Your Pregnancy Part 2: The Second Trimester
Many women will say that the second trimester is their favorite trimester of their pregnancy journey! This is due to it being the most comfortable trimester out of all three. The second trimester takes you from week 14 through week 27. Overall, your pregnancy is well established, your nausea might have gone away, and you might be sleeping better as well.
One fun fact about the second trimester is that your baby begins to hear during the second trimester. Therefore, your baby might start to recognize your voice and also respond to sounds outside the womb!
Here are a few changes you might notice in your body during the second trimester:
- Increased hunger and energy overall
- Feeling your baby move inside you more (maybe feeling like butterflies or gas bubbles)
- Your stomach will start showing you are pregnant to others
- You may need maternity clothes or larger bras to accommodate the body changes
- You may have some nasal congestion due to increased blood flow to your mucous membranes
- Potentially experience mild swelling in your ankles and feet
- You may experience sensitive gums and maybe bleeding- be sure to see your dentist if you experience any bright red or bleeding gums
During the second trimester, your baby will grow from the size of a peach to the size of a cantaloupe. Your baby’s senses will start developing and your baby will move around a lot!
Here is what is happening to the baby during the second trimester:
Weeks 14-17:
- The baby’s skin is covered in lanugo (soft hair that will eventually go away)
- The baby will start to gain weight quickly
- The baby’s genitals normally can be seen around week 16
Weeks 18-21:
- The baby becomes much more active and kicks more strongly
- The baby might swallow and suck it’s thumb
- The baby’s senses are developing and the baby might be able to hear
Weeks 22-27:
- The baby has times to be awake and also times to sleep
- The baby can open it’s eyes
- The baby might be able to recognize familiar voices like mom’s or dad’s
Lastly, there are a few tests that are done in the second trimester that you should expect from your doctor. They are as follows:
- Fetal Anatomy Survey– Is an ultrasound that is performed sometime between 18 and 20 weeks. This ultrasound looks at fetal size and anatomy including the baby’s organs. It can screen for potential concerns like the location of the placenta or the amount on amniotic fluid your baby has. At this ultrasound, the gender of your baby might be able to be seen! Therefore, you can let the ultrasound technician know if you would like to see the gender or have it be a surprise for delivery!
- Glucose Tolerance Test– This test will let the mother know if she has gestational diabetes with the pregnancy. The test is typically done between 24 and 28 weeks, but can be done earlier if there are risk factors for gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes can cause problems for the mother and baby during pregnancy and after birth, so it is important to be screened. During the test, mom is asked to drink a concentrated sugar solution. After an hour, mom’s blood is drawn and blood sugar levels are tested. If the results are abnormal, typically a 3 hour glucose tolerance test is performed.
Enjoy every minute of the second trimester and your growing baby, you have so much to look forward to! Also consider joining us for one of our prenatal or birth classes.
Source: Understanding Pregnancy: A Comprehensive Guide. (2012). InJoy Productions, Inc.
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If I Choose Abortion, How Will the Decision Impact Me Now and in the Future?
While the gift of time is priceless when making a big decision, it’s also important to consider the various outcomes to the “forever” decisions you are considering making. Be informed and think through all possible outcomes before coming to a decision about abortion. Look at all the details of how this decision could impact you not just today, but a week, year or even 20+ years from now.
Ask Yourself, How Long Will This Crisis Last? Look at Each Possible Outcome.
For example, a woman learns she is pregnant and just started college. The initial thought may be, “How could I go to school and care for a baby?” Abortion may sound like a simple answer. After all, you know women who have had abortions and they seem fine. Life will go on. While life does go on, that’s not the whole picture.
Emotional Risks
The truth is, abortion related PTSS (post traumatic stress syndrome) is real and affects a large number of women with symptoms often manifesting years after the abortion.
