Second trimester pregnancy

The second part of your pregnancy is the second trimester. Second trimester begins with week 13 of your pregnancy. The 2nd trimester goes from week 13 through week 27. By the second trimester of your pregnancy, your baby is fully formed and growth continues. If you’ve had morning sickness, you should find that it starts to ease off around this time.

Most women find the second trimester of pregnancy easier than the first trimester. But it is just as important to stay informed about your pregnancy during these months.

You might notice that symptoms like nausea and fatigue are going away. But other new, more noticeable changes to your body are now happening. Your abdomen will expand as the baby continues to grow. And before this trimester is over, you will feel your baby beginning to move.

As your body changes to make room for your growing baby, you may have:

• Body aches, such as back, abdomen, groin, or thigh pain
• Stretch marks on your abdomen, breasts, thighs, or buttocks
• Darkening of the skin around your nipples
• A line on the skin running from belly button to pubic hairline
• Patches of darker skin, usually over the cheeks, forehead, nose, or upper lip. Patches often match on both sides of the face. This is sometimes called the mask of pregnancy.
• Numb or tingling hands, called carpal tunnel syndrome
• Itching on the abdomen, palms, and soles of the feet. (Call your doctor if you have nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice or fatigue combined with itching. These can be signs of a serious liver problem.)
• Swelling of the ankles, fingers, and face. (If you notice any sudden or extreme swelling or if you gain a lot of weight really quickly, call your doctor right away. This could be a sign of preeclampsia.)

When will I feel my baby move?

Near the middle of your second trimester, you may begin to feel the baby. In the beginning, this feels like fluttering movements deep in your belly. Your baby moved before this, but it was too deep for you to fill it. If you have been pregnant before, you might notice the movements earlier because you’re familiar with how they feel. Mark your calendar when you first feel movements so you can let your doctor know.

Will my interest in sex come back?

You may not have felt like having sex during the first trimester. Symptoms such as morning sickness, mood swings, and low energy can affect your interest. Many women find that their desire for sex returns during the second trimester. Having sex is fine anytime during pregnancy, unless your doctor says otherwise.

Pregnancy week 13 to 16

At 14 weeks, your baby is about 85 mm long from head to bottom. If you have morning sickness it should subside around 13 or 14 weeks pregnant.

Your baby

Week 13

Your baby weighs around 25 grams. Your baby’s ovaries or testes are fully developed inside their body, and the genitals are forming outside their body. Where there was a swelling between the legs, there will now be a penis or clitoris growing, although you usually won’t be able to find out the sex of your baby at an ultrasound scan at this stage. Even the fingerprints are now formed.

Week 14

At 14 weeks, the baby is about 85mm long from head to bottom. It has hair all over its body, called lanugo. Around now, the baby begins to swallow little bits of amniotic fluid, which pass into the stomach. The kidneys start to work and the swallowed fluid passes back into the amniotic fluid as urine.

Week 15

Around this time, your baby will start to hear — it may hear muted sounds from the outside world, and any noises your digestive system makes, as well as the sound of your voice and heart.

The eyes also start to become sensitive to light. Even though your baby’s eyes are closed, they may register a bright light outside your tummy. They may also develop hiccups, a precursor to breathing.

Week 16

The muscles of the baby’s face can now move and the beginnings of facial expressions appear. Your baby can’t control these yet.

The nervous system continues to develop, allowing the muscles in your baby’s limbs to flex. Around this time, your baby’s hands can reach each other — they can form a fist, and hold each other when they touch and grab onto the umbilical cord.

You

If you’ve been feeling sick and tired with morning sickness, you’ll probably start to feel better when you’re around 13 or 14 weeks pregnant.

Some women start to experience an increased sex drive around this time, possibly due to pregnancy hormones or increased blood flow to the pelvic area. Some women don’t, and this is perfectly normal. You can find out more about sex in pregnancy.

You’ll notice a small bump developing as your womb grows and moves upwards. If you’ve been feeling the urge to pass urine more often over the last few months, that’s due to your womb pressing on your bladder and other changes in your circulation. This should ease off now but you will still pass more urine than is usually normal. See your doctor if you notice any pain when you urinate. Urinary infections can happen in pregnancy and it’s important to treat them quickly to reduce the risk of kidney infections.

Things to think about and talk to your doctor about:

• Headaches — headaches can occur more commonly during pregnancy, but if they’re distressing or severe they may be a sign of something more serious.
• Teeth and gums — your teeth and gums need a little extra care during pregnancy.

Pregnancy week 17 to 20

At 17 weeks, your baby’s body grows bigger so that the head and body are more in proportion and the baby doesn’t look so top heavy.

Your baby

By the time you’re 17 weeks pregnant, your baby is growing quickly and now weighs around 150 grams. The body grows bigger so that the head and body are more in proportion.

The face begins to look much more human, and eyebrows and eyelashes are beginning to grow. Your baby’s eyes can move now, although the eyelids are still shut, and the mouth can open and close.

The lines on the skin of the fingers are now formed, so the baby already has his or her own individual fingerprints. Fingernails and toenails are growing and the baby has a firm hand grip.

The baby moves around quite a bit, and may respond to loud noises from the outside world, such as music. You may not feel these movements yet, especially if this is your first pregnancy. If you do, they’ll probably feel like a soft fluttering or rolling sensation.

