Second trimester (14-27 weeks) tips

Try to relax, and enjoy this exciting time. Your baby is growing fast – and that’s hard to miss now! You’ll continue to experience changes in your body as your pregnancy goes on. This is completely normal, so don’t worry.

Keep talking to people around you, whether it’s your midwife, partner, a friend or family member. And if you’re worried about anything, your midwife can answer your questions. She is there to support you, and will want to help – so don’t be afraid to ask.

It’s really important to remember that you’re not alone. As your bump gets bigger, it’s perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed at times – but don’t let it cause you to be worried, stressed or down about things. Don’t bottle your feelings up – speak to people, use your support network and let them reassure you. And remember, lots of parents have been there, done it, and come out smiling – you can too!

Questions might pop into your head at 3am. You’ll have a lot to think about and you can’t be expected to remember everything – so keep a notepad near, so you can scribble these down and ask your midwife at your next check-up.

Did you know babies’ hearing starts to develop at around 16 weeks? So talking to your baby bump and making sounds during pregnancy can actually help with your baby's brain development before birth. This video on the Tiny Happy People website explains how.

The best way to protect yourself and your baby from serious disease and illness is to get the recommended vaccines at the right time. NHS Scotland recommends that pregnant women should have the COVID-19, flu and whooping cough vaccines. You can get the COVID-19 and flu vaccines at any stage of your pregnancy, while whooping cough is recommended from week 16. Ask you midwife for more information on how to get your vaccines.

You can find out more about the immunisations offered during pregnancy and why they’re so important on the NHS Inform website.

The internet is a fantastic way to get information – but use it carefully and always stick to trustworthy websites. Ready Steady Baby is a good one. Don’t let personal opinions on chat forums or scare stories on social media affect you. If you have any concerns, talk through them with your midwife.