SECOND TRIMESTER What’s Your Baby Doing Now? Your baby is growing rapidly in the second trimester - between the 14th to the 28th week. Here’s where you start looking pregnant and are probably done with morning sickness.
Your baby is now covered with a layer of thick downy hair called the lunago. Her heartbeat can be heard and by the fifth month, you get your first kick!
At about 20 weeks, the gender can be established and by 22 weeks, DNA finger printing can be done. This is done only when gender-related abnormalities are suspected. By the 24th week, your baby is experiencing rapid eye movement. And by the end of this trimester, the baby is about 32.5 cm long.
Tests To Take And Why The triple marker test includes an alpha foetoprotein, Beta HCG and oestriod. ‘‘If they are found to be abnormal, then more tests like the TIFFA scan are done. We refer to two more gynaecologists’ opinions, take the parents’ opinion and decide to terminate the pregnancy. This is a major decision,’’ says Dr Alexander.
In the second trimester, at around 22 weeks, a Level II Scan should be carried out. This is primarily to check for any anomalies. By now, all the organs are formed and the doctor can scan the whole foetus. This scan also examines the neck of the womb.
Dos And Don’ts No weight lifting, no hot and spicy food, avoid alcohol, cigarettes and passive smoking. Light sex is allowed. Don’t eat raw papaya. Walking and light exercise is greatly recommended. If you’re working, pack yourself a good lunch and don’t skip meals. Party, but don’t overdo it.
Your Diet Dr Savita says, “Every community has it’s own food habits, but make sure you’re getting enough carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, proteins and calcium.” Dal , sprouts, nuts (almonds, walnuts, pistachios and groundnuts), fresh vegetables and fruits are recommended. Go for an assortment of colours in vegetables. Greens have iron and calcium, etc. Yellow and orange have Vitamin A, anti-oxidents and beta carotene, also eat beans and other legumes.
THIRD TRIMESTER What’s Your Baby Doing Now? Your baby is getting ready for this world. She’s enjoying her growth and is as eager to emerge, as you are to hold her in your arms. The third trimester is an extremely emotional and interesting phase of pregnancy.
You feel your baby kicking more now and also turning over. Oh, but the backaches hit you around now. This is because you have gained in weight and your body is accommodating the baby as well.
Dr Savita says, “In the seventh month, she has fingernails and her body is well formed. The baby waves its arms and sometimes sucks its fingers.” In the eighth month she turns her head down, in preparation for birth.
Tests To Take And Why In the third trimester, blood sugar needs to be checked. Dr Fernandez says, “In order to shorten the window period where one can miss the possibility of picking up a patient who is hepatitis B positive, we check the mother for this in the third trimester.
If she is positive, then the baby needs to be given the vaccine and immunoglobins at birth to help prevent transmission to the child.”
Dr Alexander says, “We monitor the foetal heart rate and baby’s well being through CTG (cardio tocograms). Even during labour, these tests are used to deliver babies normally. They help us decide whether things are under control or require an emergency Caesarean section.
Thanks to developments in biotechnology, we can keep a close watch on high-risk pregnancies. Areas where we anticipate a bad situation can be monitored through expertise of Neonatologists.”
Dos And Don’ts: ‘Less frequent sex’ says one and ‘No sex’ says another. So, check with your doctor and go with that. But they all agree: There’s no sex in the ninth month.
“Working women like to save their leave for after delivery. It’s fine to do so, but consult your doctor,” says Dr Savita. "You can drive cars, but don’t drive two wheelers in the last two months", says Dr Savita. You can go out and socialise but don’t overdo it. Start your breathing exercises now. It eases labour. “Normally, oedema and breathlessness may increase in this trimester, so walking, yoga or light physical exercise is recommended. Often, anxiety about childbirth or fatigue may lead to sleeplessness. So, it’s good to have a hot glass of milk or read a book before going to bed. With family support you can tide over these problems.
In most big cities, there are facilities for mothers-to-be to handle pregnancy and childbirth. We encourage both fathers and mothers to go for learning techniques for easier childbirth. Of course, fathers are diffident, but it’s acceptable now for the fathers-to-be to be by their wife’s side, at the time of delivery,” says Dr Alexander.
Your Diet Continue eating healthy food, exercise regularly, go for regular check ups once a fortnight (24 to 32 weeks), and once a week (34 weeks onwards). Since the baby occupies a lot of space, eat small but frequent meals. Maximum weight gain in both the baby and the mother-to-be happens in this trimester. The baby gets its calcium, iron and anti-bodies from the mother now. She must take calcium and iron supplements.