Your baby is putting on a bit of weight but still doesn’t have much fat. If you could see your baby now, it would look a bit wrinkled, although it will continue to put on weight for the rest of the pregnancy and will ‘fill out’ by the last few weeks before birth.

By 20 weeks your baby’s skin is covered in a white, greasy substance called vernix. It’s thought that this helps to protect the skin during the many weeks in the amniotic fluid.

You

At 20 weeks, you’re halfway through your pregnancy. You will probably feel your baby move for the first time when you’re around 17 or 18 weeks pregnant. Most first-time mums notice the first movements when they are between 18 and 20 weeks pregnant.

At first, you feel a fluttering or bubbling, or a very slight shifting movement, maybe a bit like indigestion. Later on, you can’t mistake the movements and you can even see the baby kicking about. Often you can guess which bump is a hand or a foot.

You may develop a dark line down the middle of your tummy and chest. This is normal skin pigmentation as your tummy expands to accommodate your growing bump. Normal hair loss slows down, so your hair may look thicker and shinier.

You’ll be offered an ultrasound scan when you are 18 to 20 weeks pregnant — this is to check for abnormalities in the baby. Your midwife or doctor can give you information about this and answer any questions.

Common minor problems can include tiredness and lack of sleep. Sleeplessness is common, but there is plenty you can do to help yourself sleep, including using pillows to support your growing bump. Some women also get headaches. Headaches in pregnancy are more common, but if they’re frequent and severe, and paracetamol doesn’t help, they could be a sign of something serious. Additionally you may get aches and pains in the lower back which can be common in pregnancy, but are not usually serious. If you experience vaginal bleeding or severe itching, see your doctor immediately.

Always consult your doctor if concerned about a condition that has come on since being pregnant. No complaint is seen as unimportant.

Things to think about:

• Keeping active — exercise in pregnancy is good for you and your baby. Find out what’s safe and when you should take care.
• Having a healthy diet — eating healthily during pregnancy will help your baby to develop and grow, and will keep you fit and well.
• Ultrasound scans — you’ll be offered ultrasound scans in pregnancy, including the anomaly scan between 18 weeks and 21 weeks and six days.

Pregnancy week 21 to 24

At 24 weeks, the baby has a chance of survival if it is born. Most babies born before this time may not live because vital organs are not developed enough.

Your baby

By 21 weeks your baby weighs around 350g. From about this stage onwards your baby will weigh more than the placenta (which, until now, was heavier than your baby). The placenta will keep growing throughout pregnancy, but not as fast as your baby.

Your baby is beginning to get into a pattern of sleeping and waking, which won’t necessarily be the same as yours. When you’re in bed at night, feeling relaxed and trying to sleep, your baby may be wide awake and moving about.

The lungs are not yet able to work properly, but your baby is practising breathing movements to prepare for life outside the uterus. Your baby gets all their oxygen from you via the placenta, and will do so until they are born.

By the time you are 24 weeks pregnant, the baby has a chance of survival if he or she is born. Most babies born before this time cannot live because their lungs and other vital organs are not developed enough. The care that can now be given in neonatal (baby) units means that more and more babies born early do survive. But for babies born at around this time, there are increased risks of disability.

You

Your womb will begin to get bigger more quickly and you will really begin to look pregnant. You may feel hungrier than before — try to stick to a sensible, balanced diet, and make sure you know what foods to avoid.

Not everybody gets stretch marks, but if you do develop them they will probably start becoming noticeable when you’re around 22 to 24 weeks pregnant. They may appear on your stomach, breasts and thighs. At first they look red and then fade to a silvery grey. Your breasts may start to leak a little pre-milk, this is normal.

Additionally you may get aches and pains in the lower back which can be common in pregnancy and are not usually serious. If you experience vaginal bleeding or severe itching, see your doctor immediately.

Always consult your doctor if concerned about a condition that has come on since being pregnant. No complaint is seen as unimportant.

Things to think about:

• Breastfeeding has lots of benefits for you and your baby. Consider how you are going to feed your baby when he or she arrives.
• Common minor problems can include backache, indigestion and piles.

Pregnancy week 25 to 28

Your baby may begin to follow a pattern for waking and sleeping. Very often this is a different pattern from yours.

Your baby

The baby is moving about vigorously and responds to touch and sound. A very loud noise may make him or her jump and kick, and you’ll be able to feel this.

Your baby is regularly passing urine into the amniotic fluid. Sometimes the baby may get hiccups and you can feel the jerk of each hiccup.

The baby’s eyelids open for the first time and he or she will soon start blinking. The eyes are almost always blue or dark blue, although some babies do have brown eyes at birth. It’s not until some weeks after the birth that your baby’s eyes become the colour that they will stay. You can find out more about your baby after the birth.

By now your baby’s heart rate will have changed to around 140 beats per minute. This is still considerably faster than your own heart rate.

Your baby’s brain, lungs and digestive system are formed but not fully mature — they’ll spend the rest of your pregnancy developing so that they work properly when your baby is born.

By 28 weeks, your baby weighs around 1kg and is perfectly formed. The baby’s heartbeat can now be heard through a stethoscope. Your partner may even be able to hear it by putting an ear to your abdomen, but it can be difficult to find the right place.

Your baby continues to put on weight as more and more fat appears under the skin.

