We are now entering the third and final (hopefully, because I hear there’s still the “4th trimester”) trimester. So far, my pregnancy is going great. Everything is normal and on track. Although, I have to admit that I am having a harder time now (starting from my second trimester) compared to the first trimester. They say that as you enter your second trimester, your pregnancy experience will become much better. Well, it was definitely not the happy trimester for me. Okay, it was a happy experience feeling more of your baby’s movements and seeing your baby grow (as your belly grows). My pregnancy is becoming more real. There really is a baby inside. It’s just that ever since the second trimester, everyday has been SO. DAMN. TIRING.
I guess it was hard for me because I’m used to being strong and flexible. I’m used to lifting things on my own if I can. I’m used to picking up things that I drop on the floor. But in the latter part of my second trimester, it had become more difficult to do those things. Bending has definitely become a challenge.
Every woman experiences pregnancy differently though. Your second trimester might have been a better experience (I’m happy for you. ^_^). However, for me, here are the Top Ten CHALLENGING experiences of my second trimester of pregnancy.
10 Challenging Second Trimester Experiences
Loss Of Balance, Sashaying And Waddling
Because of my growing belly, walking in a straight line had become a little hard. I kept bumping into things and walls. I had to hold on to my husband for support whenever I needed to take a step up or a step down. I felt my whole body sway each time I walk. I still do now.
I think it helped, though, that I used to do yoga and was a bit flexible during my pre-pregnancy days. Even if I felt weird walking, my balance was not that way off. It had become harder to walk and I had to be more cautious of my surroundings so I wouldn’t slip. But overall, I also felt like for a pregnant woman, I was doing pretty good with balancing my body. Definitely there was a big change in the way I walked and the way gravity felt like during my pre-pregnancy days compared to NOW. 🙂
Baby’s Movements = HAPPINESS
In the latter part of my second trimester, Light’s movements had become more frequent and stronger. I used to have a harder time tracking her movements. I usually felt her move in the afternoon, and sometimes they weren’t as frequent. At my 6th month, I could feel her move even in the morning. They weren’t subtle movements, too. I could really feel my belly change shape and make small mountains. It was exciting to see it and it was definitely a beautiful feeling!
It even came to a point where her movements were making me uncomfortable. Although rare, sometimes she would kick so hard that I would have to take a deep breath. Sometimes I was caught off guard and totally surprised by her movement that I had to stop what I was doing and “calm” her. I would just gently massage my belly.
Light’s movements, although challenging at times, were my assurances that she is alive and safe inside. They have also become my happy pill for the day. 😀 It is one of the things I’d miss once this whole pregnancy is over.
The Baby BUMP
This is surely one thing every one of us pregnant women will experience in our second trimester. Actually, all throughout our pregnancy. When you used to worry that your belly wasn’t growing enough (just like me) and get offended when people thought you just gained weight, in your second trimester, you’d be amazed at how suddenly the pants or shorts you just wore last week no longer fits and that your belly has aligned with your breasts.
I am happy that my belly is growing, though. There’s a baby developing inside! However, I soon felt that I can no longer bend the way I used to. That when I dropped something, it took me longer to pick it up (and I had to make twice the effort doing it). I also had to adjust moving into tight openings and to make sure I didn’t bump my BUMP. It took getting used to carrying the baby bump.
My sleeping position also changed because of the bump. I had to sleep on one side (usually my left side). Sleeping on my back had become more difficult because the weight of my belly was putting more pressure onto my organs, making it harder for me to somehow breathe. I also felt like Light was having a harder time with that position.
Early in my second trimester, I was still able to sleep comfortably on my back. Nearing the end, though, it was definitely much better sleeping on my left side. It also helped with the leg cramps and swollen feet.
TIP #1: I read from What To Expect When You’re Expecting that an easy way to get out of bed with a huge belly is to SLIDE your legs first. I am doing that and it seems to help me get out of the bed easier. 🙂
TIP #2: Get a maternity pillow. I bought a Snug A Hug (check my review here) early in my pregnancy. I use it every night now and I sleep better with it. Sorry Dennis, I have a new lover in bed HAHA!
Swollen Hands & Feet And The Varicose Veins
Oh man! It was hard enough to walk with a heavy belly, but having to walk with swollen feet? It was just CRAZY!!! I used to see bones on my feet. During my second trimester, there was just flesh. They just looked SWOLLEN! I couldn’t wear some of my shoes anymore. My legs expanded too. 🙁
My fingers looked puffed up sometimes. I was still able to wear my wedding ring, though. It might have been one of the reasons why I kept dropping things, too. I know, these were all because of my hormones going haywire! This, too, shall pass.
