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The second trimester of pregnancy is one of the most exciting because your baby becomes real to you. You can finally feel the baby kick and move around. You can see him on the sonogram, too. But despite all the exciting things your baby is doing, you’re going through a lot of changes.

What Does This Mean?

You’re little one will soon be here, and you can feel it. As early as 15 weeks in, you may begin to feel pains that are like tiny pinpricks or pinches. That’s your baby kicking. Kicks can be so strong that they make you jolt. If you feel movement, that means your baby is growing and getting ready to keep you up all night in a few short months. He’s exercising his lungs and making small sounds. Amazingly, he can now see light through your stomach. If you were to shine a flashlight over your belly, he would wince.

Your baby’s eyes will also finish developing in the second trimester. In the beginning of your pregnancy, the eyes were on the sides of his head. Now they are moving to the front. Your baby actually closes his eyes during the second trimester, but he’ll reopen them shortly before he is born. Your little one will continue to develop rapidly during the second trimester, particularly between 14 and 20 weeks.

Ouch, That Hurts!

You may feel muscle pain in your abdomen in the second trimester. The pain feels like stretching, and it may hurt when you rise to a standing position. Called round ligament pain, this stretching is your uterus making room for your growing baby. Round ligament pain usually starts around week 14 and may continue up through week 20. Your baby will grow a lot during that time, so if your belly hasn’t pouched by week 14, hang tight–chances are, you’ll have that round pregnancy glow soon.

Breast Changes

One of the most exciting things about pregnancy is that your body finally starts to take on a larger, more motherly form. Sorry to say it, girls, but you’ll probably have to pack away your skinny jeans for a few months. It’s time for maternity clothes!

If they haven’t started already, your breasts will have a growth spurt. Now that you’re pregnant, they are filling with milk to nourish your coming child. As the hormones in your body increase, so does the size of your chest. You should expect to grow a few cup sizes by the time your baby arrives.

Don’t be alarmed if you discover small bumps on your breasts around the areolas. They’re due to the extra estrogen in your system and are nothing to worry about. Your breasts may also become very tender and painful to the touch. By then, your doctor may recommend wearing a nighttime bra to alleviate the pain. Because of the extra weight, you might want to look into maternity underwear. Maternity lingerie is generally more supportive than pre-pregnancy undergarments and will give your body the extra support it needs.