight obstruction and it was still early on in the pregnancy so it wasn’t a cause for concern. Most of the time it will move away on its own before it’s time for delivery. I was instructed in the mean time to take it easy (not so easy with a toddler at home), no exercise, no sex, try not to carry Brooklyn etc. I felt a little house bound to say the least and a little useless, but better safe than sorry. If it got worse, I could have had some bleeding throughout my pregnancy (sometimes a sign you have it) and would have to do a C section if it didn’t move by delivery. However by my next ultrasound about a month later, it had already moved and I was in the clear.
With our third, I took my youngest daughter Charlotte to come find out the gender with me and see the baby. She was so excited. I didn’t bring Brooklyn for Charlotte’s ultrasound since a) wasn’t finding out gender b) didn’t want to bring small kid to hospital setting c) did not know how long it would take and how long she could tolerate it for. Which I was reminded about with Charlotte and this ultrasound. Although I did come prepared with lots of snacks, hand sanitizer and a leap pad for when she got bored.
It ended up being one of my longest ultrasounds ever - of course. The anatomy ultrasound generally takes up to 45 minutes since they have all these structures they need to take pictures of for the doctor and baby isn’t always in ideal position. The ultrasound this time around took about 1hr & 15 minutes!!! Suffice it to say baby was not cooperating. I even had to get the transvaginal ultrasound done. Every ultrasound I had to do for this baby included the transvaginal (3 now and counting). This is more than how many I had to get for my last 2 pregnancies combined! I had to keep switching positions, sent to the bathroom to empty my bladder, kept getting poked and prodded. I actually was sore the next day on my lower abdomen which has never happened to me before. But important thing baby was healthy, Charlotte got to find out with me which was exciting and we got our boy! So not complaining. I think our ultrasound lady was so stressed with getting all the pictures and double checking with the doctor that it seemed that she forgot to tell us the gender. I asked her halfway if they are still able to tell us the gender and she said yes - so I asked to wait until Charlotte was paying attention since I wanted to find out at the same time. At the end of the ultrasound she was basically dismissing us (saying we are all done etc.) and I told Charlotte to ask if it was a boy or girl. The lady almost whispered it’s a boy. I was like what?!?? Half in disbelief and half did I hear right? It’s a boy! Charlotte and I were so happy and I was in shock! I was definitely expecting another girl and didn’t think a boy was in the cards. When we called Dylan right after, I put Charlotte on the phone to tell Dylan. First thing she says ‘ I listened to my teacher at school today’! LMAO not what he was waiting for. And……? Charlotte said ‘It’s a girrrr….BOY!’ Omg I was dying internally.
When you are pregnant, it is a pretty regular occurrence to get blood work done. Constantly testing certain levels in your blood, proteins for preeclampsia etc.
On some of your appointments, your OB will bring the doppler so you can hear the heart beat of your baby. It is always going to be on the fast side which is normal. It is nice to hear him/her and that they are doing okay!
Not really a test, but something you should consider when pregnant in the cold months, is the flu shot. The elderly, children and pregnant women (you) are at risk for getting the flu. So to keep you and your baby safe, it is recommended to get it done and it’s covered by OHIP.
