Managing Second Trimester Challenges
Most people will experience a few of these issues at some point in their pregnancies. If you’re experiencing something not listed here, it may be in pages for First Trimester and Third Trimester Challenges.
Difficulty Sleeping
Why it happens:
There are many possible causes, both physical (trouble finding comfortable positions, having to pee a lot) and psychological (anxiety, too much pressure around getting good sleep).
How to relive:
Consider taking Unisom, which is safe to take every night of your pregnancy (note: the active ingredient in “Sleep Gels” and “Sleep Melts” is Diphenhydramine, which I found more effective than “Sleep Tabs”, which use Doxylamine succinate; but you can experiment!)
Try to get into more comfortable sleeping positions by using a pregnancy pillow, a wedge pillow, or just a regular pillow between your legs and/or under your bump. The below video does a great job explaining how best to set up these pillows :
Use meditation to calm your mind before bed - check out the app Chorus for sleep specific content and coaching.
For persistent insomnia, consider talking to a therapist who specializes in sleep. Look for someone who does CBTI (cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia), which is proven to be the most effective treatment even more than medications. For CA-based, I highly recommend Michael Tompkins (mat@sfbacct.com).
Worry about Weight Gain
Weight gain really picks up in the second trimester with most women gaining about a pound a week (usually slows down slightly during the third trimester)
However, the rate of weight gain is often non-linear, meaning you might see a sudden big spurt - you won’t necessarily continue to gain at the same pace
I recommend weighing yourself no more frequently than weekly (if at all) so you don’t become obsessed with the daily fluctuations
Know that weight gain is affected by many things beyond calories consumed or burned - growth of baby, growth of placenta, growth of uterus, amniotic fluid, retention of water etc
If you’re experiencing a fair amount of swelling in your legs/feet/hands, know that this extra water weight will go away very quickly postpartum
If you were in the “normal” BMI range before pregnancy, the typical total weight gain during pregnancy is between 25-35 lbs; if underweight BMI initially, range is actually higher (28-40 lbs) and if overweight BMI initially, the range is lower (15-25 lbs). [Here’s a link to a BMI calculator]
That said, everyone’s body responds to pregnancy differently - some people will just retain more fluid and gain more weight for hormonal reasons, nothing to do with eating or exercise
Research suggests that nearly half of women gain weight over the recommended amount
While it’s true that there are increased risks of complications both with gaining too little or too much weight, your doctor will tell you if you’re approaching that zone - being off by a handful of pounds is not a big deal
Round Ligament Pain
Why it happens:
As your uterus grows, the ligaments connecting the uterus to the groin get stretched
It can feel sudden and sharp, or it can feel like a more constant dull aching, usually felt in your lower abdomen or pelvis area
Happens most often when you change positions, laugh, cough or sneeze
How to relieve:
Move more slowly and carefully, and stretch more often; consider prenatal yoga (rather than general yoga) where teacher will be more aware of protecting this area
Heat (from a heating pad or a warm bath) can relieve the pain
Consider a belly band to relieve some of the weight/pressure (cheaper option here)
Foot/Ankle/Fingers Swelling
Why it happens:
Your body retains more water than normal when you’re pregnant, and over the course of the day the extra water can accumulate in the lower part of your body or extremities
This combines with the effect of the hormone relaxin, which loosens the tendons in your feet.
Your feet may lengthen and widen, and your ankles may swell. Some women find that the changes in their foot size are permanent, lasting beyond pregnancy.
Additionally, the extra weight of pregnancy can cause your feet to flatten and feel sore
How to relieve:
If you sit at a desk for work, try to still move your feet frequently to increase circulation
Compression socks work by increasing the pressure in your legs, essentially pushing the excess fluid back up to the rest of your body. They can also decrease the chances that you develop varicose veins.
Certain yoga poses can bring relief: putting your legs up on the wall (Viparita karani pose) and kneeling while sitting on your feet (Vajrasana)
Leg Cramps
Why it happens:
That horrible “Charlie Horse” feeling of your calf suddenly cramping up; most often strikes at night
We don’t really know why it happens - possibly magnesium or calcium deficiency
How to relieve:
When it happens, straighten your leg and flex your feet (i.e. pull your toes upwards)
Avoid it by staying hydrated and stretching your leg muscles before bed
Take a magnesium and/or calcium supplement, or have a banana before bed (high in magnesium and potassium)
Dizziness
Why it happens:
As your uterus grows, it puts more pressure on your blood vessels, which can cause dizziness. Dehydration can also contribute to dizziness, as your body is requiring more water throughout your pregnancy.
It can also be exacerbated if you have anemia (i.e. low blood pressure) caused by insufficient iron. Your doctor will give you a blood test to monitor iron levels.
How to relieve:
When transitioning from sitting/lying down to standing, take it slow
Avoid standing up for long periods of time, and when standing try to keep moving to increase circulation
Stay hydrated and make sure you’re getting enough iron (consider supplements if not)
Some good sources of iron: meat, poultry, seafood, spinach, nuts, beans, tofu, fortified cereal
Food Cravings
A majority of people get them at some point in pregnancy, peaking in 2nd trimester
Common cravings are sweets, fruit and pickles. Some people find themselves craving more meat, even if they are typically vegetarian.
As long as you’re generally eating a balanced diet, fine to indulge these cravings
Make it your partner’s job to satisfy your cravings by making the last minute grocery runs - you are already doing more than your fair share growing this baby!
Awkward in-between bump
There’s a phase where you’re definitely bigger than previously, but not yet obviously pregnant. This can be a bit of an annoying period, both in terms of how you feel perceived by others, and fitting into clothes, since your old clothes may be tight but you’re not yet ready for maternity clothes.
This might be a period where you just embrace leggings and sweatpants, until you’re ready to move onto maternity clothes. Stretchy dresses are always an easy option too!
Know that the length of your torso affects how much you are showing - if you have a shorter torso, you are more likely to show sooner since there is less vertical space for the baby, so needs to expand outwards. The size of the bump does not indicate the size of the baby.
Tuning out judgmental opinions
Throughout pregnancy (and parenting) you will likely receive lots of unsolicited advice or judgment (e.g. “Should you really still be running? Drinking wine? You def should/shouldn’t get an epidural! You’ve got to breastfeed for at least the first year, etc).
If it’s coming from a random stranger, best to just ignore and move along
But often it comes from someone you love, who is trying to help (or maybe wants to feel like they themselves made the right choices!). You can try saying something like “I really appreciate your advice, but right now the thing I’m really focused on is learning to trust my own instincts as a mother”
Tap into the power of meditation
Meditation can be a useful tool for pausing to acknowledge the challenges, but also the magic, of the second trimester. Below is an affirmation meditation I created specifically for this phase of pregnancy
If you can make time to listen on a weekly (or even more regular!) basis, you'll find these positive messages will infuse the rest of your pregnancy experience
If a particular affirmation (or two!) deeply resonates with you, consider returning to it as a mantra throughout your pregnancy
(also available on Spotify)
