The Second Trimester

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My second trimester is coming to a close and I’m sharing that part of my pregnancy journey with you! First off, the difference in symptoms between the first trimester and the second is like night and day! As I mentioned before, I was constantly worried about whether or not Baby Heid was thriving in there, so when the symptoms started disappearing I had to remind myself that this was normal for the second trimester. More on those further down!

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THE 20-WEEK ULTRASOUND

The 20-week ultrasound was a high point for us! I went in to the appointment (alone, again — thanks, COVID), and the tech walked me through everything she was doing. She measured and documented every centimeter of Baby Heid and all of her organs. At first she was very stubborn about moving, but finally she uncovered her face and gave us that glimpse of her sweet little profile. Then it took about another 15 minutes of jostling to get her to show us the other side of her heart. At the end of the ultrasound, I was able to video call Mr. Heid so that he could see her and hear her heartbeat (FOR THE FIRST TIME!!!) — it was such a magical experience even if it wasn’t how we imagined it would be, especially for our first child.

They put her gender in an envelope for us to open together later and let me know that they had zero concerns over our baby’s development — everything looked and sounded great, and she was right on track for her originally estimated due date.

After the appointment, we drove over to our favorite bakery and opened the results in the car. As we slid the ultrasound shot out of the envelope, we saw in big letters, “IT’S A GIRL!”

We definitely thought we were going to be having a little boy because most of our friends who’d had kids recently had girls (though, two people in our family and one friend did just have boys haha). Needless to say, we were very surprised, but we are stoked regardless! All we want is a happy, healthy babe and so far she’s on track!

THOSE LITTLE BABY KICKS

Two days later, Baby Heid started kicking! The first night it happened, I wasn’t sure if what I was feeling were truly kicks, but after a few more times I was certain.

Nowadays, this girl is kicking, hiccuping, and rolling around — some days more than others — and I have an understanding of what other mamas meant about those bladder kicks *ouch* She seems to be on a schedule for when she’s awake versus moving around. We’ll see if that continues in the third trimester and out of the womb…

During week 24, I saw my stomach bounce from a kick, so I placed Mr. Heid’s hand where she kicked to try to feel it. As soon as I did, she stopped kicking. This happened several times until one night later that week he was finally able to feel it!

NEW THINGS THAT I STRUGGLE WITH

  • Anything that involves bending/squating and reaching down at the same time. What might those be, you may wonder? Oh, just buckling my own sandals, shaving my legs, painting my toenails…

  • Sleeping because of nerves in my left hip, but we’ll just call that practice, yea?

  • Purchasing maternity clothes. I want to try them on first and that’s impossible these days.

  • Breathing. I take a lot of deep, slow breaths because regular breathing feels like I’m not getting enough air.

SYMPTOMS I EXPERIENCED (WEEKS 13-27)

Let’s talk about what disappeared — my skin sensitivity has lessened, my nausea is gone, my boobs don’t hurt, that bad taste went away, and I’m waaaay less tired (though, it’s still hard to get out of bed in the morning and I’m ready for a nap by 2 or 3 p.m.).

New symptoms for me have included:

  • Heartburn (if I bend over, so I just don’t bend over — all squats now haha)

  • High body temperature (this kid + summer are warmer than warm)

  • Tailbone pain (still)

  • Upper back aches (hello heavier belly)

  • Belly itches (not often though, thanks to my moisturizer linked below)

  • Difficulty breathing (see above)

Thankfully, I haven’t had any swelling in my hands and feet or any high blood pressure!

PERKS I EXPERIENCED (WEEKS 13-27)

  • Learning the baby’s gender!

  • Feeling those baby movements!!

  • More cooperative hair — I know that may sound odd to some of you, but I have course hair that I get relaxed every few months to make it easier to manage. My hair has been even thicker than it already was, but has also held its smoother texture for longer — hype!

  • Building a registry

  • Nursery planning

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SECOND TRIMESTER STAPLES

  • Body Pillow | I read reviews on the pregnancy pillows and they were pretty unconvincing… I found great reviews on this EnerPlex Never-Flat Body Pillow. I took the advice of a few reviewers and removed some of the stuffing to create a dip for my belly and it’s been perfect!

  • Butt Cushion | I sit a lot for my job and my tailbone pain has NOT subsided. I found this Everlasting Comfort Seat Cushion to put in my office chair and it has been extremely helpful — that and getting up more often.

  • Moisturizer | I received a few samples of Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Massage Lotion in the baby boxes from my registries, and it is awesome. The moisture lasts all day — sometimes I get in the shower and wonder why my belly is so smooth already — that’s the lotion at work! It has more of an almond smell than a cocoa smell, isn’t greasy, and goes on super smoothly.

  • Face Masks | Guys, this virus is real and I’m not about catching it. I purchased the Wake Up and Fight Mask in Dark Chambray and Rifle Paper Co. Rosa Natural. Both are from Hendley & Bennett and have filter pockets (I use these). Protect yourselves, protect others — wear a mask.

  • Activity Book | My sister got me The Big Fat Activity Book for Pregnant Women as a gift and it’s hilarious! It has fun pregnancy anecdotes, puzzles, journaling sections, coloring pages and more. Great for moments of down time. Know a mama on bed rest or one whose family won’t let her lift a finger because she’s pregnant now? Pick this up for her!

  • Non-slip Socks | I’ve been rocking these Muezna Non-Slip Socks in the house because there are slick spots on our hardwoods and I’ve already slipped once during this pregnancy. These will come in handy at the hospital and after Baby Heid comes home.

  • Swimsuit | It’s summer, so it’s time to hit the water! I was hesitant about purchasing a maternity swimsuit because I didn’t know which route to go. After ordering several suits, I landed on this We Cuffle Ruched Tankini. The two piece factor means I don’t have to struggle with getting that wet swimsuit up and down for the bajillion times that I have to pee. I was going to go for a bikini top to really rock the bump, but then I read that too much sun on the bump can affect the baby, so I went for a tankini (anyone have differing thoughts/research on this??). The ruching on the sides allows me to adjust the top as my belly has grown. Side note, if you are considering this suit, know that it comes in Australian sizes (which is teeny weenie, so don’t be afraid of the size).

Overall, I’m super proud of what my body has done to grow a baby — it’s not easy emotionally or physically, but I’m here for it! I’m soaking in the last month of my practically symptom-less second trimester (by comparison) as I’ve heard the third trimester is a doozy.

xoxo,

K