Emotional symptoms include, but are not limited to:
- Guilt
- Grief
- Shame
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Low Self-Esteem
- Relationship Issues
- Intimacy Issues
- Thoughts of Self Harm
- Anger Toward Self and Others
- Fear
Physical Risks
There are medical risks* of having an abortion to consider:
- Incomplete Abortion
- Blood Clots in the Uterus
- Heavy Bleeding (hemorrhage)
- Cut or Torn Cervix
- Perforation of the Uterus Wall
- Anesthesia Related Complications
- Painful Cramping
There are also long-term consequences to abortion often not talked about. Many women struggle with infertility, have increased risk of ectopic pregnancy, or struggle with new or increased substance or alcohol abuse.
It’s Important To Have All the Facts When Making a “Forever” Decision.
Now let’s look at the example situation again, you’re in college, pregnant and feel abortion is your only option. Use that gift of time to really think through all options to this forever decision. The crisis you may find yourself in today, may look much more manageable tomorrow. Abortion is a forever decision, one we cannot undo.
Learn From Others
As you make a decision, also consider talking with someone who has experienced abortion and can provide an honest assessment of their experience. At First Care we are happy to put you in touch with our staff or others who have experienced abortion and can answer some of your questions.
Some of the women who have come through our post-abortion healing program have shared their stories with us, including the following thoughts about their abortion decision:
“I wish with all my being, I could take back what I did.”
“They all said I would be okay after…but I’m not.”
“20 years later, I still struggle with great depression and grief.”
“I feel selfish…I feel stupid for getting pregnant in the first place…Before this I never believed in abortion… I have let myself and my family down…”
“After the abortion, I looked in the mirror and didn’t recognize myself.”
“I felt like a monster for killing my child.”
“Looking back at the situation, I could have had my baby and been okay.”
Find Support
If you are worried about how carrying a pregnancy may impact your future goals and plans for your life, we have staff available to help you talk through those concerns. We also have a variety of resources we can help connect you with as well.
We won’t tell you what to do or not do.
We won’t pressure you.
We will provide a place for you to process and think through the impact of your pregnancy decision now and in the future so you can make a well informed decision that you’ll feel positive about today and in the future.
Schedule an Appointment
Schedule an appointment for Options Counseling to talk with someone about your options.
*taken from “If You are Pregnant” from the Minnesota Department of Health
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How Will Having a Baby Affect Me and My Future?
Becoming a parent is a life-changing event. Not only does your care-free life seem to disappear, but now you have to keep another human alive. Although this all may sound scary, and to be honest, it can be, we don’t want you to walk alone in your journey. Having a baby will affect you and your future, but as many parents have shared with us, this does not have to be a bad thing.
So how will having a baby affect you and your future?
Financially
Babies cost a lot of money. Although there are a lot of factors that can contribute to how much or how little is spend on babies, like formula, child care and doctor’s visits, the estimated cost of raising a child for the first year of their life is around $10,000-$13,000. First Care Pregnancy Center provides numerous community resources and referrals to help lighten the financial burden of parenthood. In addition, through our Every Family parenting program, parents can receive diapers, wipes, clothing, and equipment for their children.
Socially
We have a lot of parents tell us that their social lives change once they have a child. No longer is it easy to just go out with friends or take a spontaneous weekend trip. Caring for a baby can definitely affect your social life, but sometimes this can be in a positive way. For many parents, their friend groups may shift to other moms that can support one another and they find more encouragement and life from these friendships! But don’t worry, the friends who are really invested in your life will be right there by your side as you become a new parent.
Physically
There are obvious physical changes that will happen to a woman’s body when she carries a baby and gives birth, but other physical things will happen too, like sleep deprivation and joy you’ve never felt before. A lot of new parents say that their lives forever changed the moment they held their baby for the first time, or even the moment they saw their little one on the ultrasound screen. To help prepare for birth and the first weeks as a parent, consider joining one of our prenatal, birth, or mothering classes.
