Week 25

During the second trimester, from 5 or 6 months of pregnancy, it is common to experience skin irritation, especially around a growing bump.¹ Some women and birthing people may experience a pronounced, itchy rash called Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy (PUPPP) as the skin stretches.² If you have any symptoms of an itchy rash (primarily on the abdomen, thighs, back, legs, arms, buttocks, or breasts), that is characterised by red and raised hive-like lesions, contact your healthcare provider.² This condition can be managed with treatment. However, for general itchiness, moisturiser should alleviate the discomfort.¹

• Constipation
• Pelvic girdle pain and back ache
• Oedema (swelling, particularly hands and ankles)
• Tingling hands or carpal tunnel syndrome
• Leg cramps and restless leg syndrome
• Blurred vision
• Skin changes (such as itchy tummy)
• Bleeding gums
• Foetal movement

Rapid growth is happening during this end of the second trimester as your baby now measures around 33 cm and weighs approximately 680 g.¹

Specialised alveolar cells of the lungs are now developing and start to produce a substance called surfactant.^1,3 Surfactant supports the developing lungs to expand with oxygen once they are born.¹

• Consistently taking folic acid is recommended,⁴ or if you haven’t already, consider taking a prenatal supplement that has the recommended amounts of vitamin A and D, iron and calcium⁵ which will also help support your oral health⁶
• Book your routine dental check up to help support your oral health during pregnancy⁶
• Staying active and keeping a healthy weight can help support overall health⁷
• Try to avoid alcohol consumption and smoking – both are known as risk factors for miscarriage^8,9
• Nourish your body with pregnancy-safe foods. Try to avoid foods high in mercury, such as mackerel and tuna, raw seafood, undercooked meat, poultry and eggs, unpasteurised foods and cheese with a mould rind such as brie, unwashed fruits and vegetables, and any type of herbal tea¹⁰
• Limit caffeine consumption to no more than 200 mg per day¹¹    
  As a guide:    
  1 mug of coffee contains 100 mg of caffeine    
  1 mug of tea contains 75 mg of caffeine    
  1 can of cola contains up to 40 mg of caffeine    
  1 bar of chocolate contains up to 50 mg of caffeine