You

You may get indigestion or heartburn, and it might be hard to eat large meals as your baby grows and takes up some of the space where your stomach normally is. You may also find you are quite often getting tired.

You may have some swelling of your face, hands or feet. This might be caused by water retention, which is normal (try resting and lifting up your swollen feet to ease it). Be sure to mention any swelling to your midwife or doctor so that they can take your blood pressure and rule out a condition called pre-eclampsia, which can cause swelling.

It is recommended that all pregnant women receive a pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination during each of their pregnancies. The vaccination is usually given around 28 weeks, but can be given anytime between 20 and 32 weeks. Women who are at risk of having an early delivery should get it at 20 weeks.

Vaccinating you is the best way to protect your baby against whooping cough. When you are vaccinated, your antibodies transfer from you to your developing baby. They receive protection from you when they are too young to be vaccinated themselves. Speak to your doctor or antenatal care provider to schedule an appointment.

The flu vaccine is also recommended during every pregnancy and at any stage of your pregnancy.

Things to think about:

• Maternity leave — if you are taking maternity leave from work, you need to tell your employer in writing before your baby is due. Check with your employer for their requirements. If your partner plans to take paternity leave (female partners can take paternity leave too) they also need to inform their employer at this time.
• Starting your birth plan — think about your preferences for labor and birth, such as pain relief, and the positions you would like to be in.

Second trimester symptoms

Most women who didn’t feel good in the first trimester of pregnancy usually start to feel better in the second trimester. The nausea and vomiting from morning sickness should lessen over time. You may have more energy and fewer mood swings as your hormones balance out. This is a good time to tackle many tasks necessary to get ready for your baby.

Be prepared to gain weight more rapidly in the second trimester. This means you may need to start wearing maternity clothes.

Breasts

Your breasts may not be as tender as they were in the first trimester, but they will continue to grow. Enlarging milk glands and deposits of fat cause the growth. These changes prepare you for breastfeeding. You may notice that the skin on and around your nipples darkens. You may also have small bumps around your nipples. The bumps are glands that make an oily substance to keep your nipples from drying out. A yellowish fluid, called colostrum, might begin to leak from your nipples.

Stretch marks

As your body grows, some areas of skin may become stretched tight. Elastic fibers right beneath the skin may tear. This creates streaks of indented skin called stretch marks. Stretch marks are likely to occur on your belly and breasts.

Not every pregnant woman gets stretch marks, but they are very common. Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent them completely. Try to manage your weight and not gain more than what your doctor recommends. There are some lotions and oils that claim to prevent stretch marks. The effects of these products are not proven. However, keeping your skin well moisturized can help cut down on itchiness. Stretch marks should fade and become less noticeable after pregnancy.

Other skin changes

Not all pregnant women have skin changes. Most often, these changes may lessen or go away after pregnancy. Common skin changes include:

• Dry, itchy skin, especially on the belly.
• Increased sensitivity to the sun. This means you might burn more easily. Make sure you wear sunscreen when spending time outside.
• A dark line (“linea nigra”) down the middle of your belly from your navel to your pubic hair.
• Patches of darkened skin on the face (sometimes called the “mask of pregnancy”).

Leg pain

You may have leg cramps, especially when you sleep. These may be related to the pressure your growing baby puts on the nerves and blood vessels that go to your legs. Make sure you sleep on your side instead of your back.

Another leg condition, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), can be serious. DVT is a blood clot that forms in a vein, and causes pain and swelling in one leg. Contact your doctor right away if you have these symptoms.

Puffiness

Your ankles, hands, and face may swell during the second trimester. This happens because your body retains more fluid for the baby. You also have slower blood circulation.

Aching back, pelvis, and hips

The job of supporting your growing belly puts stress on your back. Your hips and pelvis may begin to ache as pregnancy hormones relax the ligaments that hold your bones together. Your bones move to prepare for childbirth.

Stomach pain

The muscles and ligaments supporting your uterus stretch as your uterus grows. These can cause mild pain or cramping.

Loose teeth

Pregnancy hormones also affect the ligaments and bones in your mouth, so teeth may loosen. They return to normal after pregnancy. Contact your dentist if you have bleeding or swelling of your gums. These symptoms can be signs of periodontal disease. This condition has been linked to preterm (early) birth and low birth weight. The second trimester is the best time to have dental work done.

Nasal congestion, nosebleeds, and bleeding gums

These result from increased blood flow to the mucous membranes in your nose and mouth.

Heartburn

Heartburn may begin or worsen in the second trimester. Your growing uterus presses on your stomach, which can force food and acid up into your esophagus, causing the burn.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

You may develop an infection in the second trimester. Hormonal changes slow the flow of urine and your bladder doesn’t empty completely because your enlarged uterus pushes on it. Untreated urinary tract infections (UTIs) can lead to preterm labor, so tell your doctor if you think you have one. Symptoms include needing to urinate more often, a burning sensation when you urinate, or the presence of blood or a strong odor in your urine.

Braxton Hicks contractions

Also called “false labor,” Braxton Hicks contractions are a tightening of your uterine muscles. It’s one of the ways your uterus prepares for labor and delivery. Braxton Hicks make your belly feel very tight and hard, and may cause discomfort. The contractions are irregular in timing and should go away within a few minutes. See your doctor if they become regular and painful, and don’t go away when you change your position or walk around. It might be preterm labor.

