$Unique_ID{PAR00415}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Pregnancy:  The Second Trimester:  Introduction}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Ellis, Jeffrey W
Ellis, Maria}
$Subject{Second Trimester Introduction Introductions changes exercise
enlarging abdomen discomforts}
$Log{}

Miracle of Birth


The Second Trimester:  Introduction


     The physical changes that occur during pregnancy, both in the baby and in
you, are dramatic and wondrous.  Two tiny cells join together within your body
and, from that union, an entirely new person is created.
     The many complex organs and structures that your baby will need for life
develop in just a few short months.  The changes in your body are no less
amazing.  But while the baby changes most rapidly during the first three
months after conception, your body undergoes its most dramatic changes during
your second and third trimesters.
     It is during your second trimester that your baby will announce his
presence.  Early in this trimester, you will actually begin to see and feel
your abdomen enlarging in response to his growth.  What's more, you and your
husband will be able to feel your baby's movements through the wall of your
abdomen.
     While many of the discomforts you experienced in your first trimester
have probably begun to subside, the next three months will bring a host of new
changes.  Many of these changes will occur in response to your growing
abdomen--and your growing baby.
     In the following sections, you'll discover what's going on inside the
womb, how your body is changing, how to tell if something is wrong, and how to
avoid hazards.  You'll find tips for relieving the discomforts that accompany
the changes in your size and shape.  You'll also find information on exercise
and childbirth classes.  This information, coupled with your attention to good
nutrition, can help you take good care of yourself and your growing baby.