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Parenting > Pregnancy
Second Trimester
Your fourth month:
Your baby, now weighing about 6 ounces, is growing very fast and
is about 8 to 10 inches long by the end of this month. The
umbilical cord continues to grow and thicken in order to carry
enough blood and nourishment. Morning sickness, fatigue, and many
other things that might have bothered you during the first 3
months might disappear as your body adapts to the growing baby.
You will begin to put on weight now. You should gain
3 to 4 pounds, and the majority of it will be gained during these
next three months. The recognized average total gain throughout
pregnancy is approximately 25-35 pounds, although you may gain
slightly more or less. Maternity clothes and a maternity bra may now
be more comfortable.
You may start to feel the baby's movement now. Don't
worry if you can't, But if there is still no movement by the
beginning of your five month see your doctor.
Your fifth month:
By the end of this month, your baby will weigh about 1 pound and be
about 12 inches long. The doctor will now be able to hear the baby's
heartbeat and you will begin to feel more definite movements. This
month you may gain 3 or 4 pounds and begin to breathe deeper and
more frequently.
Eyes, eyelids, and ears are now fully developed. A
fine hair, known as lanugo covers your baby's body.
Your baby will be able to hear your heart beating.
Sounds from outside the uterus will also be audible, although they
will be slightly muffled. Your baby will respond to music and
speech.
You will be seeing your doctor about every four
weeks during this trimester. She will listen to your baby's
heartbeat, see the baby's development and determine the baby's age.
Your urine and blood pressure will be tested every visit.
Your sixth month:
You are now carrying a fully formed miniature baby except that the
skin is wrinkled and red and there is practically no fat under the
skin. The baby still needs to grow, being now only about 14 inches
long and weighing only about 1 1/2 pounds. By the end of this
trimester, your baby may be sucking his/her thumb and can cry.
Subcutaneous fat is building up under his skin, and eyelids have
opened, allowing the fetus to develop focus. Brain tissue is also
increasing at this time. If your baby has hair on his head, it may
be growing as well.
By the end of the fifth month, the beginning of this
month you will have an ultrasound scan also known as a sonogram.
This is a test that uses sound waves to draw a picture of your baby
inside your uterus. From this test you will be able to see your
baby's movement and see his/her heart beating and evaluate the size
and development of your baby. Your doctor may also be able to
determine your baby's sex at this time, although results have been
known to be inaccurate.
A few symptoms you may experience during the second
trimester:
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