At 13 weeks

A small baby bump may now be visible as your womb grows upwards and outwards. If you’ve been feeling the urge to pee a lot, then that should stop as the womb shifts away from your bladder. By the way, it shouldn’t hurt when you pee. If it does, then see your doctor, as you could have a urine infection.

Meanwhile, there’s a lot more blood pumping around your pelvic area and some women find that it sends their sex drive through the roof. It could also make you feel more thirsty. So drink more water or have more sex. Sex during pregnancy is perfectly safe, unless your midwife or doctor has advised you otherwise.

Your signs of pregnancy could include:

• swollen and bleeding gums. Your teeth are more likely to get covered in sticky plaque, and if it’s not removed then that can lead to gum disease. This is due to your pregnancy hormones – you can pretty much blame your hormones for everything over the next six months.
• pains on the side of your belly caused by your expanding womb (known as ’round ligament pains’)
• headaches
• nosebleeds
• bloating and constipation
• indigestion and heartburn
• sore breasts
• leg cramps
• feeling hot
• dizziness
• swollen hands and feet
• urine infections
• vaginal infections
• darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the ‘mask of pregnancy’
• greasier, spotty skin
• thicker and shinier hair
• symptoms from earlier weeks, such as morning sickness, weird pregnancy cravings, a heightened sense of smell, mood swings, a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)

Your baby at 13 weeks

Your baby or fetus is around 7.4 cm long from head to bottom, which is about the size of a nice ripe peach. The weight is about 25 grams, which is as heavy as a toothbrush with toothpaste on it.

Your baby’s ovaries or testes are fully developed inside and final tweaks are being made on the outside. The baby is moving around, doing a strange dance. At first the movements are very jerky and random but then they start to look more deliberate. You won’t feel the kicks and punches until around week 17. Some babies suck their thumb in the womb. It’s so cute but it actually serves a purpose as it helps to develop their sucking reflex. They’ll need this when it comes to feeding time in the big wide world.

At 14 weeks

You’re probably feeling more like yourself again now, after the tricky first trimester. As your energy soars, you may find that your appetite does too… but take it easy. Your baby doesn’t need any extra calories now, and too much weight gain in pregnancy isn’t good for you or the baby. If you get hungry between meals then ditch the crisps and top yourself up with super snacks that will give you a healthy boost.

You have an extra organ in your body that wasn’t there 14 weeks ago, and that’s the placenta. The placenta is pancake shaped – the word placenta means ‘flat cake’ in Latin. It’s full of blood and pumps out nutrients, oxygen and hormones, while removing waste products such as carbon dioxide. The placenta is firmly attached to your womb and links up with your baby through the umbilical cord.

Your blood and the baby’s blood come into close contact in the placenta – but they won’t ever mix. That’s because you might be different blood groups, and mixing them up could be dangerous.

Many women love it when their breasts get bigger. However others hate the extra weight, as it gives them backache, and swollen breasts can be painful. You could also get stretch marks and big blue veins. As usual, your hormones are to blame, along with the extra blood that’s now circulating around your body.

Keep an eye out for any yellow stains in your bra. This is probably colostrum, which is the first milk produced by mums-to-be. It’s telling you that your breasts are raring to go, so go with the flow. If it’s a problem, then start using breast pads.

Ask your doctor or midwife to have a look if you’re worried about any changes.

Your signs of pregnancy could include:

• swollen and bleeding gums
• pains on the side of your belly, caused by your expanding womb (known as ’round ligament pains’)
• headaches
• nosebleeds
• bloating and constipation
• indigestion and heartburn
• sore breasts
• leg cramps
• feeling hot
• dizziness
• swollen hands and feet
• urine infections
• vaginal infections
• darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the ‘mask of pregnancy’
• greasier, spotty skin
• thicker and shinier hair
• symptoms from earlier weeks, such as morning sickness, weird pregnancy cravings, a heightened sense of smell, mood swings, a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)

Your baby at 14 weeks

Your baby or fetus is around 8.5cm long from head to bottom, which is the size of a kiwi fruit. The head is getting rounder and more in proportion with the rest of the body. Your baby is kicking around, but you probably won’t feel it yet. However your midwife might be able to hear the heartbeat, using a handheld monitor placed on your tummy.

Inside you, your baby is doing something quite miraculous – having a wee! This might not seem impressive, but it’s a first for them! Small amounts of the amniotic fluid are swallowed by the baby and pass into the stomach. The kidneys then kick in and the fluid is passed back out again as urine.

At 15 weeks

Your baby’s growing quickly and comes with a lot of packaging (the amniotic sac and fluid) and their own food supply (placenta). You could start getting the odd jabbing pain on the sides of your bump. It’s known as ’round ligament pain’, and putting your feet up and resting can help.

Your skin could also feel a bit itchy. Try rubbing an unperfumed moisturizer over your stomach, wear loose cotton clothing and have a cool bath. If the itching starts to drive you crazy, and particularly if it strikes at night, then see your doctor or midwife, as it could be the sign of a liver condition called ‘obstetric cholestasis’. However, it’s much more likely to be caused by your hormones.

