The calm stretch of pregnancy, and the four things in it that are genuinely time-sensitive
Scans, bloods, vaccines and the paperwork that is easiest to do now, organised by week block so you can see what belongs to this fortnight and what can wait.
Quick answer
The second trimester runs from about week 14 to the end of week 27. Four things in it are genuinely time-sensitive: the mid-pregnancy anomaly scan, which the NHS offers between 18 weeks and 20 weeks plus 6 days; whooping cough vaccination, offered from 16 weeks in the UK and usually recommended from around 20 weeks in Australia; screening for gestational diabetes, usually done at 24 to 28 weeks; and getting to know your baby's movement pattern, which most women first feel somewhere between 16 and 24 weeks. Almost everything else this trimester, from the birth plan to the hospital bag, can be spread out, and this is the easiest stretch of pregnancy in which to do it.
What the second trimester is for
Physically, weeks 14 to 27 are usually the kindest part of pregnancy. Early nausea often settles, energy often returns, and the bump is not yet big enough to interfere with sleep. Practically, that makes this the window in which sensible people do the boring jobs, because in the third trimester you will not want to.
There is a second reason not to drift. This trimester carries the densest cluster of routine screening in the whole pregnancy, and those tests have real week windows. Missing one is not a catastrophe, but it does mean chasing appointments later. If you want the whole arc rather than a single trimester, our trimester-by-trimester overview sets it out, and we look at the printable formats that carry this kind of timing in our 2026 guide to pregnancy and postpartum printables.
The NHS window for the mid-pregnancy anomaly scan, often called the 20 week scan (NHS).
The point from which whooping cough vaccination is offered in pregnancy in the UK; RANZCOG advises it in every pregnancy in Australia, usually from around 20 weeks (NHS; RANZCOG).
The usual week window for the oral glucose tolerance test that screens for gestational diabetes (NHS; RANZCOG).
The second trimester at a glance
| Week block | Usually happening | Worth doing |
|---|---|---|
| 14 to 17 | Nausea often easing, energy returning, routine midwife contact | Tell work, confirm the anomaly scan booking, start a question list |
| 18 to 21 | Anomaly scan; many women feel first movements | Attend the scan, discuss any findings, decide about finding out the sex |
| 22 to 24 | Bump becoming obvious, back and pelvis starting to complain | Antenatal classes, leave paperwork, gentle strength and pelvic floor work |
| 25 to 27 | Glucose screening, blood count and antibody checks around this point | Get tests done, draft a birth plan, learn the movement pattern |
Exact schedules differ between countries and between hospitals, and they differ again if your pregnancy is being managed as higher risk. Treat this as the common shape rather than your personal plan, and let your midwife's dates override anything here.
Weeks 14 to 17: get the admin out of the way
This block is mostly logistics, which is exactly why it is worth doing while you feel well.
- Tell your employer if you have not already, and check what your workplace needs in writing and by when.
- Confirm your anomaly scan appointment is actually booked inside the correct window rather than assuming it will appear.
- Start a running question list on your phone or on paper. Ten minute appointments go quickly, and questions evaporate the moment you sit down.
- In the UK, whooping cough vaccination is offered from 16 weeks. In Australia, ask your GP or midwife about the recommended window for you.
- Keep moving. Walking, swimming and gentle strength work are all reasonable for most uncomplicated pregnancies, and they make the third trimester easier.
Weeks 18 to 21: the anomaly scan
The mid-pregnancy scan is the centrepiece of this trimester. The NHS offers it between 18 weeks and 20 weeks plus 6 days. It looks at how the baby is developing, checks where the placenta is sitting and measures growth. Most scans are reassuring. A minority pick up something that needs follow-up, which is the entire point of doing it.
Two practical notes. Take someone with you if you can, because it is a long appointment and information lands better with two people listening. And decide in advance whether you want to be told the sex, because the sonographer will usually ask, and it is easier to have settled that before you are lying on the table.
Many women feel their first definite movements in this block. The NHS notes that first movements are usually felt somewhere between 16 and 24 weeks, and that later than that is not unusual with a first baby or an anterior placenta. What matters is not when they start but that you get to know the pattern once they do.
Weeks 22 to 24: your body starts asking for support
This is where the bump becomes structural. The load on your lower back and pelvis increases, and it is common for aches to appear that were not there a month ago. If you get pain across the front of the pelvis or deep in the buttock, ask about it rather than waiting it out. Our article on pelvic girdle pain covers what it is and what genuinely helps.
