What may change in your body
The expanding uterus gradually shifts your center of gravity. Some people notice pain on the sides of the belly when changing position, more discharge and more sensitive gums.
Care for this week
Choose comfortable shoes and clothes as your body changes.
Keep up oral hygiene and dental visits when indicated.
Seek evaluation if discharge comes with a strong odor, itching, burning or pain.
Prenatal care focus
- Talk about which second-trimester tests make sense for your history and your health service's protocol.
If you're expecting twins
With twins, differences in growth and amniotic fluid start being monitored on ultrasounds, at a frequency set by the type of pregnancy.
For those by your side
Going through the changes together without comments about weight or body shape can make a huge difference to well-being.
Questions for this week
Can I feel movement yet?
Some people start noticing it in the second trimester, but for many it's still early, especially in a first pregnancy.
My discharge has increased. Is that expected?
It can increase, but changes in odor or color, itching or pain need to be evaluated.
When to seek care
- Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy should be reported to your care team; how heavy it is, pain and gestational age change how urgent it is.
- Severe, worsening or persistent abdominal pain deserves evaluation.
- Fever, fainting, significant shortness of breath, chest pain or feeling very unwell need medical care.
In an emergency, go to the urgent care service in your area. This content does not replace a professional assessment.
The next chapter
In week 16, movements get stronger and some pregnant women start to notice the first 'butterflies' in their belly.
See week 16Was this helpful?
Sources and transparency
- Brazil's Ministry of Health — Brazilian Pregnancy Booklet, the official prenatal record (Caderneta Brasileira, updated in 2026)
- Brazil's Ministry of Health — Prenatal care (Ministério da Saúde — Pré-natal)
- Brazil's Ministry of Health — High-Risk Pregnancy Manual — Multiple pregnancy (Manual de Gestação de Alto Risco — Gestação múltipla)
- NHS — Week-by-week guide to pregnancy
- ACOG — How Your Fetus Grows During Pregnancy
- Brazil's Ministry of Health — Prenatal tests and vaccines (Ministério da Saúde — Exames e vacinas no pré-natal)
Nilu editorial content, written from the official sources above. Individual clinical review of each week is in progress — this text is for information and does not replace your prenatal care.