Your signs of pregnancy could include:

• swollen and bleeding gums
• pains on the side of your belly, caused by your expanding womb (known as ’round ligament pains’)
• headaches
• nosebleeds
• bloating and constipation
• indigestion and heartburn
• sore breasts
• leg cramps
• feeling hot
• dizziness
• swollen hands and feet
• urine infections
• vaginal infections
• darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the ‘mask of pregnancy’
• greasier, spotty skin
• thicker and shinier hair
• symptoms from earlier weeks, such as morning sickness, weird pregnancy cravings, a heightened sense of smell, mood swings, a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)

Your baby at 15 weeks

Your baby or fetus is around 10.1 cm long from head to bottom, which is about the size of an apple. The weight is around 70 grams, which is the same as a small bag of salad.

This week, your baby has been busy growing a soft layer of hair, called ‘lanugo’, all over the body. Yes, you’ve got a mini Yeti in there! The eyebrows and eyelashes are also starting to sprout.

Your baby’s eyes are now sensitive to light. Although they’re firmly shut, they could pick up a bright light in the world outside your womb.

Around now, your baby will start hearing too. Talk to your baby and they will probably hear you. They will also hear your heartbeat and any noises made by your digestive system.

At 16 weeks

Your baby is growing quickly and about to undergo another massive growth spurt. You will probably have put on some weight over the past few weeks (2 to 4 kg) but that’s just a guide, as every pregnancy is different.

You’ll probably see a midwife around now, who’ll weigh you and talk to you about how you’re getting on. You might get to hear your baby’s heartbeat for the first time. You will also get the results of any blood tests that you had at your booking appointment, which could reveal everything from your blood type to whether your iron levels are low.

You will probably have been offered a test for three infectious diseases: HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis. If an infection has been picked up, then your midwife or doctor will talk to you about the best ways to protect your health and reduce the risk of passing on the infection to your baby.

Your blood pressure will be checked and you’ll pee into a tiny cup to give a urine sample. This will be checked for signs of protein that could show if you’re at risk of developing a dangerous condition called pre-eclampsia.

Your signs of pregnancy could include:

• swollen and bleeding gums
• pains on the side of your belly, caused by your expanding womb (known as ’round ligament pains’)
• headaches
• nosebleeds
• bloating and constipation
• indigestion and heartburn
• sore breasts
• leg cramps
• feeling hot
• dizziness
• swollen hands and feet
• urine infections
• vaginal infections
• darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the ‘mask of pregnancy’
• greasier, spotty skin
• thicker and shinier hair
• symptoms from earlier weeks, such as morning sickness, weird pregnancy cravings, a heightened sense of smell, mood swings, a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding).

Your baby at 16 weeks

Your baby or fetus is around 11.6 cm long from head to bottom, which is the size of an avocado. The weight is around 100g, which is the same as a medium bag of salad.

Your baby is starting to pull faces now, but any smiling or frowning will be completely random, as there’s no muscle control yet.

The nervous system continues to develop, and this enables your baby to start moving their arms and legs. You might be able to feel your baby kicking from next week onwards, which is something exciting to look forward to.

Your baby’s hands can form fists and they may start punching around inside you too.

At 17 weeks

This is a major milestone and a highlight of many pregnancies. The big news of the week is that you may start to feel your baby move.

You may be getting a few pains and niggles as your bump gets bigger. Your symptoms should be manageable, and if they’re not, talk to your doctor or midwife.

Week by week, your baby’s getting bigger, and so is your placenta, which is feeding your baby and also removing waste. By the end of your pregnancy the placenta will weigh around 500g, which is as heavy as a packet of pasta.

Your waist will start to vanish as your womb moves up and out of your pelvis. This will make you look more obviously ‘pregnant’ and, with any luck, you’ll start to ‘bloom’ too. Many women look and feel amazing when they’re pregnant. They have glossy, full hair (as hair loss is slowed down) and radiant skin (caused by a boost in blood volume and hormones).

However, everyone’s different, and some women feel unattractive and overwhelmed by their changing body, the responsibility of having a baby and the strain it can put on relationships. Around 1 in 10 women feel stressed or anxious during their pregnancy, and your hormones can make even small problems feel so much worse than they really are. If you feel sad or worried, then talk to your doctor or midwife – there’s a big support network out there for you.

Your signs of pregnancy could include:

• tiredness and sleeping problems
• swollen and bleeding gums
• pains on the side of your belly, caused by your expanding womb (known as ’round ligament pains’)
• headaches
• nosebleeds
• bloating and constipation
• indigestion and heartburn
• sore breasts
• leg cramps
• feeling hot
• dizziness
• swollen hands and feet
• urine infections
• vaginal infections
• darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the ‘mask of pregnancy’
• greasier, spotty skin
• thicker and shinier hair
• symptoms from earlier weeks, such as morning sickness, weird pregnancy cravings, a heightened sense of smell, mood swings, a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)

Your baby at 17 weeks

Your baby or fetus is around 12 cm long, from head to bottom, and weighs around 150 grams. That’s roughly the size of a pomegranate and the weight of a ball of mozzarella. The baby’s skin is wrinkled and there’s a lot of fattening up to do. By the end of your pregnancy, your little one will be much plumper and will fit into their skin better, although they may still come out looking rather creased.

Plus:

• your baby’s eyes can move, although they’ll stay shut for now
• they can react to loud noises
• their mouth can open and close
• fingernails are starting to grow

Your baby will have their own unique fingerprints. Even identical twins have different fingerprints.

