Congratulations! You are at the end of the second month of pregnancy. You are now half way through the first trimester. If you are having morning sickness, the end is in sight. You still won’t be showing baby yet, but there will be a slight weight gain that may show. As the baby grows, so will you. All new mothers are told that the changes for miscarriage are reducing as the weeks go on.
The uterus is now the size of a grapefruit so the baby is growing at a great pace. As the baby grows you may experience indigestion and heartburn this is caused by the acid because of the water retention from the baby. Consult your doctor before taking any over the counter medication that you would normally use for indigestion. You have to be very careful what kind of medicines you are putting into your body.
As you come to the end of the second month, some women experience more severe cases of morning sickness. Consult your doctor if the morning sickness is getting worse. But there is light at the end of the tunnel, morning sickness lasts usually up to the first trimester. Try to follow an exercise plan with a diet pattern that is easy to follow. You now have to try to cut out fried foods and most unhealthy foods.
Baby’s Development
By the end of the second month the baby has all of the human beings have. Their facial features to the internal organs, bones and muscles all are formed. The baby’s fingers are toes are formed but they are webbed at this stage. The eyelids are developing more and more and even the baby’s tip of the nose can be seen.
By the eight week of pregnancy, the baby’s sex is confirmed but it won’t be noticeable in a sonogram until the 4th or 5th month. The baby’s body frame consists of cartilage and starting from day 47, the baby’s first bone cells will take over from the cartilage. The baby’s face and jaw line are forming and baby will start to develop teeth and facial muscles too. Though the baby is small, the weight should be about 3 grams.
As the weeks progress, you will see more changes in your baby’s development. Each time you have a sonogram, you can take a look back at the very first one and see all of the progress that your baby has made. These changes only get more amazing as time goes on.
Changes With Your Body
Now you may be able to see some outer physical changes as well as more inner changes. Your blood volume has increased quite significantly in the eighth week of pregnancy. It has increased about 40% to 50%. As for physical changes, the breast will still be tender and sore because the body is preparing for lactation. You may notice darker veins around the breasts area, this happens because of the increased blood flow. You may want to get a more supportive bra or a more comfortable bra. This will take the uneasiness from the breast and it will make you feel much better.
If you start to experience lower abdominal pain, there is nothing to worry about. This is the uterus growing; as the baby grows you will start to feel more pressure in that area. It is perfectly normal. You may experience some tightening or contractions in the uterus. You may also feel a pain in the legs this is called the sciatica nerve and it is very common in pregnancy. By reading the baby books, you will have a more in-depth idea of what each month is bringing you.
What To Expect
If you are one of the women who have lost weight in the pregnancy, now would be the time for the weight to come back. The baby has adjusted to their internal changes and the morning sickness may start to subside. You are getting ready for your next doctors appointment. You will have a physical to make sure that your blood pressure and weight is doing. The doctor will check your urine to make sure that your body’s levels are all on target.
You will have to go through some testing such as the HIV Test; this test is required by law. You will have to take an Rh factor test, a blood test to determine your blood type and other tests such as the glucose tests. Also at this time, the doctor will sit down with you to discuss any precautions they may want you to take.
They will talk about medications, sickness you may come down with while pregnant. They will cover any emergencies that may come up. Pretty much at this point you will have all of your questions answered.
Tips/Advice
By now, your body should be adjusting very nicely to the baby. You will start to see some symptoms subside and others increase. You should be on or formulating a plan to stay healthy. Perhaps make a schedule of the best times to exercise and if you have chosen to eat more meals during the day then you can create a schedule of the times where you want to eat.
Try to plan those meals at least an hour before you lie down. By lying down after a meal it may cause nausea as well as indigestion. Try to eat the heavier meals during the day and keep the lighter meals for nighttime. Staying healthy is the most important for you and the baby.
But staying healthy physically is just the start. If you are having any concerns or any thoughts about the pregnancy, it is always a good idea to discuss them with your significant other. You will feel better if you keep the lines of communication open. Sometimes, significant others may have mixed feelings and they really can’t understand what pregnancy is like because they can’t carry the baby. So share as much of your experience with them.