Bell County Mama: Second Trimester Recap

For those of you who unfamiliar with the trimester breakdown - don't be ashamed I just googled it myself - 0-13 weeks is the first, 14-26 is the second and 27 - DELIVERY is the the third. I also keep hearing about this elusive 4th trimester aka the after child birth mess that is your postpartum body... however, I refuse to dive further into that until it gets here, call it denial if you want, I call it ignorant bliss.

I understand now why some people refer to the second trimester as the golden period, but I prefer to call it "the calm before the storm..." Overall my second trimester has been pretty easy. My bump turned into a belly pretty quickly, and even though some of the third trimester symptoms started sneaking in around week 23 for the most part I have felt pretty great. I wouldn't say my energy ever really came back but I learned to function on less than 5 hours of sleep (which I assume will come in handy later) and I've gotten used to my nightly restroom breaks.

Symptoms: heartburn, kankles, the return of morning nausea, and nightly leg cramps. The first leg cramp I actually woke up screaming, but I have since taken a less dramatic approach. In fact I've become such a pro at flexing my foot I don't even have to get out of bed to stretch the cramp. Still no stretch marks, but I feel them coming.

Cravings: chocolate milkshakes, ice cream, candy, fruit and really anything sweet. This is big for me since I am not normally a sweet eater. I may or may not have inhaled a cupcake in two bites at a teacher appreciation softball game. Surprisingly I passed my first glucose test but will have to take another one in a few weeks.

Aversions: Pickles, Raw Meat, anything with a really strong odor

Things I miss: Margaritas & cold beer, standing up without help, bending over, seeing my toes.

Special happenings: My second pregnant ER visit when I contracted whatever 24 hour bug was going around the school. Let's just say vomiting and pregnant not fun. Especially when you can't really get up and down off the floor on your own. Selling our boat and paying down some debt so I can stay home next year.

All of the doctor appointments in the 2nd trimester were fairly routine - I love getting to see the boys every time we go. I will definitely be going through sonogram withdrawals with my next pregnancy.

I have to say the coolest thing about the second trimester is feeling the babies move. They have become so active and in just a matter of weeks the movement went from faint flutters to full blown kicks and flips. The best way I can describe the feeling is that it's like having fish swimming around in your belly.

Below is a progression of belly pics - I have to say I'm pretty proud of myself only missing one week. Sorry week 23, I was having too much fun in Colorado to take bump pics.

14 Weeks

Still sleeping on the couch for this week, pretty hard to get comfortable anywhere else. Also first sonogram with the Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist where we learned the boys were Di, Di.

15 Weeks

16 Weeks

17 Weeks

Busy week for mama, wrapping up the swim season with Regionals in Rockwall. 1st stay in a hotel while pregnant... not going to lie, best nights sleep of the entire pregnancy.

18 Weeks