Varicose veins are also one of the freebies we get from being pregnant. It’s not a nice sight to see on my legs so I try my best not to overdo them and my feet. Unfortunately, I already had varicose veins (mostly on my feet) even before I got pregnant. I could also see a vein popping out on the side of my lower left leg.
To prevent getting more of this, I would elevate my legs up as much as possible. After a long walk, I would rest my feet before I wash them (most of the time ^_^). Some would say eating boiled green beans (mongo beans) helps with the swelling, too.
Pelvic PRESSures
I think this was my most challenging second trimester experience. On my 24th week, the pressure on my pelvic area had become painful at times, especially standing up after being seated for a long time. This happened to me almost every day during the last month of my second trimester. It usually took us about half an hour to an hour travel time to get to the office so I was sitting in the car for that long. I could really feel the pressure on my pelvic area once I stand up. The pain usually lasted about a minute or two.
It didn’t get any better as I enter my third trimester. The pressure on my pelvic area was just too much. Now, even when I’m just seated for a short period of time, when I stand up, I can really feel something heavy pushing down there. The same thing happens when I’m walking, even if it’s just a short walk. I have to take a minute to ease the pain. Sometimes I don’t know whether to sit or stand up anymore.
I read that pelvic pressures were absolutely normal as my baby grows, and that I had to continue doing the KEGEL exercise. So ever since I felt the pressure, I was constantly doing Kegel exercises. Sometimes it would work like I wouldn’t feel that much pain when I stand up.
My vagina felt different, too. I say FELT because I couldn’t see her anymore. I would just know when I wash down there. I guess fat doesn’t only go to your thighs or arms or back when you’re pregnant. It also goes down there LOL!
Increase In Appetite
Okay. There are two things that I love about pregnancy. One of them is the NO DIET RULE. I can eat (in moderation) almost anything I want without having to worry about getting big. I mean I was bound to get big anyway. I just never imagined that it would be this difficult to control my weight gain (which is important, by the way), especially since I was eating in moderation. Sometimes. 😀
By the end of my second trimester, I already gained about 30 pounds. I will gain more this third trimester so I really have to watch it. It’s just hard because my appetite seemed to increase in the middle of the second trimester. I rarely felt full after a meal. According to the Baby Center weight gain tracker, I’m SOOOOOOOOO off tracked!!!
Pregnancy Fatigue
I still have half of my to do list before the baby is here UNDONE. I don’t know where I’m going to get the energy to do them now. I’ve just been so tired lately. Tired and lazy. I’ve also been neglecting my pregnancy workout. I do some stretching once in a while. Being pregnant is so tiring! I dragged myself to completing my daily to do list during the last month of my second trimester. It was a miracle I was still able to do some chores back then. A quick stroll and lifting up light loads left me grasping for air. Picking up things shortened my breath. Mentally, I think I was strong. Physically, though, I just wanted to stay in bed THE WHOLE DAY.
Constipation
Constipation is another thing you’ll experience during pregnancy, specially when you’re taking iron supplements like me. Since my “diet” wasn’t really all healthy, I was not getting enough fiber to help doing no. 2 easy for me or my behind. There were bleeding occasionally, and I developed hemorrhoids. I was using Preparathion for it.
My OB changed my iron supplements from Iberet-Folic to Sangobion, which has a stool softener. So far it’s been a great relief doing no. 2. Me and my behind are both happy now. 🙂
Leg Cramps
This is one sneaky pregnancy “experience”. I was attacked by leg cramps once or twice during my second trimester. I used to be able to relieve it by pointing or bending my foot towards myself. One time, though, it was hard because both my legs cramped and I couldn’t reach them on time. Actually, it had been a difficult task reaching my feet these days. I had to wake up my husband (who was happily snoring beside me) to help relax my leg muscles.
Peeing A LOT
As in A LOT. It used to not bother me. I think overall during my first trimester I only had to pee one more time in the middle of the night. I thought, that was it. That was what they meant when they say once you’re pregnant, you’ll be going to the bathroom for the 100th time. During the second trimester, though, I had to go to the bathroom twice during the night and in the morning, every 2-3 hours or so. I just hated it! Imagine when you’re at a public place. I mean, how often do I have to squat (with a huge belly and swollen feet) to pee?!?!
Mommy
Hey grttt article! So much relived to know, that somebody on this earth, felt the same way in 2nd trimester, as me! 🙂
You’d be surprised Amruta! I think most pregnant women go through the same experiences. 🙂