Second trimester

For many women, the second trimester is considered the most comfortable phase of pregnancy. During this time, the typical discomforts of the first trimester often subside – including nausea. For most pregnant women, the symptoms improve significantly or disappear completely between the 12th and 18th week of pregnancy.

The main reason for this is hormonal stabilization. The rapid increases in hCG and other messenger substances slow down, and the body has increasingly adapted to pregnancy. The brain also becomes less sensitive to signals that previously triggered nausea.

Nevertheless, some women continue to experience nausea or occasional discomfort in the second trimester. These symptoms are usually milder than at the beginning of pregnancy and can be exacerbated by fatigue, a sensitive stomach, or certain smells, for example. In rare cases, severe nausea persists and should be checked by a doctor.

Overall, the second trimester is a period of balance: the belly grows visibly, energy often returns, and many pregnant women can now experience their pregnancy in a much more active and conscious way – usually with significantly less nausea than before.

With the transition to the second trimester, the body adjusts to a new phase of pregnancy. A key reason why nausea now becomes significantly weaker or disappears completely in many women is the change in hormone control.

In the first weeks of pregnancy, the hormone hCG is mainly produced by the embryo. This hormone rises very quickly and is closely related to nausea. From the second trimester onwards, the placenta increasingly takes control of hormone production. Hormone levels now rise more slowly and remain more stable.

This hormonal stabilization helps the body find a new balance. The brain also becomes less sensitive to signals that previously triggered nausea. At the same time, the metabolism has adapted to pregnancy, and many women report having more energy and feeling better overall.

The second trimester is therefore often described as the "quiet phase" of pregnancy. Although mild discomfort may still occur, the intense nausea of the early weeks is now a thing of the past for most pregnant women.