Second trimester recap

If you read my first trimester recap, you’ll know that I really struggled during that time. Luckily, my second trimester was SO. MUCH. BETTER! I’ve heard it said that the second trimester is the “Honeymoon Stage” of pregnancy, and I couldn’t agree more. I still had challenges, but compared to the first trimester, this trimester was fantastic.

Everyone’s pregnancy journey is different, so this recap is obviously just what I experienced, but I want to share my story with the hope that it might help someone going through pregnancy, or just give you something to read! I also want to document my experience for my own benefit, so I have something to look back on and remember these moments that seem to last forever, but go by in a blink.

My experiences in the second trimester:

• No more Nausea

Around 14 weeks, it was like a flip switched and I started feeling better (less nauseous and stopped throwing up everyday). The only time I really felt nauseous this trimester was when I was in the car, which was new for me, because I’d never struggled with car sickness before.

• I started to feel like myself again

I no longer felt super fatigued and drained. I got a lot of my energy back. There were actually some moments where I forgot I was pregnant because I felt so normal.

• I saw my baby bump for the first time

I noticed my baby bump around 16 weeks. It was so cool to finally see baby growing!

• I had moments were I just felt “off”

This experience is a little hard to explain, but I would have waves of emotion where I just didn’t feel quite right. The moment would come and go so quickly, and I had to remind myself that these feelings were because I was pregnant and my hormones and body were changing constantly!

• Heartburn

My heartburn got worse this trimester. I was eating as many Tums as I could everyday.

• Kidney Stones

Around 17 weeks, I went to the bathroom one evening and noticed blood. I was PANICKING because I wasn’t sure where the blood was coming from and if it had anything to do with baby. I called the doctor and they had me go into the emergency room. They identified that the blood was likely because I had kidney stones. They told me I could go home, but would have to come back in if I felt feverish or nauseous. Sure enough, about an hour later, I had a high fever and I was throwing up, so I went back to the ER. They kept me overnight so I could get fluids via an IV, pain medication that was safe for baby, and so they could monitor baby. I passed the stones while at the hospital and was able to leave the next day. I was EXHAUSTED for the next few days, but so thankful that baby and I were okay.

• More uncomfortable towards the end of trimester

With my baby bump getting bigger, I noticed that it was getting more uncomfortable to do certain things, like getting out of bed and being on my feet for long periods of time.

• Difficulty sleeping

Before pregnancy, I would sleep through the night every night, rarely having to get up to go to the bathroom. At the end of the second trimester though, I was getting up 3 or more times a night to go to the bathroom. My quality of sleep was also getting worse, as it was harder to get comfortable with my growing belly.

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Despite certain challenges, the second trimester was by far the best one for me. I enjoyed being pregnant during this trimester, and I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to enjoy at least a part of my pregnancy, because it really is such a gift and cool season of life.

“Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” – Psalms 106:1