Body aches during the second trimester

In most instances, you will no longer experience morning sickness and vomiting that you did in the first trimester.

However, it is not uncommon to experience body pain during the second trimester. Most pregnant women start getting body aches from the second trimester onwards. 

Causes for the second-trimester body aches:

• In the second trimester, your uterus starts to expand. Body aches in different parts of the body are experienced due to increased pressure from the growing uterus and hormonal changes.
• The expanding uterus stretches the ligaments that support the uterus. As a result, you may experience pain in the belly region, which could last for a few seconds or minutes. The pain might also radiate to the groin or hip region.
• Mild contraction of the uterine muscles could also cause pain. This kind of pain will most commonly appear during night time. The intensity of the uterus contraction will increase as the pregnancy progresses.
• Leg cramps are pretty common during pregnancy. Especially pain in the calf muscles that radiate to the feet. They develop when the blood vessels and nerves in the body are compressed. Malnourishment could also cause cramps. It is thus, highly important to nourish adequately during pregnancy.
• Pelvic girdle pain is also common. You will feel the ache in the pelvic bone because the pressure of the uterus is directly placed on the pelvic bone.
• Lower back pain is also very common during pregnancy. Mild pain in the lower back region and stiffening of back muscles are commonly seen in pregnant women. The constantly growing abdomen strains the back muscles and triggers backache.

Treatment :

• Body aches during the second and third trimesters are very common. In most cases, you may not require medical intervention. These body aches are soothed with warm compression, changing the resting position, preventing sudden jerks or movements, and through adequate stretching exercises. 
• Yoga and meditation is the best remedy during pregnancy, to control body ache, to calm the mind, and to regulate the hormones.
• However, if you experience unusual pain, sharp continuous bouts of pain for a long time, vaginal bleeding or discharge, or severe headache, it is highly advisable to seek immediate medical attention.

Conclusion:

It is common to experience body ache in the second trimester. Although it is manageable in most cases, care should be taken to soothe the muscles and calm the limbs. 

Special thanks to Dr. Dimple Chudgar (M.D, D.N.B, F.C.P.S, D.G.O, Diploma in advanced laparoscopic surgery (Germany), Fellowship in Robotic surgery (U.S.A) ) for the expert advice.