What to expect during your second trimester
Congratulations on meeting this exciting milestone in your pregnancy journey!
We are here to help you understand the physical and emotional changes you can expect during the second trimester, provide tips for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and offer guidance on navigating common challenges.
Whether this is your first baby or your fifth, we’re here to support you every step of the way as you continue this path to motherhood.
What happens during the second trimester?
The second trimester is from weeks 14 to 27 of your pregnancy. During this time, you will start to look and feel more pregnant. Your baby will also start to develop facial features, fingers and toes will become more defined, and they will be able to stretch, make faces, and even suck their thumb.
At this point, you may also start feeling the fetus move. This movement may be described as a flutter or something like the feeling of having butterflies in your stomach. It is completely normal for you to feel this as your baby is doing flips and movements throughout your entire second trimester.
What to expect during your second-trimester appointments
You will have the following visits during your second trimester:
- 14 to 16 weeks: Your provider will discuss prenatal class options with you. You will then be able to call for availability. Learn more about the many educational opportunities we offer.
- 18 to 20 weeks: Your provider will review ultrasounds and any other test results that have been completed as part of your care. If you are planning a repeat C-section, it may be scheduled at this time.
- 22 to 24 weeks: Your provider will review your 20-week ultrasound anatomy scan if it was not already done. They will provide additional education to cover your second trimester. Educational videos will continue to be sent to you to support more learning opportunities. These videos will be sent from your provider as a message on your MyChart account.
- 26 to 28 weeks: You will have a screening for gestational diabetes by drinking glucola and having your blood drawn an hour later. Additional labs may also be ordered. Your provider will also discuss the tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis vaccine (Tdap), which is given after 28 weeks. Based on your blood type, your provider may discuss the RhoGAM injection and talk about a blood cord donation.
During these visits, prenatal genetic counseling and testing options will also be discussed. Our prenatal genetic counseling and testing can be helpful for families who have a family history of genetic disorders or birth defects, loss during pregnancy or infancy, infertility struggles or medications, pregnancy at 35 or older, or recent chemotherapy or other medicines.
Your second-trimester checklist
Here is a checklist for some second-trimester considerations:
- Start preparing for your leave from work by summarizing all your duties
- Review your employer's Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) policy to understand the eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, and the amount of leave you are entitled to
- Consider investing in comfortable maternity clothes
- Schedule your 20-week ultrasound appointment, and determine if you want to know the sex of your baby
- Make your gestational diabetes lab appointment for between 24 and 26 weeks
- Determine what you’d like in your birth plan and discuss it with your provider
- Sign up for childbirth classes. We offer both virtual and in-person classes. View our classes.
- Discuss your breastfeeding intentions with your provider, and ask any questions you may have
- Discuss the signs and symptoms of postpartum depression with your provider and what to do if they occur
Create a MyChart account
As part of your care during pregnancy, we encourage you to create a MyChart account at mychart.spectrumhealth.org.
You can also download the MyChart app through the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Your MyChart account has specific pregnancy features, including:
- Tracking the growth of your baby week by week during pregnancy and seeing which fruit size is comparable to your baby’s current development
- Completing your birth plan and saving it to your medical chart
- Maintaining a list of tasks for you to complete to prepare for your baby
This account will also allow you to see test results, email your provider, refill prescriptions, request appointments, and see office visit notes.
Your MyChart account will provide these benefits beyond your pregnancy and connect you with all of your Spectrum Health providers.
We’re here to help you understand what happens during your pregnancy journey
You may have many questions about your pregnancy journey. We are committed to providing you with comprehensive answers and resources to make you feel as confident and comfortable as possible.
Refer to our Question Guide for things that you may want to ask your doctor during your appointments.
Refer to our FAQ page for commonly asked questions and answers.
Financial support and assistance
We recognize that planning a pregnancy can feel overwhelming on its own without the additional burden of financial concerns. We are committed to helping you in any way we can, including offering financial support and assistance to those who are eligible.
What to do if you are not feeling your best?
We know that you know your body better than anyone and can often tell when something does not feel right. Michigan.gov has resources for you to learn the warning signs of pregnancy-related health emergencies.
Please contact your provider right away if something does not feel right, as they can give you the appropriate guidance and care.
Continue your journey with us
We are here to support you and find you the best care possible.