When does the second trimester start and end?

The second trimester runs from week 14 through the end of week 27. It is often called the middle trimester. Many people find it the most comfortable stretch of pregnancy because early nausea and fatigue tend to ease while the bigger discomforts of late pregnancy have not arrived yet.

When will I feel the baby move in the second trimester?

Most people first feel movement between 16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. If this is your first baby, it often happens later, sometimes after 20 weeks, because you do not yet know what those first flutters feel like. According to the NHS, if you have not felt your baby move by 24 weeks, tell your midwife or provider so they can check the heartbeat and movements.

What does the 20-week anatomy scan check?

The 20-week scan, also called the anomaly or mid-pregnancy scan, looks closely at your baby's head, brain, spine, heart, stomach, kidneys, bladder, and limbs, and measures growth. It also checks the placenta position and the amount of amniotic fluid. The NHS notes it screens for a specific set of physical conditions but cannot find every possible condition.

Can I find out the baby's sex at the 20-week scan?

Often, yes. The sonographer can usually see the baby's sex during the anatomy scan, though the main purpose of the appointment is checking development and growth, not the sex. Whether you are told depends on the baby's position, your clinic's policy, and whether you want to know. Some clinics do not share sex at all.

Is it normal to have low energy in the second trimester?

Energy usually improves in the second trimester, but not for everyone, and a tired day or week is still normal. Fatigue can come and go, and it often returns in the third trimester. If you feel exhausted, breathless, dizzy, or notice a racing heart, mention it to your provider, since low iron and other treatable causes are common in pregnancy.

The Second Trimester Glow-Up: Energy Returns and the 20-Week Scan

Creator: The newborn.mom team
Published: 2026-05-30

A week-by-week walk through the second trimester (weeks 14 to 27): returning energy, your first flutters of movement, and exactly what the 20-week anatomy scan checks.

By The newborn.mom teamUpdated May 30, 20267 min read

The second trimester is the part of pregnancy a lot of people end up missing once it is over. Roughly weeks 14 through 27, this middle stretch is when the worst of the early nausea often fades, your appetite comes back, and your energy creeps back up. It is also when pregnancy starts to feel real in a new way: the first flutters of movement, a visible bump, and the big mid-pregnancy ultrasound that checks how your baby is growing.

This is a how-to for the middle months. You will get a rough week-by-week map of what changes for you and your baby, a plain explanation of what the 20-week anatomy scan actually looks at, and a short list of symptoms worth a call. Keep in mind that every pregnancy runs on its own clock. The week markers below are typical, not a schedule you have to hit.

Weeks 14 to 18: The energy turns a corner

Early in the second trimester, a lot of people notice the fog start to lift. Morning sickness often settles, food sounds good again, and you may not need that mid-afternoon nap quite so badly. This is the "glow-up" reputation the second trimester earned.

It does not happen to everyone, and not always on the same week. Some people feel great by 14 weeks. Others do not turn the corner until closer to 18 or 20, and a few never get the famous energy burst at all. All of that is within the normal range.

Your body is busy. Your uterus is growing up and out of your pelvis, which is why your lower belly starts to round out. Your blood volume keeps climbing to supply the placenta. You might notice mild congestion, more discharge, occasional round ligament twinges as things stretch, or a stronger appetite than you expected.

What to do with the energy

If you feel good, this is a practical window to get things done: book a childbirth class, start a registry, or simply move your body in ways that feel good. It is also a smart time to nail down your appointment rhythm. In a typical schedule, you will have a check around 16 weeks and the big scan between 18 and 21 weeks, per the NHS antenatal care schedule.

Weeks 18 to 22: First movements and the bump

Somewhere in here, two of the most memorable parts of pregnancy tend to show up: feeling the baby move, and looking pregnant rather than just feeling it.

Those first movements are easy to miss. People describe them as bubbles, popcorn, a flutter, or a tiny swish, nothing like the kicks that come later. The NHS notes that most people start to feel movement between 16 and 24 weeks. If it is your first baby, it often comes later, sometimes after 20 weeks, because you do not yet know what you are feeling for.

Do not panic if a friend felt movement at 16 weeks and you have not. The range is genuinely wide. That said, the NHS advises that if you have not felt your baby move by 24 weeks, you tell your midwife or provider so they can check the heartbeat and movements.

Your bump usually becomes obvious to other people during this stretch, though when it "pops" depends on your build, whether you have been pregnant before, and where the baby sits. A first-time bump often shows later than a second or third.

