Second trimester doctor appointments

The middle three months of pregnancy are known as your second trimester. During this time, you'll have your prenatal appointments every four weeks. At the beginning of each visit, your doctor will check your blood pressure, weight and bump size. You'll have the anomaly scan (ultrasound level II) between 18 and 20 weeks of pregnancy and will be screened for gestational diabetes. Your doctor will discuss any questions you may have about your pregnancy, including your baby's movements, nutrition, exercise, sleep, supplements, worrying pregnancy symptoms and mental health.

How many doctor appointments will I need in my second trimester?

During your second trimester, which is between 14 weeks and 27 weeks of your pregnancy, you'll typically see your gynaecologist once a month or every four weeks. If you have a specific condition or complications, then your doctor might schedule more frequent check-ups.

What will happen during my second trimester appointments?

Your gynaecologist will usually:

Gather information
Your doctor will ask how you are feeling and hear your concerns. She will review your test reports and earlier appointment notes. She will follow up on issues that were raised at your previous prenatal visit. Your doctor may ask you specific questions about your wellbeing such as

• Are you still feeling nauseated?
• Are you feeling the baby move? (in the initial appointments)
• Is your baby moving as often as before? (in later appointments)
• Have you been leaking fluid or had any vaginal spotting or bleeding?
• Have you felt any contractions?

Record your weight
Gaining an appropriate amount of weight will boost your chances of having a healthy pregnancy and baby. How much you should gain depends on your pre-pregnancy height and weight, as well as whether you're carrying twins or more.

Check your blood pressure
Your blood pressure is another indicator of your well-being. It will be checked at each appointment. If it is high, it could be an indication that something is not right.

Listen to your baby's heartbeat
Checking your baby's heartbeat will become a regular part of every antenatal visit. This is usually done with a Doppler machine and is a good way of reassuring you that your baby is well.

Examine your belly
Your doctor will feel your abdomen to get a sense of the size of your growing uterus and baby. From mid-pregnancy on, she may also use a measuring tape to check your fundal height.

Check your hands and feet for swelling
Some swelling in pregnancy is considered normal. But sudden swelling of the hands, feet or face is a symptom of pre-eclampsia. So your doctor will keep an eye out for it.

What tests will I need to get in my second trimester?

Your doctor may want you to get the following:

An ultrasound scan
An anomaly scan (ultrasound level II) is recommended between 18 and 20 weeks of pregnancy. Your doctor may ask you to have more scans during your second trimester if:

• You are carrying twins or more.
• Your anomaly scan showed a low lying placenta.
• You have had spotting or bleeding from the vagina.
• The anomaly scan revealed problems in your pregnancy that need to be monitored.
• You have a medical condition such as diabetes or hypertension.
• You have a history of premature labour or late miscarriage. In this case you may need a scan to measure the length of your cervix.

A test for diabetes
All women are routinely screened at the end of the second trimester for gestational diabetes.

Urine tests
Protein in the urine can be a sign of a urinary tract infection or, if accompanied by high blood pressure, a sign of pre-eclampsia.

Is there anything I need to do to prepare for my appointments?

During your second trimester, you may want to prepare yourself ahead of your doctor appointments in the following ways:

• Monitor your baby's movements. In your second trimester, your baby's movement will gradually become stronger. You should keep track of your baby's movements so that you can make out when there is a change in your baby's usual movement pattern and can inform your doctor of it.
• Make a list of questions and write them down. You may have many doubts about your health, your baby's movements or the growing bump. Write them down so that you do not forget. Put the most important questions at the top of your list. You may only get a chance to ask one or two if your doctor is busy that day so prioritising them will ensure you ask the most important questions first.

Take our poll

How would you feel about having a male doctor? Vote now!

य​ह लेख हिंदी में पढ़ें!

Read more on:

• Third trimester doctor appointments
• Making love in the second trimester
• Pregnancy pampering calendar: second trimester