Preferred Consumer | Healthy Living | Family Health | Reproductive Health, Pregnancy | Second Trimester



Second Trimester

Most women find the 2nd trimester of pregnancy to be easier than the 1st trimester, but it is important to stay informed about your pregnancy.

By the 26th week, your baby will weigh almost 1 1/2 pounds and be about 9 inches long. With this growth comes the development of your baby's features, including fingers, toes, eyelashes and eyebrows.

The second stage of your pregnancy causes more noticeable changes to your body, relief to problems caused in the first trimester, new changes, and more exciting experiences. 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. Your abdomen will expand as you gain weight and the baby continues to grow. Before this trimester is over, you will feel your baby beginning to move.

You should be gaining about 3 to 4 pounds per month during the 2nd trimester. With this weight gain, you might notice that your posture has changed or that you are having backaches. Make sure to inform your health care provider of any changes you might have noticed. During your visits your health care provider will be able to hear your baby's heartbeat, see the baby's development and determine the baby's age. You might be given several kinds of tests at this time, including ultrasound, which allows the health care provider to see your baby and possibly even determine your baby's sex. Other testing (amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling, alpha-fetoprotein screening) includes ways to determine if the baby is healthy or if you are at risk for any complications and need to be more closely monitored. These tests help to determine the type of care you will be receiving for the rest of your pregnancy.

Fetal Development In The Second Trimester

  • Fourth Month- The fetus continues to grow, and the kidneys are producing urine.
  • Fifth Month- The fetus is now very active and movements can be felt by the mother. Hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows are growing, and the skin is covered in fine hair called lanugo.
  • Sixth Month- The fetus continues to mature and can now hear sounds. The fetus can also can feel sensations on the skin and is gaining fat deposits.