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Home » Mom Life » Pregnancy » What I learned in my [3rd] second trimester

What I learned in my [3rd] second trimester

Updated May 26, 2020

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I’m just passing the mark into my third trimester. It is the final stretch but still, 40 weeks minus 26 weeks equals 14 weeks. That is a lotta weeks left. I am always amazed at how different and clear each trimester transitions into the next. If I hadn’t known how far along I was I would have been able to tell you almost to the day just by the changes in my mood and level of tiredness.

Some second trimester thoughts.

(1) It’s like the eye of the hurricane. I’m from Florida which is hurricane country. Basically, as a cyclone travels over town you experience one side, then you may (depending on where you are) see calm and rest as the eye passes over you, and then you get the other half of the hurricane. Pregnancy is often like that. First trimester can bring nausea, vomiting, severe fatigue, lethargy and on and on. The second trimester comes and – lo and behold – we’re human again. Still fitting into most clothes but showing enough to feel kinda cute! Not whale size yet and swelling usually hasn’t gotten terribly underway. It’s like a period of rest so you can settle down and store up the much-needed energy and stamina for what’s next.

(2) Perfect for exercise. I know it’s hard to exercise at all, much less pregnant. I wrote recently on Finding time to exercise, but for me the second trimester has always been one where I can shore up a little fitness. I am energetic enough to be active and not so far along that walking too far feels like I’m going to drop a basketball out of my dress. First trimester I try to keep moving, but this pregnancy in particular I had major – and I mean major – fatigue and lethargy and cried having to walk to do the dishes so exercise was at a minimal. During my second trimester this time I did an amazing prenatal video and walked as much as possible. I felt like it got me into a decent shape that, with some effort, I could attempt to carry through to delivery. As I’ve repeated many times, delivery is pretty much the most physically exhausting and trying experience ever so I like to be as fit as I can for it.

(3) Finding out the gender. Having immigrated I have noticed something. In the US it is almost a given that you find out the gender. As in, it’s very odd and surprising when someone doesn’t. In the UK (where my daughter was born) and here in Australia (where my son was born) it is almost the opposite. Or at least, half and half. I’ve found out with each pregnancy but reckon if I’m lucky enough to have a fourth child I’ll want to be surprised. Most people just get some basics on hand and prepare as much as they can and then go with the surprise. I had an American friend one time say, “I guess they do it for surprise. But you know what? I’m surprised at the ultrasound.” Ha. Either way I think this trimester is great because you get to see them on the big screen again, hopefully get to see that they’re developing normally and as they should be, and you maybe even get to start picking out names.

This trimester is a precious one for me particularly in this pregnancy. The first trimester I found myself in extreme anxiety. Almost immediately into the second trimester I felt better and then I put into place many anxiety reducing household management practices to help keep it that way. Then, as I’m passing into my third trimester I’m starting to experience depression. I tell you, hormones are a doozy. I’ve heard it said that “hormones don’t lie” but simply exaggerate an issue. Well, I am beginning to think that all this child-bearing is starting to make me a crazy woman. In more ways than one :)

Read related articles 1st Trimester Reflections, Parenting without External Support, What I 
Learned as a SAHM with an identity crisis, and Finding time to Exercise

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Filed Under: Pregnancy, What I Learned0

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I'm Rachel, mother of 5 young kids living in the Florida panhandle with my Australian husband. I write about family culture, family rhythms and routines, and boundaries in motherhood and life. You can see snippets of my daily life here and visit my shop for baby sleep, organizing, and routine help.

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I just wanted to say thank you for your easy peasy routine for 2 year olds! I day-weaned my 2 year old a month ago and have been trying everything to get him to go down for a nap without the nursing. Nothing was working and I was starting to think he would never have a nap again.

Anyways I started following your routine and we just sat in bed and had what I told him was “quiet time.” We sat and read and made a fort and had warm milk. Then today I told him it was quiet time again and he tried to escape the bed a couple times, but in the end he snuggled up after the warm bottle and fell asleep for 3 hours! I was almost in tears I was so excited! So thank you!

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My husband is in awe!

Which helps reinforce what you said- the problem wasn’t me; it was my systems. Our home is in much better order, and so is my mind. So, thank you!!!! You have made a difference for me and my family.

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I stumbled upon your blog one morning after praying night after night for God to fix my home! I had just had a baby this May 1st and also have a 2 and 4 year old and my home broke out in complete chaos!

Even my marriage seemed like it was on the brink of extinction and this had happened in 2 weeks! I read numerous amounts of your entries and applied them to my home life and I am happy to say we are slowly getting back to normal. Thank you Rachel! 

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I’m a first time mom to a 15 day old baby girl. I had no idea what I was doing and couldn’t get her to sleep in her crib until I found your blog.

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“Within a week or two our little girl changed!”

I tumbled into post partum depression/anxiety and didn’t know what to do anymore. I was a mess, baby girl was a mess and I don’t even know how my husband was dealing with it all… 

I googled everything I could think about but there was never really something that felt right, that felt genuine instead of just telling do’s and don’ts. 

And then I found your website and read your pieces about sleeping and eating. I carefully read through your schedules and decided to try it.

IT WORKED!! 

And within a week or two our little girl changed from a frustrated baby into this happy dappy smiling ray of sunshine, that is able to settle herself down by sucking on her fists, even in the middle of the night. At 12 weeks baby girl slept through the night and now at 20 weeks old she sleeps a good 10 to 12 hours every night. 

I just wanted to thank you for sharing your experience online. The way you wrote your experiences made it understandable, seeing it from the babys side but also the moms side. Maybe we were lucky that your way fitted our baby, but it worked and I tell it to everyone that wants to know!

Stephanie P.

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I just wanted to thank you for your sample routine.  I’ve been using it for a week with my 13 month old and had tremendous success from day 2! Wind down time is so important and so is consistency.  Thank you so much!!!

Sam M.

“In a few short days…”

I am grateful to have found your blog, as I do a great deal of searching on Pinterest when I am up against a parenting moment that I do not feel qualified to handle.

I will say though that since reading your blog I am really focusing on remembering that every moment is a learning \ experience for my son and I try to take a breath and count to ten. In the few short days that I have been exercising this method I truly have noticed a change for the better in his response to me.

Tami K.

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Hey y'all, I'm Rachel Norman, BA, MS, Language of Listening® parenting coach, mother to 5 babies in 5 years on 3 continents, no multiples. Join me in parenting without losing your mind. Read More >>

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