At 18 weeks

You could feel your baby move for the first time. Plus you could see your baby in close-up if you choose to have an anomaly scan. You may feel happy, sad, excited or nervous – sometimes all at once! It’s an emotional roller-coaster.

You might be starting to feel a bit clumsier as your belly gets bigger. Your breasts may have gone up a size, too, particularly if it’s your first pregnancy. Your blood pressure is probably a bit lower than it was, so don’t leap up from the sofa, or it could make you feel dizzy.

Your baby has been moving around for the past couple of months, but you wouldn’t have noticed because they were so small. Now, you might start to feel some movement – it’s like a bubbling or fluttering inside your belly.

You may also notice a line down your stomach, called the linea nigra (Latin for ‘black line’). This is normal skin pigmentation and nothing to worry about. It will probably vanish a few months after your baby’s born.

Your signs of pregnancy could include:

• stretch marks
• tiredness and sleeping problems
• swollen and bleeding gums
• pains on the side of your belly, caused by your expanding womb (known as ’round ligament pains’)
• headaches
• nosebleeds
• bloating and constipation
• indigestion and heartburn
• sore breasts
• leg cramps
• feeling hot
• dizziness
• swollen hands and feet
• urine infections
• vaginal infections
• darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the ‘mask of pregnancy’
• greasier, spotty skin
• thicker and shinier hair
• symptoms from earlier weeks, such as morning sickness, weird pregnancy cravings, a heightened sense of smell, mood swings, a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)

Your baby at 18 weeks

Your baby or fetus is around 14.2 cm long from head to bottom, and weighs around 190 grams. That’s approximately the size and weight of a sweet red pepper.

Your baby’s reflexes are developing this week and on the agenda will be hearing, feeling, swallowing and sucking. They will also be doing a lot of wriggling around and moving their little arms and legs.

At 19 weeks

You’re probably starting to feel less agile now and may be getting tired from lack of sleep or lugging around the extra weight. Tempting though it is to stay on the sofa, get out there and do some exercise, but try not to overdo it, as you’re carrying precious cargo.

It’s great for you and baby to stay active, but some exercises, such as running, could become uncomfortable. That’s because the hormone, relaxin, loosens up your ligaments, leaving your back, knees and ankles without their usual support.

Meanwhile, your baby’s moving. You might think that bubbling is wind, but it could be your baby moving. You’ll soon be able to pinpoint every kick, punch and somersault.

Your signs of pregnancy this week could include:

• tiredness and sleeping problems
• stretch marks
• swollen and bleeding gums
• pains on the side of your pregnant belly, caused by your expanding womb (known as ’round ligament pains’)
• headaches
• nosebleeds
• bloating and constipation
• indigestion and heartburn
• sore breasts
• leg cramps
• feeling hot
• dizziness
• swollen hands and feet
• urine infections
• vaginal infections
• darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the ‘mask of pregnancy’
• greasier, spotty skin
• thicker and shinier hair
• symptoms from earlier weeks, such as morning sickness, weird pregnancy cravings, a heightened sense of smell, mood swings, a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)

Your baby at 19 weeks

Your baby or fetus is around 15.3 cm long from head to bottom, and weighs around 240 grams. That’s approximately the size of a beef tomato and weight of two salmon fillets. Your baby’s fattening up, ready for their big appearance in about 21 weeks’ time.

The baby’s adult teeth are starting to grow, and they’re lining up behind the first set. You won’t get to see any teeth at all until your baby’s about six months old.

At 20 weeks

You may have your anomaly scan this week, where you can meet and greet your baby. The sonographer will be checking on your baby’s development and will also examine your placenta (that’s the pancake-shaped organ in your body that feeds your baby and removes waste). Seeing your baby at the anomaly scan gives many women a real boost. However not everyone’s the same, and you could be starting to get tired and even a bit grumpy as your body changes and life as you knew it starts to slip away.

You might find yourself being woken up at night by sudden sharp pains in your calves. That’s probably cramp, which is common in pregnancy. It’s caused by muscular spasms, and it can feel like you’re being stabbed in the leg for up to 10 minutes. Rub the muscle hard or pull your toes up towards your ankle. Exercising more in the day could help you avoid this.

Your signs of pregnancy this week could include:

• tiredness and sleeping problems
• stretch marks
• swollen and bleeding gums
• pains on the side of your belly, caused by your expanding womb (known as ’round ligament pains’)
• headaches
• nosebleeds
• bloating and constipation
• indigestion and heartburn
• sore breasts
• leg cramps
• feeling hot
• dizziness
• swollen hands and feet
• urine infections
• vaginal infections
• darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the ‘mask of pregnancy’
• greasier, spotty skin
• thicker and shinier hair
• symptoms from earlier weeks, such as morning sickness, weird pregnancy cravings, a heightened sense of smell, mood swings, a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)

Your baby at 20 weeks

Your baby or fetus is around 25.6 cm long, which is the size of a banana. Measurements are now taken from head to heel. In earlier weeks, babies are measured from the head to the bottom because the legs are curled up and hard to see. Your baby weighs around 300 grams. That’s approximately the weight of three juicy apples.

Your baby is now covered in a white, greasy layer of something called ‘vernix’. It’s thought that this protects their delicate skin from drying out in the amniotic fluid. This slippery layer also helps babies to make their way down the birth canal.

Your baby will be doing acrobatics in your womb, getting more active each day. As well as kicking, punching and turning around, your baby could be sucking their thumb – this develops their sucking reflex, which they’ll need to suck milk once they’re born.

