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WEEKLY
PREGNANCY CALENDER GUIDE - TRIMESTER 2 |
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Week
by Week Pregnancy Guide - Trimester 2
Note: "CRL" stands for "Crown-Rump
Length" (length from head to baby's bottom) and "CHL"
stands for "Crown-Heel Length" (length from
head to heel). |
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| Week 14 |
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| Baby |
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Mother |
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| Weight: |
1.4oz |
40g |
| Length
(CRL): |
2.68" |
6.8cm |
| Heart
rate : |
160 bpm |
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| • |
At
the beginning of the second trimester,
Lanugo (very fine hair) starts to grow,
and will cover the body to protect
the skin whilst in the amniotic fluids. |
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Your doctor may
be able to take a guess at your baby's
gender by ultrasound. |
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Although only the
size of a kidney bean, the brain cells
are multiplying at a rate of 5,000
cells per second! |
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Your baby's neck
is getting longer, and the chin no
longer rests on the chest. |
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All nourishment
is now received from the placenta. |
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Congratulations!
You have reached the second trimester,
which is the period when pregnant women
usually feel their best! |
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Your
belly would probably obvious in a swimsuit
by now. This would also be a good time
to start checking out maternity clothes. |
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| • |
Sometime this trimester,
you may find a dark line (linea nigra)
appearing from your navel to your pubic
bone. This is caused by pregnancy hormones,
which trigger production of melanin,
and typically disappears soon after
birth. These hormones may also cause
the areolas of your breasts, as well
as any freckles and moles, to also
get darker. |
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| Week 15 |
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| Baby |
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Mother |
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| • |
| Weight: |
2.1oz |
60g |
| Length
(CRL): |
3.23" |
8.4cm |
| Heart
rate : |
155 bpm |
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| • |
Your
baby makes movements with the arms
and legs much more often now. |
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The body is now
longer than the head and the legs longer
than the arms. |
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Baby's skin is
still very thin, and the blood vessels
can be seen through it. |
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| • |
The scalp hair
pattern is developing, and the hair
folicles may start to produce color
pigmentation depending on the genetic
hair color. |
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| • |
Tooth buds are
developing. |
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The bones continue
to form and are getting harder with
each passing day. |
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| • |
Your uterus is
now rising above your hipbones, and
you may feel it about 3 inches (around
8 cm) below your navel. |
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Your
enlarged heart is pumping about 20%
more blood than before in order to
supply blood your baby with oxygen,
and this figure may increase to as
much as 50% later on. |
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If you're older
than 35, your doctor may want to conduct
a maternal blood test or amniocentesis
to determine whether the baby has any
neural tube defects or abnormalities
like Down Syndrome. Both tests have
their advantages and disadvantages |
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| Week 16 |
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| Baby |
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Mother |
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| Weight: |
3.2oz |
90g |
| Length
(CRL): |
3.7" |
9.4cm |
| Heart
rate : |
150 bpm |
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| • |
This
may be the week you feel your baby's
movements, which are sometimes called "flutters"
or "butterflies". But not to worry
if you don't feel them yet, as it may
be as late as your 22nd week before
you do. |
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The genitals are
now developed sufficiently for an experienced
gynecologist to determine the gender
through the ultrasound. |
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The development
of facial muscles allows for a variety
of expressions such as squinting and
frowning. |
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The head and neck
are now much straighter than before. |
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| • |
You may begin to
feel your baby move as early as this
week. You will probably feel movements
earlier if you have been pregnant before. |
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Mood
swings are very normal during pregnancy.
However, your baby will be able to "feel" your
moods through the chemicals released
by your body, so do try to maintain
as upbeat a mood as possible, and avoid
dwelling on negativities. |
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Throughout your
pregnancy, take "fetal love breaks" a
few times a day by patting and stroking
your baby through your belly and sending
loving thoughts and words. |
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| Week 17 |
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| Baby |
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Mother |
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| • |
| Weight: |
4.2oz |
120g |
| Length
(CRL): |
4.14" |
10.5cm |
| Heart
rate : |
150 bpm |
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| • |
Your
baby is "getting fat"! Actually, although
fat now begins to form underneath the
skin to provide insulation, most fat
is deposited only in the third trimester. |
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Your baby learning
to "breathe"! From regular movements
of the chest, you can notice the
"inhaling" and "exhaling" of amniotic
fluid, which serve to train the lungs. |
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Don't be surprised
if you see your baby sucking on a thumb! |
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Your baby is going
through a rapid growth and so are you.
You have probably gained between 5
to 10 pounds (around 2.5 to 4.5kg)
at this point. |
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Your
uterus is now around 2 inches (around
5 cm) below your navel, and maternity
clothes are probably a must by now. |
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During your pregnancy,
it is not uncommon for you to experience
nasal congestion, nosebleeds, or an
increase in vaginal discharge or sweating.
The cause of these symptoms is normal
and related to the increased blood
volume. |
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| Week 18 |
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| Baby |
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Mother |
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| • |
| Weight: |
6.0oz |
170g |
| Length
(CRL): |
4.53" |
11.5cm |
| Heart
rate : |
170 bpm |
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| • |
Your
baby is starting to be able to hear!