Emotionally
Hormones can play an obvious role in the emotional aspect of becoming a parent. From immense joy, bringing you to tears at the drop of a hat, to feelings of disparity and hopelessness, these emotions can come and go sometimes all in the same day – and they are normal, to some degree. A large part of this is hormones, but also becoming a parent opens your eyes to a different angle of the world. Suddenly, a normal activity for you before you became pregnant feels like a death trap. If you died, what would happen to your child? Are you putting your child in danger? The emotions are real!
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Although having a baby and becoming a parent can be life-changing, you do not have to walk that path alone. The professional staff at First Care are here to walk with you as you take the steps to become a successful parent. Through our parenting education program and support from our client care workers, we can address any needs and possible fears you may have about becoming a parent. We will help you make goals and work towards achieving these goals to make your dreams a reality. Because having a baby will affect your life, and your priorities may change a little, but you should still be able to dream of a future for yourself, and your new little one.
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My Friend Thinks She is Pregnant
If you’re helping a friend who thinks she’s pregnant, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some ideas to help you in knowing how to best support your friend during this time.
How You Can Help Your Pregnant Friend
1. Make sure she knows she’s not alone and you are there to support her.
2. Don’t pressure her. Listen to her concerns and fears and recognize that this is a stressful time.
3. Connect her to one of our locations where she can have her pregnancy confirmed with a lab quality test and find out how far along she is with an ultrasound. Come along to her appointment with her to provide support.
4. Encourage her to take her time in making a decision and talk to others who have made each choice–abortion, adoption, and parenting.
5. Continue to be her friend regardless of whether you agree with the decision she makes for her pregnancy.
When helping your friend, it is also important to remember that this is her pregnancy and she will be most impacted by the choices she makes. While you can share your opinions with her, it is important to be ready to listen, ask questions that will help her process, and to reinforce that you are there to support her.
Schedule an Appointment
Schedule an appointment at one of our centers today (with your friend’s permission of course).
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Reasons You May Be Considering Abortion
What are the Reasons Abortion Seems Like the Best Option for Me?
Often in life when we encounter something unexpected our first thought is, “How am I going to make this work?” At First Care, we realize that same reaction applies to an unplanned pregnancy. We recognize an unplanned pregnancy comes with a range of emotions including: shock, emotional numbness, disappointment, fear, anxiety or stress.
When all of these thoughts and feelings get mixed up together, we may look for an escape; a way to erase or undo the situation we find ourselves in. For some women, abortion feels like the only option due to their life circumstances.
Do Any of These Reasons Apply To Your Situation?
- You feel like you do not have everything in order the way you imagined before having children
- You might already have children and adding another child feels too overwhelming
- You may feel like things are too tight financially to have a child
- You may not have adequate housing
- You may be temporarily without a job
- You may want to finish school and believe having a baby would get in the way of your goals
- You feel like you do not have enough support from the baby’s father or your parents/other family members
If you are dealing with even one of the reasons listed above, it’s understandable why abortion may feel like the only way forward. But it’s important to allow yourself time to make a well-informed decision. Put your decision making in perspective.
Honestly Ask Yourself a Few Key Questions That Will Help You Identify Why Abortion Seems Like the Best Way Forward and Help Bring Clarity to Your Decision Making Process:
- Why do I feel abortion is the best option for me?
- Would I consider a different option if my circumstances were different?
- What problem(s) am I hoping abortion will solve?
- Would I feel differently about this decision 5 years from now? 10 years from now?
- What concerns do I have about continuing the pregnancy?
- Have I thoroughly explored all of my options – including adoption and parenting – and know what resources are available to me?
If your circumstances are the primary reason you are considering abortion, know that circumstances can change. Also know there are a variety of community resources and organizations designed to support moms in our community (including our programs here at First Care Pregnancy Center).
Schedule an Appointment
Schedule an appointment today to meet with one of our staff for Options Counseling to process your decision in a confidential and nonjudgmental environment.
