Your Second Month Of Pregnancy
By: Julie Fletcher
Hopefully by now you have spoken with a doctor and made an appointment for your pregnancy. In some countries or states, a doctor will prefer to wait to make a first appointment until after the second missed period. Because home pregnancy tests can be very sensitive and detect even the earliest pregnancy, there is a possibility of a spontaneous abortion. When this does occur, it does not mean anything is wrong with you, just that it may not be the right time for your body to carry a baby. A visit to your general practitioner can help determine if this may be a problem if this happens more than once.
It is estimated that nearly 50% of all conceptions may end in spontaneous abortions or early miscarriage. Most of these happen during the first few weeks of a pregnancy and sometimes before a woman even notices she is pregnant. There is an old superstition to not reveal your pregnancy to others before 12 weeks (3 months) have passed because of early miscarriages. If you feel uncomfortable revealing your pregnancy status, by all means, go ahead and keep your secret!
If you have begun to experience the symptoms of pregnancy discussed in Family Resource’s previous article, Your First Month of Pregnancy, then you will be familiar with what is going on with your body. In the second month of your pregnancy you may notice other signs or symptoms. Let’s recap some of the early signs of pregnancy:
Fatigue: If you have not felt it before, you will probably notice it now. Going to bed an hour early or taking a nap during the day can help.
Breast Tenderness: This may have subsided by now. The soreness sometimes changes to just more sensitivity. This can be uncomfortable for some women. Try a snug bra to decrease rubbing and chafing.
Increased Appetite: This may have devolved into morning sickness. If you were very hungry, you may have lost your appetite now.
Urinary Frequency: If you have not had more of an urge to ‘pee’, you will begin noticing it now. Your uterus is growing quickly and pressing on your bladder.
Headaches: It is very possible to have headaches now. In some pregnancies the headaches can come on early and keep occurring throughout pregnancy. Speak to your doctor or midwife about products such as Tylenol (Acetaminophen). Most agree that the typical adult dose is safe to use in pregnancy. Some professionals prefer that you wait until after the first trimester before using any pain reliever. Ibuprofen and medications that contain aspirin should be avoided during pregnancy. Be sure to read labels and consult with your practitioner before using any over the counter medication.
Discussing your appetite, we mentioned morning sickness. This symptom of pregnancy is so prevalent that entire articles are devoted to the subject. Morning sickness can strike any time during the first months of pregnancy or not at all. Most of the time the nausea begins in the time period between two weeks of pregnancy and eight weeks. If you are having symptoms try saltine crackers, plain white bread, or broth. Some stubborn cases of morning sickness have been completely reversed by the use of Vitamin B6. This supplement aids in the digestion and bodily use of protein. Some experts think that a diet higher in protein can help ease the nausea.
If you decide to use B6, use only the dosage on the bottle. Do not try ‘mega-dose’ as this can cause a certain type of nerve damage known as neuropathy. The typical dose is 50 mg, two to three times daily. A high protein diet can also be achieved by vegans and vegetarians by increasing the intake of high protein vegetables.
Even without morning sickness, you probably are beginning to ‘feel pregnant’. No one person can adequately describe this feeling. You may have fullness in your lower abdomen. You might have a ‘glow’ or feeling of well-being. No one can tell you exactly how you will feel emotionally at this time, though there are resources to help you if your emotions feel out of control. Internet searches can help you find message boards, blogs, articles, or phone numbers of mental health professionals in your area. If you are having any depression, be sure to tell your doctor!
Your baby has now progressed from a few splitting cells to a tiny human looking fetus. He or she has arms, legs, hands, feet, and tiny eyelids that are fused shut. Just a few weeks ago it would have been hard to tell one end from the other! The fetus is typically a little over one inch (8-11 mm) long by your eighth week of pregnancy. A Doppler may be used now to detect the heartbeat of your baby.
A visit to an OB/GYN will usually be about an hour long, perhaps ninety minutes. A complete medical history evaluation will be done, along with certain tests. Blood draws for tests like anemia and HIV, urine tests for possible infection, and blood pressure. These are routine and should not cause concern. If you are nervous, talk with your practitioner about your fears.
If you need more information on choosing an OB/GYN, please visit Family Resource’s article on how to find the right OB/GYN for you.