Though it might not be very clear,
the first sounds to be heard will be
your heartbeat and blood moving through
the umbilical cord. |
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The fifth month
is also the start of the critical period
where your baby's intellectual development
can be influenced through prenatal
stimulation. |
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The swirls and
creases of fingerprints also start
to form on the fingers and toes. |
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Your baby may be
swallowing up to a liter of amniotic
fluid per day. |
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The skeleton is
transforming from cartilage to bone
and the bones begin to harden. |
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As your baby will
start to be able to hear around now,
this would be a good time for you and
the other family members to start talking
to your baby or providing other forms
of auditory stimulation. |
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During
your pregnancy, your blood pressure
is lower than before, and hence you
may sometimes feel dizzy or lightheaded.
Take your time especially when getting
up from a horizontal position. |
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Sleeping may be
increasingly difficult now, as your
body grows. |
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| Week 19 |
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| Baby |
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Mother |
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| • |
| Weight: |
7.75oz |
220g |
| Length
(CRL): |
4.92" |
12.5cm |
| Heart
rate : |
148 bpm |
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Your
baby's vocal chords have finished forming! |
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Vernix, a white
cheesy substance, forms on the skin
to protect it from the aquatic environment.
This will be mostly gone by the time
of birth. |
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Features of the
heart like the chambers should now
be visible via ultrasound. |
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Brain cells are
now multiplying at a rate of up to
100,000 per second! |
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The brain is developing
millions of motor neurons, ie., the
nerves that connect the muscles to
the brain. |
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Milk teeth buds
have already developed, and the buds
for the permanent teeth will soon begin
to form behind them. |
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Your uterus is
probably just below your navel by now. |
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Now
is a good time to look into antenatal
classes, to learn more about pregnancy,
labor, and birth. This is especially
important if you are planning on a
natural delivery, as there is much
that can be learned about the labor
process to have a less stressful birth
experience. |
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Apart from darkening
effects on your skin, it is also common
for your skin to feel dry, flaky and
itchy. Make sure you drink plenty of
water, and you could ask your doctor
to recommend skin lotion. |
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| Week 20 |
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| Baby |
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Mother |
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| Weight: |
9.7oz |
275g |
| Length
(CRL): |
5.31" |
13.5cm |
| Heart
rate : |
147 bpm |
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Your
baby now has recognizable sleep-wake
cycles, as well as a favorite sleeping
position. |
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The rapid growth
phase will soon begin to slow down. |
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The immunities
you have previously developed against
viruses will start to pass to your
baby now and will will protect your
baby for several months after birth |
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The nerves are
being coated with a fatty substance
called myelin, which allows the brain
to communicate with the muscles more
efficiently. |
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The skin is thickening
and developing layers, including the
epidermis (surface) and the dermis,
which is a deeper layer, and subcutaneous
layer. |
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Your uterus is
at your navel now, and the pressure
from the uterus may cause your belly
button to pop out. |
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The
line between your navel and pubic bone
(linea nigra) may darken further. |
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You're
probably feeling your baby's movements
more now as they become stronger and
more frequent |
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Many doctors perform
a comprehensive ultrasound examination
around this week, especially if it
has not been done before. |
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| Week 21 |
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| Baby |
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Mother |
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| Weight: |
11.6oz |
330g |
| Length
(CRL): |
5.83" |
14.8cm |
| Heart
rate : |
147 bpm |
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Congratulations!
You and your baby are half way there! |
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Production of brain
cells also slows down. From around
now, brain cells mainly increase not
in number but in complexity, forming
connections with other cells. Stimulation
of the brain cells will help facilitate
this very important process. |
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Your baby can hear
noises outside the womb more clearly,
and may even startle at loud noises. |
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The intestines
have developed enough that small amounts
of sugars can be absorbed into the
digestive system from the fluid that
is swallowed. Most of the baby's nourishment,
however, still comes through the placenta. |
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Your waistline
has completely disappeared by now and
you're probably showing now.
Your uterus is about 1cm above your
belly button. |
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You
may find that your ankles and feet
swell, particularly at the end of the
day. If so, be sure to drink plenty
of water and rest with your feet elevated. |
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Remember to try
to get sufficient exercise. Low-impact
exercises such as swimming, walking
and yoga are excellent to help you
stay in shape, and they also help prevent
or reduce some symptoms such as varicose
veins and backaches. |
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| Week 22 |
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| Baby |
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Mother |
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| Weight: |
13.9oz |
396g |
| Length
(CRL): |
6.34" |
16.1cm |
| Heart
rate : |
146 bpm |
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Your
baby's wake and sleep cycles become
more regular. |
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The eyelids and
eyebrows are fully formed. |
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The reproductive
system is continuing to develop too.
In boys, the testes will start to descend
from the pelvis into the scrotum, and
in girls, the uterus and ovaries are
in place and the vagina is developed. |
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Taste buds have
formed on the tongue, and the brain
and nerve endings are formed enough
so that the fetus can feel touch. |
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The body starts
to produce white blood cells to help
fight infections and diseases. |
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The skin has become
less translucent and more opaque. |
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You may start to
find the extra weight a bit tiring.