You may start to feel a bubbling or fluttering in your pregnant belly. That could be your baby moving.

At 21 weeks

You could start feeling rather wobbly as your bump gets bigger. It’s hardly surprising if you’re clumsier than usual, as your centre of gravity has changed and your joints are looser. If you fall over, don’t panic, as there’s lots of cushioning in your belly to protect your baby. That’s what the amniotic sac is for. However, for peace of mind, you should get checked out by your midwife or doctor if you do take a tumble.

Your baby is moving around a lot now, and establishing waking and sleeping patterns. The only trouble is, your baby may be raring to go just when you want to nod off. Have power naps when you can to make up for lost sleep at night.

Don’t ignore any painful symptoms and assume they’ll go away. If you have a severe headache that lasts for more than two or three hours, and isn’t helped by paracetamol, then call your midwife or doctor. It’s very unlikely, but it could be a sign of a dangerous condition called pre-eclampsia. This affects some women in the second half of their pregnancy. However it’s much more likely that you’re not drinking enough water, so make sure that you stay hydrated and drink at least eight medium glasses of fluid a day (for example, fruit juice, water, fruit teas and milk).

This week, your signs of pregnancy could include:

• tiredness and sleeping problems
• stretch marks
• swollen and bleeding gums
• pains on the side of your baby bump, caused by your expanding womb (’round ligament pains’)
• piles
• headaches
• backache
• nosebleeds
• indigestion and heartburn
• bloating and constipation
• leg cramps
• feeling hot
• dizziness
• swollen hands and feet
• urine infections
• vaginal infections
• darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the ‘mask of pregnancy’
• greasier, spotty skin
• thicker and shinier hair
• symptoms from earlier weeks, caused by pregnancy hormones, such as mood swings, morning sickness, weird pregnancy cravings, sore or leaky breasts, a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)

Your baby at 21 weeks

Your baby or fetus is around 26.7 cm long from head to toe, and weighs about 350 grams. That’s approximately the size of a carrot, and the weight of five wholemeal pitta breads.

Your baby is now heavier than the placenta. The placenta basically doubles up as a larder and toilet, by providing food and removing waste. It will keep on growing during your pregnancy so it can do its vital work.

Meanwhile your baby has been cultivating a fine, downy layer of hair called lanugo – the purpose of this fur coat is probably to keep your baby at the perfect temperature, and it usually vanishes before the birth. Your baby is also sprouting hair and eyebrows – some babies are born with very little hair, others rock up with a big mop top. It doesn’t make as much difference, within the first year of their life, they’ll probably lose all the hair they were born with as their hormone levels change.

Your baby can now hear noises and voices outside their cosy womb.

At 22 weeks

Many women are excited to see their bump grow, but less happy when they notice that it’s covered in red and purple streaks. These are stretch marks, caused by your pregnancy hormones and the rapid stretching of your skin. They might look scary, but they’re harmless to you and the baby. There’s not a lot that you can do to either prevent them or make them vanish, but you could try gently massaging your bump with a non-perfumed moisturizer. After the birth, the marks will probably fade to silver.

You might also notice that your breasts are becoming a bit leaky. This is their way of prepping for the birth. Use breast pads to stop your clothes getting stained – you might as well stock up, as you’ll probably need a stack after the birth.

This week, your signs of pregnancy could include:

• tiredness and sleeping problems
• stretch marks
• swollen and bleeding gums
• pains on the side of your baby bump, caused by your expanding womb (’round ligament pains’)
• piles
• headaches
• backache
• nosebleeds
• indigestion and heartburn
• bloating and constipation
• leg cramps
• feeling hot
• dizziness
• swollen hands and feet
• urine infections
• vaginal infections
• darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the ‘mask of pregnancy’
• greasier, spotty skin
• thicker and shinier hair
• symptoms from earlier weeks, caused by pregnancy hormones, such as mood swings, morning sickness, weird pregnancy cravings, sore or leaky breasts, a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding).

Your baby at 22 weeks

Your baby or fetus is around 27.8 cm long from head to toe, and weighs about 430 grams. That’s approximately the size of a papaya and the weight of five tangerines.

The lungs are developing and your little one will be doing some breathing practice in your womb. Your baby is now swallowing small amounts of the amniotic fluid. This will usually stay in the bowels and then come out after the birth as a dark, sticky poo (‘meconium’).

Your baby’s taste buds are developing and could be influenced by what you eat. Try and eat healthily and tuck into lots of fresh fruit and vegetables.

At 23 weeks

Around this time, your baby is practising breathing, and getting into patterns of sleeping and waking. Unfortunately, they won’t always coincide with when you want to sleep – but that’s babies for you.

Your breasts may be starting to leak colostrum, which is an early type of milk. This gives your baby a flying start by boosting their immunity so they can fight off infections. It’s good for you too, as it lowers your risk of breast cancer and burns around 300 calories a day.

This week, you may start to get rib pain as your rib cage expands to accommodate your bump. You could be feeling a bit more breathless than usual as the growing baby puts pressure on your lungs. The best remedy is to put your feet up and relax. If you’re worried about any symptoms of pregnancy, talk to your midwife or doctor.

