The second trimester
I experienced really bad morning sickness during the first trimester, will I feel tired and nauseous for the rest of the pregnancy?
You will experience nausea and fatigue mostly during the first trimester because of the initial spike of hormones. In the second trimester, your body will have adjusted to the dramatic increase of estrogen and progesterone. Most women will find relief during the second trimester. High hormone levels though can be responsible for other side effects throughout pregnancy such as constipation, runny nose or congestion.
Expect to experience the following during the second trimester…
- Body aches – back, abdomen, groin or thigh pain
- Numbness or tingling of hands
- Darkening of the skin around the nipples
- A dark line on the skin running from the belly button to the pubic hairline
- Patches of darker skin usually on the cheeks , forehead, nose or upper lip. Patches often match on both sides of the face. It’s sometimes called the “mask of pregnancy”
- Stretchmarks on the abdomen, breasts, thighs or buttocks
- Itchy skin* particularly on the abdomen, palms and soles of the feet
*Contact your doctor if the itching is accompanied by nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice or fatigue as these can be signs of a serious liver problem. - Swelling of ankles, fingers and face*
*Contact your doctor if the swelling is extreme, as this could be a symptom of pre-eclampsia.
At the end of my second trimester, how big will my baby be?
Average size and weight of fetus: 35.6cm – 37.6cm / 760g- 1kg
By week 25, your baby will be the size of an eggplant
Around 18-25 weeks, women will feel the first movements of the baby. You may experience a slight sensation to obvious jabbing and kicking within your belly.
By the end of the second trimester, you should be able to feel your baby move regularly. At this stage, your baby will have:
- Eyebrows
- Eyelashes
- It’s own unique fingerprints
- Fine hair all over their body (lanugo)
- White pasty substance called vernis will help protect the baby’s skin from the amniotic fluid
Ergonomic Fashion Design in the Middle Stages of Pregnancy
What should be considered when designing clothes for pregnancy?
The sizes of chest and abdomen are increasing at this stage. During the 2nd trimester, body curve and inconsistency are less important.
Average size and weight of fetus: 35.6cm – 37.6cm / 760g- 1kg
What styles have been recommended during this stage?
H-like or H-line design dress. The width of the top and the bottom of the clothing are the same.
A-like or A-line designs are also popular. The top is narrow with a wide bottom. This design heightens the position of the waist line.
What is the common cut of clothing during mid-pregnancy?
The diameter of the waistline gets increased and the sewing line of the chest is lowered. The abdomen part has more space and the front is longer than the back.
How do we factor in skin changes in designing clothes for pregnant women? For pregnant women who are working, what is the recommendation if they are inclined to power dressing?
- H-Line
- A-Line
- Cut Dress