Pregnancy series: The second trimester

2 mins to read

Naturopath Stephanie Hamilton looks at common health complaints experienced in the second trimester and recommends some handy tips and remedies.

Pregnancy and preconception

In the second trimester of pregnancy, your body has largely adjusted to hormonal changes. It is said that the second trimester is the most enjoyable as the morning sickness has usually passed and your energy has returned.

This is the time to start getting the nursery and the baby equipment (such as prams and cots) ready, because in the third trimester, due to the size of your belly and reduced energy levels, you may not feel like doing much at all!

But while the second trimester is considered the most enjoyable, some unpleasant symptoms can still occur due to the changes to your body and the increased demand for nutrients as the baby continues to rapidly grow.

Muscle cramps

In the second trimester the baby’s skeleton and tooth enamel forms and the bones harden. These important processes require a high level of minerals supplied by the mother, such as magnesium and calcium.

If your levels of these minerals are not high enough to satisfy the needs of your baby and yourself, you are likely to experience muscle cramping. The RDI for calcium in pregnancy is 1000-1300 mg/day, and the RDI for magnesium in pregnancy is 350-400 mg/day.

Remedies:

Calcium and magnesium supplementation may be necessary if experiencing cramps and can be taken together with a good pregnancy multivitamin. Check with your healthcare professional what dosage is suitable for you.
Good dietary sources of calcium include dairy products, fish with bones especially sardines and salmon, broccoli, and dark green leafy vegetables. Good dietary sources of magnesium include legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, dark green leafy vegetables, and cocoa.

Heartburn

While heartburn is not harmful to you or the baby it can cause great discomfort, but rest assured it has nothing to do with your heart! High levels of the hormone progesterone cause a relaxation of smooth muscle in the gastrointestinal tract. Relaxation of the sphincter at the top of the stomach can cause regurgitation and heartburn. As the pregnancy progresses and the uterus becomes larger, heartburn can occur due to the increased pressure on the stomach.

Remedies:

Avoid the foods that you have noticed aggravate your heartburn such as tomatoes, red meat, coffee, acidic fruits, spicy or fatty foods.
Eat slowly and eat smaller, more frequent meals.
Herbal teas such as chamomile, fennel or peppermint may help ease symptoms.
Sodium phosphate is an effective and well-tolerated remedy for heartburn in pregnancy.

Constipation

Hormonal changes during pregnancy will reduce the motility of the large intestine and a growing uterus can also put pressure on the bowels resulting in constipation.

Keeping constipation under control is important to prevent haemorrhoids from occurring.

Remedies:

Ensure you are eating foods high in fibre every day such as fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Drink 2L of purified water each day.
Slippery Elm will help soften the stool, making it easier to pass.
Start the day with a walk to stimulate bowel movement. Engage in gentle exercise every day.
Probiotics such as acidophilus and Bifidobacterium to keep the bowels healthy.
Avoid inorganic iron supplements that can cause constipation

References available on request