2nd Month of Pregnancy – Baby Development, What to Eat & more

A young woman lying in the field

For most mothers, reality starts setting in by the second month of pregnancy. New and interesting symptoms can be experienced, which can also be taxing and strange. While all these changes might seem overwhelming, it is important to note that you are on the path of growing a new life inside your body.

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Most Common Two Months Pregnancy Symptoms

A happy pregnant woman

By the second month of pregnancy, most budding mothers start experiencing a bunch of symptoms that are a give-away sign for the onset of the new baby.

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1. Nausea or Morning Sickness

That typical term you have heard being thrown around by everyone, everywhere. However, nearly all women have discovered that the term is not exactly as it sounds. The feeling of nausea might be evident in the morning but continues to stay throughout the day in varying degrees of strength. On a biological level, it doesn’t have any negative effect on the baby or your health. However, the constant feeling of wanting to throw up can cause constant distraction and failure to focus at work. You might also feel that your partner feels differently about you now. On the other hand, many mothers have also claimed that this feeling of nausea, at times, makes them happy to think about the baby and take more care of themselves.

2. Unusual Mood Swings

This, too, is true when it comes to the initial months of pregnancy. Crazy hormones start taking over your body, making you ecstatic and happy one minute, and irritated and lethargic the next. You might start feeling like a kid yourself, stubborn and unreasonable, and begin to wonder if you could take care of your own baby. Other aspects of family and work might seem monstrous and stressful. Most mood swings are primarily due to the progesterone and estrogen, which result in shifting the chemical composition of the brain.

3.Frequent Trips to the Loo

Most mothers start calling the bathroom as their second home. The feeling to urinate starts dominating a lot and you constantly might feel like taking a leak. This, too, is a result of secreting hCG, a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin, and will sadly stay with you throughout the pregnancy. Therefore, hydration becomes the highest priority for any budding mother.

4. Increase in Breast Size and Shape

One fine morning, you might notice that your bra does not fit you as comfortable as it used to. And your breasts seem larger than they usually have been. Also, they are quite sensitive than usual and very responsive to touch. With pregnancy causing progesterone and estrogen to help your body cope with being a mother, they also increase the fat stores in the body, including the breasts.

5. Cravings for a Variety of Food Items

Pregnancy cravings have been known to be crazier than the mood swings. The variety of items that mothers have craved for range from the usual flavoured ice-creams or king size burgers to absolutely weird as scented erasers and cigarette ash. A nutritional deficiency can further aggravate it. Succumbing to these cravings is fine as long as they are not harmful and a healthier alternative can be settled for.

What Other Unpleasant Sensation you will Experience?

Here are some more pregnancy symptoms that you may experience.

  • Salivating excessively
  • Aggravated constipation
  • Heartburn
  • Indigestion and upset stomach
  • Losing the usual intensity of appetite
  • Headaches and dizziness
  • Darkened areolas and nipples
  • Anxiety, fear, susceptible to crying easily
  • Varicose veins
  • Swellings in various sections of the body and changes in skin texture

What Happens Inside the Body?

Your body is also going through rapid changes. Some of them include.

1. Increased Salivation in the Mouth

Usually observed in the initial months of pregnancy, most women have more saliva than usual. It could be related to hormones or even the presence of morning nausea, but there isn’t any conclusive evidence for either. This, in any way, does not harm the baby or the mother.

2. Increased Thirst

With pregnancy comes frequent urination and also increase in the blood fluid volume. This, consequently, requires more water to maintain the right levels within the body. Apart from you, the baby requires a good amount of fluid in the amniotic sac, which is developed using water from your body. This increased need for fluid manifests as increased thirst.

3. Change in Vaginal Secretions

With the number of changes a mother’s body undergoes, the vaginal secretions a woman usually has may change around the 2nd month of pregnancy. The colour might be different, the secretions might be thicker or thinner than usual, and they could be more as well. Unless they smell weird or have a putting off odour, these changes are usually normal.

4. Painful Tension in Uterus

A baby is growing in your body and the signs for 2 months pregnant baby development are precisely where the uterus starts making space for the baby. This growth causes the area to be tensed, leading to the pain.

How will you Look?

The physical changes are the first signs to depict the onset of pregnancy. Towards the end of two pregnant months, the foetus grows to a length of roughly 3 cms, leading to your waist being larger than usual. The clothes that would fit you comfortably would be a tad tighter than before. Breasts increase in size, causing you to ditch your earlier bras, and opt for new cotton ones. Feet might show signs of swelling and your skin might be dry due to increased dehydration. These aren’t quickly noticeable and will be experienced intimately by you until you declare your pregnancy to the world.

Harmful Infections during Pregnancy

With numerous changes in your body, it becomes slightly susceptible to external infections. The typical viruses and influenza can reach your fetus through the placenta. These can cause critical damage to the budding baby. Hence, around winter, extra precautions are required. It’s best to avoid public transport so that you are away from crowds and random people. In case you are still working, use nasal ointment drops such as oxolin, garlic-onion oil, and so. These may give off a strong smell but are a huge defence against inhaling the viruses. Make sure your workplace is hygienic and clean and free from sick colleagues.

