Your second trimester is a time of great changes, and tends to be an enjoyable trimester!

You tend to feel like your energy has returned and exciting events happen such as feeling your baby move for the first time, getting an ultrasound where you really get to see your baby and be informed about its growth, and start to be visibly pregnant. This is a time to consider enrolling in childbirth education classes, get into a regular exercise routine, connect with resources for pregnancy and babies, and make changes in your life in preparation for baby.

Some routine testing happens in the second trimester: not only do we re-check your iron levels but this is when you have the option to test for Gestational Diabetes. This will give us a snapshot of how your body is metabolizing sugar in your pregnancy. Your midwife will follow up with you with results if you choose to do the test.

Read more about Gestational Diabetes here (skip pages 1&2).

It’s very important to maintain a healthy exercise regime in pregnancy. This will be discussed often at your appointments. It’s recommended you start walking for 30 minutes per day in this trimester. Activities such as hiking, swimming, prenatal yoga and light cardio are all great ways to exercise. Listen to your body and know your limits, and make sure you drink plenty of water. Check out this link for a worksheet on exercising in pregnancy.

Connecting with a doula is something to consider for your birth. Research has shown that doulas can decrease your need for pain medication and medical interventions in labour. Talk to your midwife about the kind of excellent support doulas offer.