The Second Trimester

The next of the stages of pregnancy starts with the fourth month, or twelfth week. In this fourth month, your baby will have changed a bit already. For instance, it will be about five inches in length and five ounces in weight.

Where the baby previously had bones primarily made of cartilage, these are now forming into hard bone.

In the fifth month, during the second trimester, your baby will start to acquire some of its facial features. It will now have eyebrows and eyelids. It will also be about twice the size as it was the month before, now reaching a length of ten inches. The sixth month is also a really great time for your baby. It will weigh about one and a half pounds now, and its skin will be much smoother. This is because it is now filling out with its baby fat. At this point, your baby is really starting to resemble a human child.

There are many more noticeable changes in your own body during this time as well. Your stomach will grow in size and become more noticeable. You will no longer be able to hide the fact that you're pregnant! You will also encounter some annoying or negative health side effects at this point as well, although it varies from woman to woman. For instance, you may find that you are having a hard time sleeping. It may take you a lot longer to fall asleep or you may wake up a lot in the middle of the night. Any of these can really be annoying. You may also find that you have an increased appetite and an itchy belly. On the plus side, you will be able to notice movement from your baby for the first time. That first kick is one of the most magical parts of this second of the three stages of pregnancy.

There are some uncomfortable health problems that can start in this state of the pregnancy. For one thing, many women experience hemorrhoids during this time. This is a painful affliction that you may need medical attention in order to fix. You may also find changes happening with your sinuses. A lot of pregnant women end up with deep congestion at this time. They may also experience frequent nose bleeds. Don't be alarmed though. This is all a part of the process.

At this point, your prenatal doctor visit will be a lot shorter and less complicated than what you dealt with on your first visit. They will check some things, such as your weight and blood pressure. They will also ask you about any uncomfortable symptoms that you may be going through at the time. Also during this visit, they will check on the health of your baby. Using machines, they will determine the growth, development, and size of your unborn baby. They will also listen to the baby's heartbeat to see if there are any problems associated with it.

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