Two things belong in this block. The first is booking antenatal classes, which fill up early in a lot of areas. The second is starting, or continuing, pelvic floor work. It has a better evidence base than almost anything else you can do for yourself in pregnancy, and it costs nothing. If you are not sure what you are contracting, our explainer on what the pelvic floor actually is is the place to begin, and how to tell whether you are doing a kegel correctly will save you months of doing the wrong thing diligently.
Weeks 25 to 27: screening, and the first draft of a plan
Gestational diabetes screening usually happens at 24 to 28 weeks, most often with an oral glucose tolerance test that requires fasting beforehand. Check the fasting instructions when you book, because turning up having eaten means rebooking. Blood count and antibody checks are commonly done around the same time.
This is also the right moment for a first draft of a birth plan. A draft, not a contract: the point is to have thought about pain relief, who will be with you and what you would like if things change direction, so that you are not forming those opinions for the first time in labour. Our template is in how to write a birth plan. You do not need to pack yet, but it is worth reading the hospital bag checklist now so anything you need to buy can arrive without a rush.
One thing is genuinely urgent at any point from here. If your baby's movements slow down, change pattern, or you are simply not sure, contact your maternity unit straight away. Do not wait until morning, do not wait for the next appointment, and do not try to trigger movement with cold drinks or sugar first. Maternity units expect these calls and would far rather check.
What can safely wait
Nursery decoration, buying a pram, sorting newborn clothes by size, freezer meals and choosing a car seat can all wait until the third trimester. They feel productive, which is exactly why they crowd out the things with actual deadlines. Get the scans, bloods, classes and paperwork done now, and leave the nesting jobs for when you want a distraction at 34 weeks.
The short version
Diary four things: the anomaly scan between 18 and 20+6 weeks, a vaccination conversation with your midwife, glucose screening at 24 to 28 weeks, and a birth plan draft before 28 weeks. Add a pelvic floor habit and a walk most days. Everything else this trimester is optional, and treating it that way is what makes the next one manageable.
Thinking ahead to afterwards
The part almost nobody plans for in the second trimester is the recovery. If you want something ready for the other side, Mumma Glow's Core Reconnect Program is a one-time $15 digital guide to rebuilding deep core strength after birth, with no subscription and lifetime access, and the code GLOW20 takes 20% off. It is general education rather than treatment, it is meant to be started only once you have been cleared to exercise, and results vary from mum to mum.
Frequently asked questions
When exactly does the second trimester start and end?
Most services count it from the start of week 14 to the end of week 27, with the third trimester beginning at 28 weeks. A few count slightly differently, from 13 weeks, so do not be alarmed if your app and your midwife disagree by a week.
What is the 20 week scan actually looking for?
The NHS mid-pregnancy scan checks how the baby is developing physically, looks at the brain, heart, spine, abdomen and limbs, measures growth and checks where the placenta is sitting. It is offered between 18 weeks and 20 weeks plus 6 days. It is a screening scan, so it reduces uncertainty rather than removing it.
Is it safe to exercise in the second trimester?
For most uncomplicated pregnancies, yes, and it is generally encouraged. Walking, swimming, stationary cycling, gentle strength work and pelvic floor training are commonly recommended. Avoid contact sports and anything with a fall risk, and speak to your midwife first if you have bleeding, high blood pressure, a shortened cervix or any pregnancy complication.
What if I have not felt the baby move by 22 weeks?
It happens, particularly with a first baby or an anterior placenta, and the usual range for first movements is around 16 to 24 weeks. Mention it at your next appointment. Once you do have a pattern, any reduction or change in it is a reason to contact your maternity unit the same day.
Should I start pelvic floor exercises now or wait until after birth?
Now. Pelvic floor muscle training during pregnancy is widely recommended, it takes a couple of minutes a day, and starting early means you already know what you are doing when you come to rebuild afterwards.
Sources: NHS, Your antenatal care, Ultrasound scans in pregnancy, Vaccinations in pregnancy, Gestational diabetes and Your baby's movements; Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG), antenatal care and vaccination in pregnancy guidance; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Physical Activity and Exercise During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period.
second trimester checklist 20 week scan pregnancy week by week gestational diabetes test
This article is general education, not medical advice, and it is not affiliated with the NHS, RANZCOG, ACOG or any program named here. Antenatal schedules vary by country, provider and individual circumstances. Results vary from mum to mum. Always follow the advice of your own GP, midwife, obstetrician or women's health physiotherapist, and contact your maternity unit straight away if your baby's movements change, or if you have bleeding, a severe headache, or sudden swelling.