What the 20-week anatomy scan checks

The mid-pregnancy ultrasound is the centerpiece of the second trimester. You may hear it called the anatomy scan, the anomaly scan, or simply the 20-week scan. It is usually done between 18 and 21 weeks of pregnancy, and it takes longer than earlier ultrasounds because there is a lot to look at.

During the scan, the sonographer works through your baby's body in detail. According to the NHS 20-week scan guidance, the scan checks your baby's development, looks for a defined set of physical conditions, and measures growth. The sonographer typically reviews:

The head and brain
The face, including the lips
The spine, both along its length and in cross-section
The heart, including its chambers and major vessels
The stomach, kidneys, and bladder
The arms, legs, hands, and feet
The placenta and where it sits
The umbilical cord
The amount of amniotic fluid around the baby

The scan also estimates your baby's growth by measuring the head, abdomen, and a leg bone. Often, the sonographer can see the baby's sex, though that is not the point of the appointment and some clinics do not share it.

What the scan can and cannot tell you

A clear scan is reassuring, but it is not a guarantee. The NHS is direct about this: scans cannot pick up every health condition, and some conditions are easier to see than others. If something looks unclear or concerning, you may be offered a repeat scan or additional tests, and you will be referred to a specialist who can walk you through your options.

It helps to go in knowing what you want. Decide ahead of time whether you want to learn the sex, and tell the sonographer at the start. If you are bringing a partner or support person, check your clinic's policy on guests first, since it varies.

Weeks 22 to 27: Settling in before the home stretch

The back half of the second trimester is usually steady. Movements get stronger and more regular, so you start to notice patterns: a wiggly baby in the evening, a quiet one when you are walking around.

Common changes in this window include mild swelling in your feet and ankles, occasional Braxton Hicks tightenings as your uterus practices, leg cramps, and some heartburn as things get more crowded. Your back may start to complain as your center of gravity shifts. None of these are alarming on their own, and simple fixes like changing positions, staying hydrated, and propping yourself up to sleep often help.

Around 24 to 28 weeks, your provider will likely schedule a few routine checks, including a glucose screening for gestational diabetes and bloodwork to look at your iron levels. If your energy dipped again, low iron is a common and treatable reason, so it is worth raising.

When to call your provider

Most second-trimester symptoms are just your body adjusting. A few are worth a prompt call. Reach out if you have:

Vaginal bleeding, or a gush or steady leak of fluid
Severe or constant belly pain that does not ease when you change position
A bad headache that will not go away, vision changes like spots or blurriness, or sudden swelling in your face and hands
Pain or burning when you pee, or signs of a fever
No fetal movement by 24 weeks, or, once you feel regular movement, a clear drop in how much the baby moves
Regular tightening or pressure that feels like it is building, well before your due date

You never have to wait for your next appointment to ask. The NHS notes you can contact maternity services any time you are worried about your health or your baby's. If something feels truly off, trust that instinct and call. That is exactly what your care team is there for.

Frequently asked questions

When does the second trimester start and end?: The second trimester runs from week 14 through the end of week 27. It is often called the middle trimester. Many people find it the most comfortable stretch of pregnancy because early nausea and fatigue tend to ease while the bigger discomforts of late pregnancy have not arrived yet.
When will I feel the baby move in the second trimester?: Most people first feel movement between 16 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. If this is your first baby, it often happens later, sometimes after 20 weeks, because you do not yet know what those first flutters feel like. According to the NHS, if you have not felt your baby move by 24 weeks, tell your midwife or provider so they can check the heartbeat and movements.
What does the 20-week anatomy scan check?: The 20-week scan, also called the anomaly or mid-pregnancy scan, looks closely at your baby's head, brain, spine, heart, stomach, kidneys, bladder, and limbs, and measures growth. It also checks the placenta position and the amount of amniotic fluid. The NHS notes it screens for a specific set of physical conditions but cannot find every possible condition.
Can I find out the baby's sex at the 20-week scan?: Often, yes. The sonographer can usually see the baby's sex during the anatomy scan, though the main purpose of the appointment is checking development and growth, not the sex. Whether you are told depends on the baby's position, your clinic's policy, and whether you want to know. Some clinics do not share sex at all.
Is it normal to have low energy in the second trimester?: Energy usually improves in the second trimester, but not for everyone, and a tired day or week is still normal. Fatigue can come and go, and it often returns in the third trimester. If you feel exhausted, breathless, dizzy, or notice a racing heart, mention it to your provider, since low iron and other treatable causes are common in pregnancy.