Second Trimester: The Best and Worst Weeks

Week 16: The anatomy scan. Week 20: Gender reveal if you want it. Week 24: Viability milestone. But also: round ligament pain and the glucose test...

Week 16: The anatomy scan. Week 20: Gender reveal if you want it. Week 24: Viability milestone. But also: round ligament pain, the glucose test, and the realization that this is getting very real.

The Best: Week 16-20

This is the "golden period" of pregnancy. Nausea is gone, energy is back, and you're not yet uncomfortably large. The anatomy scan at 18-20 weeks is magical — you see fingers, toes, maybe even a yawn.

If you want to know the gender, this is when you find out. Some people do a big reveal. We just looked at the screen and the tech said, "It's a girl." That was our reveal. Perfect.

The Worst: Week 24-28

The glucose test. One hour of your life you'll never get back. Drink the sickly sweet drink, sit in the waiting room, try not to vomit. If you fail, you get the 3-hour test. Joy.

Also: round ligament pain. Sharp, stabbing pains when you move too fast, cough, or roll over in bed. Completely normal, completely annoying.

The Milestone: Week 24

Viability. If born now, your baby has a chance of survival with intensive care. It's a sobering milestone — and a reminder that this is a real baby, not just an abstract concept.

— Sophie Miller, CNM

Sophie Miller, CNM is a Certified Nurse-Midwife in Portland, Oregon. This article reflects personal experience and clinical observations. For medical advice, consult your healthcare provider.