The nausea of early pregnancy usually stops by 14-16 weeks into your pregnancy, and you may notice an increase in appetite. An average pregnancy with one baby requires the addition of 300 calories per day. Pregnancies with more than one baby, adolescent mothers and women with a very high level of physical activity will require even more.

Now that you’re further along in your pregnancy, you may get lower backaches. Your body is adapting to carrying your baby, and this means asking your muscles and ligaments to do what they're not used to doing. Rest and a heating pad, as well as some of the prenatal exercises shown in the Baby Book should help. If you have a continuous sharp backache around your kidney area, particularly if you run a fever or find it painful to urinate, let your provider know immediately.

It's not unusual for your gums to become swollen and soft when you're pregnant. They may even bleed slightly after you brush your teeth. This is sometimes called "pink toothbrush". Using a softer toothbrush and being careful to brush gently may keep "pink toothbrush" to a minimum.

Your breasts are probably not growing as much now as they were in your first trimester. They should also be less tender, although your milk ducts are continuing to develop. You should still be doing monthly breast exams. If you're not in the habit of giving yourself a monthly exam, now is the perfect time to learn.

Colostrum or a discharge from your breasts may begin to show up during the second half of your pregnancy, as your body prepares itself to breast-feed.

Now here's an exciting symptom! Somewhere between 16 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, you may feel that first flutter of movement from your baby! This is sometimes called "quickening". Some women actually mistake the first movements for gas or "butterflies in their stomach", because the first flutters are pretty subtle. If you haven't felt any fetal movement by 20 weeks, please tell your provider. Don’t be surprised if you haven't started feeling REGULAR movement until you're about 28 weeks along.

You may notice that your heart rate is faster and even feels like it's racing, even when you aren't doing anything. This is normal when you're pregnant because your heart has to beat faster to take care of you and your baby.

When you're pregnant, your body makes a hormone called relaxin, which makes your joints more pliable than normal. Because of this, you may be feel clumsier than usual. Please be extra careful, and know that looser joints are just a part of how your body gets ready to deliver the baby!

You may feel sharp pains on either or both sides of your pubic bone and into your vagina when you're pregnant. This pain is caused by the fact that your ligaments are stretching as your baby grows. Just a small amount of movement can make the ligaments hurt. Hot compresses and changing positions slowly should help ease the discomfort.

There are no restrictions on sexual activity in the second trimester, unless your provider has advised you to abstain. But, if you've had any vaginal bleeding or spotting that hasn't been checked out by your provider, or if you have a history of delivering before the 37th week of pregnancy, it’s best to avoid sex until you've spoken to your provider.

Sometimes, late in your second trimester, you may find that you have a hard time "catching your breath" or that you get winded very easily. This is not unusual, and is a result of your muscles relaxing due to the hormones your body is making. Shortness of breath can also be caused by upward pressure of your baby and your uterus on your diaphragm as they get bigger. Sit down; take a few moments to rest, and this shortness of breath should pass.

50% of all pregnant women will develop stretch marks on their breasts, abdomen or upper thighs. Moisturizing lotion can be applied to the area to decrease the itching, but there is no way to prevent the marks altogether. Fortunately, most stretch marks fade relatively quickly after your baby is born.

The frequency of your need to urinate should now be decreasing in the second trimester. Your uterus will have settled into your abdomen, so it’s not pressing on your bladder as much as it was during the first part of your pregnancy. But, get ready. The need to go to the bathroom frequently will almost certainly return in your third trimester.

Some pregnant women develop varicose veins, which is the pooling of blood in your veins, making them bulge. This is most likely to happen in your legs, or around your rectum. It should help if you lie down twice a day with your feet and legs elevated higher than your head for 10 minutes. Wearing support hose during the day and avoiding standing or crossing your legs for long periods may also help.

By the second trimester, your weight gain will probably be noticeable. Total pregnancy weight gain will be about 25-35 pounds for the average woman. You'll usually gain 5-7 pounds during the first thirteen weeks, 10-14 pounds the second thirteen weeks, and 10-14 pounds the last 13-14 weeks. If you are not gaining enough weight, your provider will help you decide how many extra calories you should add to your diet.