Second Trimester of Pregnancy: What to Expect in Weeks 13–27

September 8, 2023

You've reached the second trimester.

For some people, this stage brings a welcome easing of nausea and tiredness. For others, first-trimester symptoms continue or are replaced by a completely different collection of pregnancy changes.

There is no requirement to feel wonderful simply because the second trimester is sometimes described as the “golden trimester.”

From weeks 13 to 27, your baby continues to grow and develop rapidly, your body changes more visibly and you may begin to feel your baby's movements for the first time.

Here's what you might expect.

What Changes During the Second Trimester?

By the beginning of the second trimester, your uterus is growing upwards and outwards and a pregnancy bump may start to become more noticeable.

Some early-pregnancy symptoms may begin to ease, but new symptoms can appear.

These can include:

indigestion or heartburn
constipation
headaches
leg cramps
dizziness
sore breasts
changes to your skin and hair
swollen or bleeding gums
pains at the side of your abdomen as your womb expands
changes in vaginal discharge

Pregnancy experiences vary considerably, so don't worry if your second trimester doesn't look like somebody else's.

Will Morning Sickness Stop in the Second Trimester?

For many people, pregnancy sickness begins to improve during this stage.

But not for everyone.

Morning sickness usually settles between weeks 16 and 20, although it can last longer. So reaching week 13 doesn't mean you should suddenly expect to feel completely different.

If you're still struggling, our Best Ways to Cope With Morning Sickness guide covers practical measures and explains when vomiting needs medical attention.

Best Ways to Cope With Morning Sickness

When Will I Feel My Baby Move?

Feeling your baby move for the first time can be an important moment during the second trimester.

You will usually begin to feel movement between 16 and 24 weeks. If this is your first baby, it may not happen until after 20 weeks. Early movements can feel more like gentle swirling or fluttering than obvious kicks.

If you haven't felt your baby move by 24 weeks, tell your midwife.

Once you recognise your baby's movements, get to know their usual pattern rather than trying to reach a prescribed number of kicks.

If your baby is moving less than usual, you can no longer feel movement, or their normal pattern changes, contact your midwife or maternity unit immediately — even during the night. Do not wait until the following day.

What Happens at the 20-Week Scan?

During the second trimester you'll usually be offered another ultrasound scan.

Often called the 20-week scan or anomaly scan, it generally takes place between 18 and 21 weeks.

The scan looks at your baby's development and checks for signs of 11 physical conditions. Your baby's growth is checked too.

Like other antenatal screening, having the scan is your choice.

If anything unexpected is identified, your maternity team will explain what has been seen and whether further scans, tests or specialist advice are appropriate.

What Other Antenatal Appointments Happen?

Your antenatal care continues throughout the second trimester.

At around 16 weeks, your midwife will usually discuss previous screening results, check your blood pressure and urine and talk to you about the next scan.

If this is your first baby, you'll usually have another appointment at around 25 weeks, when your midwife may measure your bump, discuss your baby's movements and talk about your wellbeing and preferences for birth.

Some people are also offered testing for gestational diabetes between 24 and 28 weeks if they have a higher chance of developing it.

Your own schedule may differ depending on your pregnancy and individual care needs.

Eating Well During the Second Trimester

You still don't need to “eat for two.”

The NHS advises eating a healthy, balanced diet with a variety of foods. Extra calories aren't generally required until the third trimester.

Rather than concentrating on supposed pregnancy superfoods, think about variety and a sensible balance of fruit and vegetables, higher-fibre carbohydrates, protein foods and appropriate dairy products or alternatives.

We've covered this subject in much more detail here:

Nourishing Your Pregnancy: Vitamins, Minerals and Meals

Can I Exercise During the Second Trimester?

For most uncomplicated pregnancies, staying active is encouraged.

NHS guidance recommends 150 minutes of activity each week during pregnancy, but that doesn't mean suddenly beginning an intensive exercise programme.

If you were already active before pregnancy, you can usually continue your normal activity for as long as you feel comfortable, adapting it as your pregnancy progresses.

You should be able to hold a conversation while exercising. If you're too breathless to talk, you're probably working too hard.

If you weren't active before pregnancy, don't suddenly start strenuous exercise.

And if your maternity team has given you individual advice about exercise, follow that rather than generic guidance.

Looking After Your Teeth and Gums

One of the less glamorous pregnancy changes is that your gums may become swollen, sore or more prone to bleeding.

Continue brushing carefully and looking after your teeth.

It's also worth knowing that NHS dental treatment is free during pregnancy and for 12 months after your baby is born, provided you have the appropriate maternity exemption certificate.

So if something doesn't seem right, don't put off seeing a dentist simply because you're pregnant.

Your Changing Body

By the second trimester, pregnancy may become much more visible.

Your bump may be growing, your breasts may continue changing and stretch marks can begin to appear.

There is no correct way for a pregnant body to look.

Bumps don't all grow at the same rate, and skin changes vary enormously.

If stretch marks are something you're thinking about, we've separated fact from some of the more unrealistic promises made about preventing or removing them in:

Stretch Marks During Pregnancy and Postpartum: What Can You Do?

Preparing for Baby — Without Trying to Do Everything

The second trimester can be a useful time to begin thinking about some practical preparations if you want to.

You might:

start looking at antenatal classes
talk to your partner about how you're both feeling
begin exploring your birth choices
think about work and maternity arrangements
consider what you actually need for your baby
start thinking about the support you may want after birth

But none of these has to become a race.

You don't need a finished nursery or a perfectly constructed birth plan to be “on track.”

Pregnancy as a Couple

Pregnancy can be a significant transition for partners too.

Attending appointments where appropriate, talking about decisions together and sharing some of the practical preparation can make pregnancy feel more like something you're navigating as a team.

Our Pregnancy for Partners guide looks at practical ways a partner can offer support throughout pregnancy.

Looking After Your Emotional Wellbeing

You may feel more settled during the second trimester.

Or you may not.

Scans, physical changes, previous pregnancy experiences, concerns about birth and the approaching reality of parenthood can all bring complicated feelings.

If anxiety or low mood is affecting your everyday life, tell your midwife or GP. Your emotional health is part of your maternity care.

And if you're simply finding that pregnancy isn't the endlessly joyful experience popular culture sometimes promises, our guide to Pregnancy Guilt and Worry may help.

What Comes After the Second Trimester?

At 28 weeks, you enter the third trimester.

Your baby's growth continues, your body has more adapting to do and thoughts often begin turning more towards labour, birth and the practical realities of bringing your baby home.

Our next guide covers Third Trimester of Pregnancy: What to Expect in Weeks 28–40+.

And after the third trimester comes a transition that receives far less attention:

The Fourth Trimester — the early weeks after birth when mother and baby are both adjusting to a new stage of life.