Pregnancy flies by, nine months sounds like the majority if a year and yet somehow we now have 11 weeks to go and our world will completely change. As I spoke about my first trimester here, I wanted to document my second trimester, the good and the bad. Whilst I’ve also commented on the experience during Coronavirus and lockdown as well, I wanted to talk about the actual pregnancy itself in this blog post as the second trimester has been completely different to the first and I can already imagine the third is going to be more of whirlwind.
Naps
I am not a napper. I’ll only nap voluntarily when I’m SO ill that I need time off work/can’t function. I can’t function knowing the world is turning however, that’s all changed in the second trimester. I think due to lack of activity/socialisation and energetic situations, when lockdown started to lift and I could see family in the garden more, I found myself having two hour naps randomly after they left. It was bizarre as I just fell asleep without realising. I never expected to be this tired and physically exhausted during pregnancy but it does some weird things to you!
Intense kicks
We’ve moved on from ‘flutters’ and swirls to intense kicks, feet jerking out and some almost painful jabs everyday. Dan has been able to feel baby most days now which is just magical. When we put a live concert on the tv in an evening and I’m laying down, if the music is loud enough, baby will kick about and have her own little party. It’s quite magical and if you’re wondering when your kicks will come along, once they do, you really won’t be able to miss them. I was quite surprised how often in a day you’ll feel kicks, it’s more than I thought!
The 20 week scan
I actually had a real crap 20 week scan. The sonographer was moody, I barely saw the baby despite it being the supposedly more extensive scan of the two. I was in there for precisely five minutes. She didn’t go to much effort to show me the baby nor did I get pictures that are of any use, I can’t even tell what part of the baby it is. I was left for a whole hour to wait for my whopping cough vaccine and only got seen when I complained too.
LUCKILY, we had our private scan which I absolutely loved, it was thorough, intensive and Dan got to be there (as he can’t be there at NHS appointments which has been unbelievably hard). I just felt like so many experiences have been taken from us due to lockdown so this has been one of the biggest lows of my second trimester too.
The struggle is real
The second trimester goes from ‘this is easy – no more sickness – yay food – clothes no longer fit – bit tired – ok struggle is real – now I can’t sleep.’ The last few weeks of the second trimester are the ones that made me feel the ‘most pregnant’ but I think being home so much made me feel less pregnant initially because I have been sitting down a significant amount more. Now I’m into the third trimester and back in work/able to go out more, the tiredness and achey legs etc has kicked in. So enjoy the second trimester for all the ease it brings and enjoy the ability to eat more if your sickness does fade! Mine literally did on the first week of the second trimester!
Shopping
Being able to shop more has been amazing, I’ve really struggled mentally with missing out on experiences due to lockdown and with the shops now reopening, being able to test prams, look at cute baby clothing and buy nappies and see a whole new section of the shops you’ve unlocked is amazing. I’m so glad we’ve got time to do this bit and its made me feel more in control and educated by seeing everything for myself.
Overall, the second trimester was far easier than the first and the only ‘issues’ were related to Coronavirus. I loved the ability to enjoy food again and have spent lots of time trying out new no-alcohol drinks. Now we can eat out again my third trimester is going to be making up for lost time with date nights and shopping for our little bundle. Eleven weeks to go! Eek.