Second Trimester in Singapore: Weeks 14 to 27 Guide (2026)

The second trimester runs from week 14 to the end of week 27, and for many mums it is the most comfortable stretch of pregnancy. Nausea usually eases, energy returns, your bump starts to show and, somewhere between weeks 16 and 24, you feel your baby move for the first time.

It is also a busy medical stretch. In Singapore you can expect the detailed anomaly scan at around 20 weeks, a glucose tolerance test between weeks 24 and 28, and a whooping cough vaccine offered from week 16. This guide covers what to expect, what to plan, and the warning signs to act on.

How your body changes in weeks 14 to 27

Most mums notice that the worst of the first-trimester tiredness and sickness lifts by week 14 to 16, although for some it lingers longer. In its place come new, mostly harmless changes as your womb grows up out of the pelvis.

• A visible bump, often from around weeks 16 to 20, earlier in a second pregnancy.
• Round ligament pain: brief, sharp twinges low in the tummy or groin when you stand up, turn or cough.
• Backache, as your posture shifts and hormones loosen your joints.
• Heartburn and constipation, as digestion slows down.
• Blocked nose and bleeding gums, caused by increased blood flow.
• Leg cramps, often at night, and mild swelling of the feet by the evening.
• Skin changes: a dark line down the tummy, darker patches on the face (melasma) and stretch marks.

Singapore’s heat and humidity can make swelling, sweating and heat rash worse. Loose cotton clothes, a portable fan, plenty of water and a rest with your feet up in the afternoon all help.

Checkups, scans and tests this trimester

Antenatal visits are usually every four weeks during the second trimester, whether you are under subsidised care at KKH, NUH or SGH, or seeing a private gynae. At each visit, your blood pressure, urine and weight are checked, and your doctor measures your bump or does a quick scan.

The 20-week anomaly scan

This longer scan looks at your baby’s brain, face, spine, heart, kidneys and limbs, and where the placenta is lying. If the placenta is low, you will usually be rescanned in the third trimester, because most move up as the womb grows. Our guide to pregnancy scans and tests in Singapore explains each test and typical costs.

The glucose tolerance test

Singapore guidelines recommend screening every pregnant woman for gestational diabetes between weeks 24 and 28, because it affects around one in five pregnancies here. You fast overnight, drink a glucose solution and have blood taken over two hours. If the result is high, our guide to gestational diabetes in Singapore walks you through what happens next.

Vaccines

Singapore’s National Adult Immunisation Schedule recommends one dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough) between weeks 16 and 32 of every pregnancy, even if you had it before. Babies cannot have their own whooping cough vaccine until two months old, so your antibodies protect them in the meantime. MediSave can generally be used for vaccines on the schedule.

Feeling your baby move

First movements, sometimes called quickening, feel like fluttering, bubbles or a gentle tap. First-time mums often notice them between weeks 18 and 24; if you have had a baby before, you may feel them from about week 16. An anterior placenta (one at the front of the womb) can cushion early kicks, so do not worry if a friend felt hers sooner.

At first, movements come and go. By the end of the second trimester, most babies have a pattern you will start to recognise. From then on, get to know that pattern, because a change in it matters more than a precise number of kicks.

Eating, exercise and everyday life

Eating well

Your energy needs rise a little now, roughly one extra small meal a day rather than double portions. Keep taking the supplements your doctor has prescribed; many mums switch from folic acid alone to a prenatal multivitamin, plus iron or DHA, from about week 12. Our guide to pregnancy supplements in Singapore explains what each one does.

Staying active

If your pregnancy is uncomplicated, aim for regular moderate activity such as brisk walking, swimming, stationary cycling or prenatal yoga. Avoid contact sports, activities with a high risk of falls, and lying flat on your back for long periods later in this trimester. Exercise in air-conditioning or early in the morning to avoid overheating.

Sleep and comfort

Sleeping on your side with a pillow between your knees and another behind your back often eases backache. Small, frequent meals and not lying down straight after eating help with heartburn.

Sex and intimacy

Sex is generally safe in a healthy pregnancy. Your doctor may advise against it if you have a low-lying placenta, bleeding or a history of preterm labour.

Travel during the second trimester

This is usually the most comfortable time to travel, and many couples plan a “babymoon” now. A few things to sort out first:

• Check your airline’s rules. Many airlines, including Singapore Airlines, ask for a doctor’s letter from about 28 weeks and do not accept passengers late in the third trimester. Rules differ, so check before you book.
• Check your travel insurance covers pregnancy complications and premature birth overseas, as many policies have limits.
• Avoid areas with Zika virus and take care with mosquito bites at home too, since dengue is common in Singapore.
• On long flights, drink water, walk the aisle and flex your ankles to lower your risk of blood clots.
• Carry your antenatal records and your clinic’s contact details.

Plans to make before week 28

The second trimester is the ideal window for the practical planning that feels impossible once you are tired and heavy in the third trimester.

• Confirm your delivery hospital and, if private, compare packages and ask for a written estimate.
• Book your confinement help early. Popular nannies and centres fill months ahead, so read our confinement nanny vs confinement centre comparison now.
• Sign up for antenatal classes. Most delivery hospitals run them, and places can fill up, so ask your hospital when to book.
• Tell your employer and plan your maternity leave dates.
• Start shopping for big items such as a cot, car seat and stroller.
• Check MediSave balances and any maternity insurance for both parents.

Red flags: when to get help

Also see a doctor promptly for burning when you pee, intense itching of the palms and soles, or persistent vomiting. If you feel low, anxious or unable to cope, mention it at your next visit; mental health in pregnancy matters as much as physical health.

The bottom line

The second trimester is often the easiest part of pregnancy, and the best time to get organised. Attend your 20-week scan and OGTT, have your Tdap vaccine, learn your baby’s movement pattern, and use your extra energy to book confinement help and plan the birth. Next, read our third trimester guide, or browse all our trimester guides if you are catching up. KKH also has helpful information about your pregnancy.