Avoid standing for long periods of
time and avoid high-heel shoes. |
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You
may experience irregular and painless
squeezing sensations near the top of
your uterus. These are called Braxton
Hicks contractions help to prepare
you for birth, and aren't dangerous
or harmful. |
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You may find your
sexual libido increasing this trimester.
Unless you have been advised by your
doctor to abstain, it is generally
safe to have sex while pregnant, though
make sure the positions are comfortable
for you. |
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| Week 23 |
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| Baby |
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Mother |
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| Weight: |
1.00
lbs |
460g |
| Length
(CRL): |
7.17" |
18.2cm |
| Heart
rate : |
145 bpm |
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Your
baby's brain has entered a stage of
rapid development. |
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Your baby has a
wrinkled appearance because the skin
is produced more quickly than the fat
accumulates. |
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The eyes are fully
formed, and the finger nails have grown
to the end of the fingers. |
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Lanugo hair starts
to turn darker now. |
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Even if born now,
it is quite possible that your baby
will survive, though intensive care
will be needed. |
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The pigment that
colors your baby's skin is being deposited
this week. |
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Many pregnant women
find it increasingly difficult to sleep
as the pregnancy progresses, due to
frequent urination, nasal congestion,
heartburn, leg cramps, etc. Try having
warm baths, relaxing music, reading,
or a cup of herbal tea (though check
with your doctor first) to help. |
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Also,
doctors often recommend sleeping on
your sides, rather than on the back,
so that blood flow to the placenta
is not restricted. Sleeping on your
left side is also preferable for better
blood flow due to the location of certain
heart vessels. |
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| Week 24 |
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| Baby |
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Mother |
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| Weight: |
1.23
lbs |
560g |
| Length
(CRL): |
7.61" |
19.3cm |
| Heart
rate : |
144 bpm |
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This
week your baby is officially considered
viable. |
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Your baby is starting
to gain weight and fill out now, and
looks more and more like a newborn. |
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The inner ear is
now completely developed, so your baby
now possesses a much better sense of
orientation and balance, even distinguishing
between being upside down and the "right
side up." |
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Your baby will
consistently respond to touch and sound. |
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The lungs are developing
the
"branches" of the respiratory "tree," as
well as a substance to helps the air
sacs inflate properly. |
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If you're suffering
from indigestion, it's because your
stomach has slowed down to allow for
more nutrients to be absorbed by your
baby, and also because of the increased
pressure from your uterus on your intestines.
Eat smaller but more frequent meals,
and avoid spicy and fatty foods to
reduce indigestion. |
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As you
feel your baby kick, you could play
the "kicking game" by gently pressing
back on the spot where your baby kicked!
This provides very good stimulation
for babies as they now start to get
a response to their actions. |
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| Week 25 |
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| Baby |
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Mother |
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| Weight: |
1.46
lbs |
664g |
| Length
(CHL): |
12.68" |
32.2cm |
| Heart
rate : |
144 bpm |
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Your
baby's nostrils begin to open. Some
suggest that babies at this stage may
even have scent preferences. |
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The nerves around
the mouth and lip area are also more
sensitive. |
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Quite a lot of
amniotic fluid is being
"inhaled" and "exhaled" now, sometimes
so much is swallowed that your baby
may even get hiccups! |
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Your baby's fully-developed
hands are regularly exploring the surroundings. |
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The structures
of the spine begin to form, and will
develop to have 33 rings, 150 joints
and 1000 ligaments. |
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You uterus is the
size of a soccer ball. The pressure
caused by your uterus on your back
may cause periodic pains in your lower
back and legs. |
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Your
doctor may use a tape measure to measure
your "fundal height" to determine the
size of your uterus, so as to gauge
the progress of your pregnancy. |
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If you notice that
other pregnant mothers' bellies are
of a different size, remember that
everyone is different. Speak to your
doctor if you are still worried. |
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| Week 26 |
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| Baby |
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Mother |
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| Weight: |
1.71
lbs |
775g |
| Length
(CHL): |
13.39" |
34.0cm |
| Heart
rate : |
144 bpm |
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Although
they've been shut for the last few
months, your baby's eyes are opening
and beginning to blink this week. |
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The optic nerve
may also be working already, so if
you shine a light on your abdomen,
your baby may respond. The uterus allows
some light to be seen, so your baby
is aware of lightness and darkness
in your environment. |
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You may be able
to hear the heart beat using external
monitors (instead of the expensive
dopplers). |
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It should be possible
for other people to begin feeling the
baby from the outside by placing their
hands on your abdomen. The kicks can
occasionally be hard enough that they
can even be seen on the belly! |
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Also,
you may sometimes find one part of
your belly harder than other areas.
That is probably your baby's head! |
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If your partner
is not already doing so, encourage
him to also start talking (and even
playing the kicking game) with your
baby. The more the both of you talk,
the more easily will your baby recognize
your voices upon birth. |
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