Just as you have had regular visits with your doctor in the first trimester, remember to continue doing so in your second trimester. These checkups monitor your baby’s development and your health!
During a checkup
🩺Fundal height
Fundal height is the height of your uterus measured from the top of your pelvic bone to the top of your uterus.🤰 Although it’s not an accurate indicator of how healthily your baby👶 is growing, it can be considered as a marker for fetal growth.
🩺Fetal heartbeat
Using Doppler ultrasound, doctors will check whether your baby’s heart rate❤️ is too fast or too slow to indicate the baby’s development. You can also hear your baby’s heartbeat and get a sneak peak of your little angel that you’re growing.😃
🩺Edema
Your legs🦵, ankles and feet will be examined for swelling, or edema. Swelling is just a side effect of pregnancy, however, abnormal swelling might infer problems such as blood clot, preeclampsia.😟ccccc
🩺Weight gain
Weight data⚖️ is recorded to compare your weight gained during pregnancy and your weight before pregnancy. The amount of weight gain recommended depends on your pregnancy weight, the number of babies you carry and the amount of weight that you have already gained so far. Your nutritionists will help you design a suitable diet plan accordingly.👩⚕️
🩺Blood pressure
Blood pressure🩸 decreases during pregnancy due to the overdrive or hormones and the increase of blood volume. The pressure is at its lowest when the baby is 24 to 26 weeks old.
Low blood pressure makes you feel tired and fatigued easily. As long as you feel well, it’s not a big concern.😃
Other tests during the second trimester
🩺Urinalysis
Your urine🚽 is always examined to make sure that your protein and sugars are under the threshold. Dangerous complications such as preeclampsia due to high blood pressure with swelling and excessive protein in your urine can happen if your urine is not monitored.⚠️
High blood glucose in your urine can signal gestational diabetes. If you have painful urination symptoms, you have to check for bacteria infection.🦠
🩺Ultrasound
Ultrasound🩺 is an essential tool to determine the stage of your pregnancy, the placenta, the amniotic fluid and confirm the menstrual dating. It's perfectly safe for you and your baby.😃
🩺Triple screen test
You’re usually offered a triple screen test if you’re under the age of 35. The test, also called multiple marker screening, tests your blood🩸 for AFP which is a protein produced by your baby, hCG which is a hormone produced in the placenta, and estriol which is a type of estrogen produced by both placenta and baby.🏥
🩺Cell-free fetal DNA test
A DNA test🧬 is conducted to assess your baby’s possibility of having abnormal chromosomes. Cell-free fetal DNA is a genetic material released by the placenta and found in your blood. Chromosomal disorders can affect the baby’s learning ability and development in the future.⚠️