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Is Parenting the Right Choice for Me?
Parenting can be overwhelming, whether your pregnancy was planned or not. But parenting can also be very rewarding. Although very few parents will tell you they were “ready” to become a parent when they became pregnant, many parents will say they are so glad they chose to parent.
If you’re trying to figure out if parenting is the right choice for you, consider these questions:
What Would I Really Enjoy About Being a Parent?
There are many aspects about parenting that bring joy: cuddling with your newborn, watching your toddler learn how to walk and then talk, or seeing your child grow as they go off to school, make friends, and place their mark on the world. What pieces of being a parent do you think you’d enjoy? Which aspects would you look forward to experiencing?
What Would be Difficult About Being a Parent Right Now?
Parenting isn’t always a walk in the park. Which aspects of being a parent do you perceive as being difficult for your right now? In what ways would that impact your parenting? How would you, or could you, get support in these areas?
What Support Do I Have?
Friends? Family? A partner? Other parents? Who do you have in your life that can cheer you on, be with you during the tough nights or even babysit. Are there organizations that can help support you financially or with material items? Here at First Care, we provide support and education for new parents until their child is age 5. Through individual coaching and group classes, you can find some of the support and practical items you will need to parent.
Have I Thought Through All My Options?
It’s important to take the time to consider all of your pregnancy options before deciding. This will help you make an informed decision, and one you can look back on in five years, knowing you considered all your options. Thinking in the long term, what would be a benefit for each of your options, Parenting, Abortion, Adoption? What would be difficult about each? How do you think you think you’ll feel in a year or two years about each option? Are there people in your life that are pressuring you to choose one option or another? Which one do you really want?
Parenting is Expensive. How Will I Provide for My Baby and Myself?
What support do you have around you that can help provide for you and your baby? At First Care, we are honored to walk alongside you and help you prepare to parent. We will meet with you as often as you like and provide parenting education and material support to make sure you are fully ready and prepared for parenthood. Regardless of whether your pregnancy was planned or not, you are qualified to parent.
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I Want to Parent, but Need Help
Making the decision to parent is a major life decision, but one that should be celebrated and supported! At First Care we are ready to join you in both celebrating this decision and helping you prepare to be the best parent you can be. We offer a variety of services to provide you with support and help as you begin your journey as a new mom or dad. Our goal is to support you through this journey so you can parent with confidence.
Birth Classes
As you enter the final stages of pregnancy, consider joining one of our birth classes to help you prepare for both labor and delivery, but also the first days and weeks of parenting. We will cover topics such as mother and baby care.
Resources & Referrals
Our Licensed Social Workers or Client Advocates are a great resource for you as you need additional resources to aid in your parenting. Our staff are well connected to a variety of community resources and can help connect you to the resources you need. We provide referrals for baby items and equipment, counseling, basic needs, and more.
One-on-One Parenting Coaching
Through our Every Family parenting program, we offer parenting education and support to thousands of families each year. During an Every Family appointment, you will meet one-on-one with a Parenting Coach who will get to know you and your family. You will have an opportunity to discuss your parenting challenges, select lessons relevant to these challenges, and leave each session with practical tips on how you can apply your new knowledge at home. Every Family participants are welcome to scheduling an individual coaching session up to twice per month.
Material Support
After each Every Family coaching session, you will earn points that can be used to shop in one of our clothing closets. Each closet is stocked with practical items for your baby including diapers, wipes, baby clothes, maternity clothes, and equipment.
Schedule an Appointment
Contact the location nearest to you to get started!
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Your Pregnancy Part 1: The First Trimester
Regardless if you are pregnant with your first baby or you already have multiple little ones at home, most women have questions about what to expect in the months following a positive pregnancy test. This three-part series will cover expected changes during each trimester of pregnancy, whether differences you notice in your body or the growth and development of your growing baby. Let’s jump in with the first trimester!
