Kick, kick, kicking
Keep paying attention to your baby s movements. Let your doctor or midwife know right away if they seem to decrease. Your baby should remain active right up to delivery, and a noticeable slowdown in activity could be a sign of a problem.
Ripening cervix?
At a prenatal checkup, your provider might do an internal exam to see whether your cervix has started ripening: softening, effacing (thinning out), and dilating (opening). But even with this information, there s still no way to predict exactly when your baby is coming.
Leaking fluid?
Call your provider if you think your water may have broken. Sometimes there s a big gush of fluid, but sometimes there s only a small gush or a slow leak. (Don t try to make the diagnosis yourself. Call even if you only suspect you have a leak.) If your water breaks but contractions don t start soon, you ll be induced.
Fatigue
By this week, fatigue has probably set in again, though maybe not with the same coma-like intensity of your first trimester. Your tiredness is perfectly understandable, given the physical strain you re under and the restless nights of frequent pee breaks and tossing and turning while trying to get comfortable.
Dizziness
If you ve been sitting or lying down for a long time, don t jump up too quickly. Blood can pool in your feet and legs, causing a temporary drop in your blood pressure when you get up that can make you feel dizzy.
Itchy rash?
If you notice itchy red bumps or welts on your belly, and possibly your thighs and buttocks as well, you may have a condition called pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP for short). Call your caregiver if you feel intense itchiness all over your body, even if you don t have a rash. It could signal a liver problem.
Unsteadiness
Starting to feel a bit off balance? As your belly grows, your center of gravity changes, so you may begin to occasionally feel a little unsteady on your feet. Try to avoid situations with a high risk of falling. Wear low-heeled shoes to reduce your risk of taking a tumble; trauma to your abdomen could be dangerous for you and your baby.
Dry eyes
You may also notice your eyes becoming drier. Using over-the-counter lubricating drops may help. If your contact lenses become uncomfortable, try wearing them for shorter stretches of time. If you still have discomfort, switch to glasses until after you give birth.
Heartburn and bloating
Your uterus now reaches up under your rib cage. Your ballooning uterus is crowding your other internal organs too, which is why you probably have to pee more often and may be dealing with heartburn and other gastrointestinal distress.
Clumsiness
You might feel clumsier than normal, which is perfectly understandable. Not only are you heavier, the concentration of weight in your pregnant belly causes a shift in your center of gravity. Plus, thanks to hormonal changes, your ligaments are more lax, so your joints are looser, which may also contribute to your balance being a bit off.
Food cravings
Having any food cravings yet? The extreme hormonal changes you go through during pregnancy can have a huge impact on taste and smell. Let your provider know if you start to crave nonfood substances, such as laundry starch, dirt, or clay (a condition called pica).
Food aversions
You may suddenly find that certain foods you used to enjoy are now completely repulsive to you. Food aversions may be a side effect of rapidly increasing levels of estrogen in your system.
Heightened sense of smell
Many newly pregnant women find they re overwhelmed by gag-inducing smells. It s another side effect of rapidly increasing estrogen levels.