My Pregnancy: 2nd Trimester

At 5 months

At 5 months

My clothes won’t fit me; maternity dresses were too big for me. I had nothing to wear; left me frustrated.

My bulge began to show; people stared at it and I wasn’t used to it, I wore a jacket. Awkward.

Back and joint pains were killing me; I can’t sleep on my back nor on my belly; not used to sleeping on my sides. I was deprived of good night Z’s.

My hands and feet were beginning to swell; my sister exclaimed I had huge thighs and feet bigger than my husband’s –to which I crisply disagreed!

At 5 months

July 2009

I had puffed cheeks which came from either eating or swelling. My hands weren’t spared; my wedding ring stuck in my finger.

With my husband Khristopher (puffed up cheeks at 5 1/2 months)

With my husband Khristopher (puffed up cheeks at 5 1/2 months)

Occasional headaches doubled my anxiety.

I was constipated but ironically advised not to push hard.

I had hearty appetite; made me gain close to 20 pounds! I felt like consuming twice my regular meal. My weight gain though, delighted my friends saying it fits me better than walking all-bones.

Since voraciousness seemed to satisfyingly haunt me; heartburn and breathlessness frequented me.

At 5 1/2 months

At 5 1/2 months

My abdomen began to itch like ants infesting it; and scratching was a no-no. At times I just can’t fight the strong urge to run my nails up and down my belly.

My navel amusingly started to protrude. It’s funny how cleaning became easier.

But one of the worse parts of the second trimester came to me at midnight of July 21 when I suddenly woke up howling in pain. My husband, from his deep sleep frantically got up shocked and confused. I yelled “cramps!” tapping on my right foot which I couldn’t move. A slight one tripled the sting.

My screams and cries got him carried away, he didn’t know what to do. Without any tinge of exaggeration, the bawling didn’t stop for about 20 seconds I could hardly catch up my breath. Until after few more seconds, the pain naturally subsided; I had a huge exhale of relief it immediately put me back to sleep. It was my first leg cramps in my entire 26 years of existence!

In the morning while recalling what happened that night. He said he was trying to do some stretching with my feet like how he does on his basketball games. Unfortunately, he did it with my left foot instead. That night I didn’t notice at all that he was doing such with my left foot, because all my attention was drawn to my suffering right foot!

Notice my weight gain.

Notice my weight gain.

I know these cramps were of no match to the natural pains I would undergo on actual labor and delivery day.  I just can’t barely imagine how painful it would be when a simple right leg cramp already kept me hysterical!

Above all, one of the best parts of the second trimester was the awaited fetal movements. It was amazing; it’s like tiny bubbles bursting inside me; like bouncing butterflies. My husband envied and at times pretended he felt the baby punch or kick. Then came July 16; the baby was actively playing and poking my intestines. I grabbed my husband’s hand, pressed it against my abdomen. After a few minutes of waiting and searching for the right spot he shouted an abrupt, airy, and long “ooohhhhhhhh….” He finally had his, I should say, first communication with our baby– a priceless feeling!

See my baby? (at 6 months)

See my baby? (at 6 months)

The 6th month was also worth anticipating, as this is the usual time for undergoing ultrasound. One more week and we’ll learn if our baby’s a girl or a boy.

Proud of my tummy at 6 months

Proud of my tummy at 6 months

Another superb feeling on the 4th to the 6th months is the emotional acceptance of pregnancy. I finally felt one with my baby. I could already proudly parade my tummy’s shape with the least thought of people staring at it; awkward feelings faded. I was already soaked into the reality of a baby, our baby, growing in me. My feelings had finally intertwined with the truth of  cradling, in three more months, an angel my husband was talking to and giving kisses every morning and every night — a heart melting site for me.

Can't wait for him/her to come out.

Can't wait for him/her to come out.

Spread the word, Share!