Signs and Symptoms
The first trimester of pregnancy begins with the date of your last menstrual period and lasts until the end of the 13th week of pregnancy. By the time you first notice a missed period, you may already start experiencing signs and symptoms of pregnancy like nausea, breast tenderness, mood changes, fatigue, and frequent urination.
Every woman’s experience surrounding symptoms of pregnancy is different, and these symptoms can even vary from pregnancy to pregnancy. These symptoms are caused by changing levels of hormones, and they generally improve by the second semester.
Week by Week
During the first trimester, your baby is rapidly growing and developing. All human life begins as a single fertilized cell, and by the end of these thirteen weeks, your baby is about the same size as a peach! Here’s an overview of some developmental highlights during these exciting first few weeks:
9 Week Ultrasound
Week 2: Conception occurs! All of the genetic information is already present that will determine the baby’s sex, hair and eye color, height, and other physical features.
Week 3: The embryo implants in the lining of the mother’s uterus.
Week 4: This is about the time the mother will notice she has missed her period. A hormone called hCG is being produced, which is what causes a positive pregnancy test. Baby’s brain and spinal cord are forming, and the liver is already beginning to function.
Week 5-6: Baby’s heart starts beating! Arm and limb buds are well developed by the end of week six.
Week 8: Fingers and toes are present. Baby’s nose, mouth, and ears are forming. Nerves and muscles continue to develop. Taste buds are already forming on baby’s tongue.
Week 9: All essential external and internal structures and organs are present! Eyelids are beginning to form but are closed. Bones are starting to harden.
Week 10-11: Baby can move on purpose with the coordination of the developing muscles and nerves. Baby can yawn and suck.
Week 12-13: Nails start growing on fingers and toes. Baby can be seen stretching and moving arms and legs. Baby weighs about one ounce and is the size of a peach.
Looking Ahead
You have made it to the end of the first trimester! It’s incredible to think about how much your baby has already grown in this short amount of time, and there are still two trimesters to go! Part two of this series will cover fetal development taking place within the second trimester.
If you think you are pregnant, please schedule your appointment online or call us at 612-866-7643 to speak to one of our friendly staff to schedule your appointment. First Care also offers ongoing prenatal classes to educate and support you through your pregnancy. Join us for an upcoming pregnancy or birth class!
Sources:
- Understanding Pregnancy: A Comprehensive Guide. (2012). InJoy Productions, Inc.
- London, M. L., Ladewig, P. W., Davidson, M. R., Ball, J. W., McGillis, R. C., & Cowen, K. J. (2017). Maternal & Child Nursing Care (5th ed.). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.
- Dihle, V. L. & Beck, B. G. (2016). The First 9 Months. Focus on the Family.
Why should I come to First Care Pregnancy Center instead of doing a home test?
Taking a pregnancy test can be scary, so why do it alone?
At our First Care offices we use lab quality pregnancy tests that are 99% accurate. But finding out your result is only part of the process. All of the staff at First Care understand a potential pregnancy can bring up a lot of emotions. They are ready to listen to your fears and concerns while helping you identify next steps in making a decision for your pregnancy. Often our clients tell us how much they appreciated having a neutral third party person outside of their situation to talk with, someone who won’t judge or pressure.
Whether you are sure about your next steps or undecided, we will provide you with information on all your options and walk with you through the process of making a well informed decision.
The first step is often having an ultrasound to confirm your pregnancy is viable and determine how far along you are. Ultrasounds are offered for free at First Care Pregnancy Center with our medical staff who are not only experienced but sensitive to the many emotions you may be experiencing around your pregnancy.
Following an ultrasound, many women choose options counseling with one of our Client Advocates to look more closely at each option and begin making a plan for your pregnancy. This may be a single meeting or recurring meetings until you reach a point where you feel confident with your pregnancy decision.
So whether you’re excited about your potential pregnancy or terrified of that kind of life change, our door is open to you, judgement free and full of support for wherever you are at.
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