Foetal Development at Second Month of Pregnancy

Your baby at 2 months pregnant is just in the very initial stages of taking a human form. A 2 months pregnant ultrasound at this stage will reveal your loved one to look no different from an extra-terrestrial of a different planet. They usually resemble a curved tube, with a head at one end, and buttocks at the other. This tube is where the spinal cord begins to develop, along with the placenta. As tiny as it might seem, the baby’s growth in the 2nd month of pregnancy is nearly ten thousand times the very first stage of its existence. The features of the face, including the eyes, nose, ears begin to slowly appear on the head, while the forehead stays gigantic. Your doctor might make you listen to your baby’s heartbeat around the 6th week of pregnancy. In this period, genitals and limbs also form although they are barely distinguishable. Most of the organs of the body have already commenced development by this stage.

Tests 2 Month Pregnant Women Should Perform

By the initial months of pregnancy, many budding mothers do visit their doctors or a maternity clinic. Your weight and blood pressure are primarily checked for normalcy. These are followed up with collecting blood and urine samples for a general analysis. These include checking for sugar and protein, as well as diseases such as AIDS and syphilis. A body checkup might also be conducted, as well as examinations by ENT doctors, dentists and others. Your gynaecologist will ask you for a vaginal smear examination.

These tests and some others are required to check a normal progress in pregnancy. Haemostasis check ensures the coagulation capability of your blood is normal. Physical checks for swelling and varicose veins will also be conducted. If you and your husband fall within a certain blood group combination, additional analytical test for immunoglobulins might be required. If you suffer from thyroid problems, this is the type to meet your endocrinologist and get yourself checked.

Diet during 2nd Month Pregnancy

In your 2nd month of pregnancy what to eat should always be answered with, as much nutritional food as possible. The myth of eating for two humans should be discarded in favour of a healthy and balanced diet. Vegetables, fruits, a large number of fluids, cereals, specific types of meat are all the constituents that can come together and form the perfect diet plan for you. Apart from food items, there are certain vital nutrients and vitamins such as calcium, folic acid, zinc, iron, iodine and vitamin D that have a bunch of advantages and benefits. Green vegetables and citrus fruits are prominent in folic acid, while dairy products are a great source of calcium. Apart from these, most doctors recommend consuming supplements for the same, since these are essential in preventing any birth defects in the initial stages of growth.

Tips for To-Be-Dads

Just as a woman does not get pregnant all by herself, in the same way, a pregnancy cannot be the realm of the woman. Fathers play an important role in helping new mothers cope with the changes and demands of the pregnancy. The initial months are especially the challenging ones for both. Ensuring that the budding mother eats the diet that is precisely put together, is balanced and healthy, and is tasty at the same time, should be a responsibility to look after. Understanding the vegetables and foods to be brought in, along with which ones provide the necessary nutrients can be quite helpful in putting together a meal. Cravings and mood swings can pose another set of challenges and mothers might have problems coming to terms with them. Soon-to-be fathers can ensure that they continue to make them feel loved and supportive through this journey and keep stress levels at a minimum. An environment of safety and care is essential for the baby, even when it is growing inside the mother.

Tips for Mothers

Ease into your pregnancy with these suggestions.

1. New Comfortable Bras

With an increase in breast size, you will need a bra that not only makes their shape look good, but provides the right support for them as well. A cotton bra works wonders since your breasts will be tender and sensitive at this stage.

2. Avoid Sickness

Nobody gets sick on purpose but it’s great to take all the necessary precautions to avoid it from occurring at all. Washing hands properly with sanitizers and clean water before eating or preparing food goes a long way in keeping you healthy. Avoiding crowds and areas susceptible to various germs and organisms is necessary as well. Use of nasal sprays or certain oils can help you set up the first line of defence.

3. Healthy Diet

Cravings will occur but care must be taken to avoid heartburn or indigestions. Consuming chocolates, citrus juices, mustard, and fried foods are criminal in this regard. The baby already causes nausea and consuming these will further aggravate it.

4. Regularity

Timely meals and routines are a necessity. These keep your body informed and help you time activities properly. The inclusion of water and fibrous foods reduces constipation, setting a cycle of bowel movements at the right times.

5. Skin Care

Pregnancy brings increased dehydration so it’s best to replace soaps with moisturizing gels or bath oils. In case of using any chemical creams for treating skin conditions, it’s best to discuss with your doctor and look for natural alternatives.

6. A Lot of Rest

With so much happening inside your body, it needs a lot of rest than usual. A rested body and a relaxed mind are essential in keeping stress levels low and continued development of the baby.

The beauty of pregnancy has just begun and it definitely comes with its own set of challenges. The initial months, primarily, are demanding as well as exciting for both the parents. By keeping the right tips in mind and taking precautions during the second month of pregnancy, the journey of the baby’s growth will begin on the right note and continue forward with no issues.