This week, your signs of pregnancy could also include:

• tiredness and sleeping problems
• stretch marks
• swollen and bleeding gums
• pains on the side of your baby bump, caused by your expanding womb (’round ligament pains’)
• piles
• headaches
• backache
• nosebleeds
• indigestion and heartburn
• bloating and constipation
• leg cramps
• feeling hot
• dizziness
• swollen hands and feet
• urine infections
• vaginal infections
• darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the ‘mask of pregnancy’
• greasier, spotty skin
• thicker and shinier hair
• symptoms from earlier weeks, caused by pregnancy hormones, such as mood swings, morning sickness, weird pregnancy cravings, a heightened sense of smell, sore or leaky breasts, a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)

Your baby at 23 weeks

Your baby or fetus is around 28.9 cm long from head to heel and weighs about 500 grams. That’s approximately the size of a squash and the weight of a packet of wholewheat dried pasta.

The limbs are now in proportion. Over the next few weeks, you’re going to be kicked around by your baby and will start to see your tummy move too, which looks very strange. Get to know your baby’s rhythms and talk to your midwife or doctor if the kicking slows down.

At 24 weeks

You may start to feel really hungry, but you don’t actually need to eat any more until the third trimester of your pregnancy – that’s from week 28 onwards. You’re likely to be putting on weight, but do not worry if you can barely see your bump, as every pregnancy is different. Your midwife or doctor will tell you if everything’s coming along nicely.

Around now, you could be getting pains around your ribs, back, breasts, bottom, stomach, basically anywhere and everywhere. This is partly due to your pregnancy hormones loosing up your ligaments and muscles, and also due to that growing baby of yours pushing onto various parts of your body.

This week, your signs of pregnancy could include:

• tiredness and sleeping problems
• stretch marks
• swollen and bleeding gums
• pains on the side of your baby bump, caused by your expanding womb (’round ligament pains’)
• piles
• headaches
• backache
• nosebleeds
• indigestion and heartburn
• bloating and constipation
• leg cramps
• feeling hot
• dizziness
• swollen hands and feet
• urine infections
• vaginal infections
• darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the ‘mask of pregnancy’
• greasier, spotty skin
• thicker and shinier hair
• symptoms from earlier weeks, caused by pregnancy hormones, such as mood swings, morning sickness, weird pregnancy cravings, a heightened sense of smell, sore or leaky breasts, a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)

Your baby at 24 weeks

Your baby or fetus is around 30 cm long from head to heel, and weighs about 600 grams. That’s approximately the size of an ear of corn, and the weight of a big tub of low fat cottage cheese.

Your baby looks like a baby with everything in proportion, they’re just skinnier and smaller than a baby who’s been in the womb for longer.

The amazing news is that there’s a chance of survival if your baby is born now. Their lungs and other vital organs might just be able to cope with life outside the womb. There are specialist neonatal units for very tiny babies that can help them breathe, feed, keep warm and fight infections. However the earlier the baby is born, the more likely it is that they will have a disability. If you go into labor before your 37th week of pregnancy, it’s called premature labor. However it’s much more likely that you’ll have to wait at least another three months before meeting your baby.

At 25 weeks

You could be starting to get a bit puffy and swollen in your face, hands and feet. This is probably completely harmless and caused by water retention – but do mention it to your midwife or doctor. They will want to check your blood pressure, just in case it’s a sign of a dangerous condition called pre-eclampsia. This tends to strike in the second half of pregnancy or after the baby is born. If you get any other signs, such as splitting headaches, vision problems, or pain just below the ribs, then see your doctor.

Your energy levels could be flagging now, and you might be struggling to digest large meals, as your baby takes over your belly.

This week, your signs of pregnancy could include:

• tiredness and sleeping problems
• stretch marks
• swollen and bleeding gums
• pains on the side of your baby bump, caused by your expanding womb (’round ligament pains’)
• piles
• headaches
• backache
• nosebleeds
• indigestion and heartburn
• bloating and constipation
• leg cramps
• feeling hot
• dizziness
• swollen hands and feet
• urine infections
• vaginal infections
• darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the ‘mask of pregnancy’
• greasier, spotty skin
• thicker and shinier hair
• symptoms from earlier weeks, caused by pregnancy hormones, such as mood swings, morning sickness, weird pregnancy cravings, a heightened sense of smell, sore or leaky breasts, a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)

Your baby at 25 weeks

Your baby or fetus is around 34.6 cm long from head to heel, and weighs about 660 grams. That’s approximately the size of a head of cauliflower, and the weight of four jacket potatoes.

This is an active time for your baby, who will be throwing some crazy shapes inside you (kicking, punching and doing somersaults). A loud noise could make your baby jump and kick, which shouldn’t hurt, but might take you by surprise. You might also feel the occasional hiccup.

Your baby is now peeing into the amniotic fluid. By now, most of the liquid around your baby is urine, but it’s providing cushioning and helping to keep the temperature snug and stable.

At 26 weeks

As you approach the third trimester, you might be feeling more tired, and a bit more clumsy and uncoordinated. That’s understandable. It’s hard carrying around all that extra weight and also your center of gravity will have changed with your growing bump, and that affects your sense of balance. You may need to allow yourself more time to do your usual activities, like your daily walk to the bus stop.

There’s a lot of activity going on inside your bump – kicking, punching, somersaults and hiccupping. Get to know your baby’s patterns, and if you’re worried that the movements have slowed down or stopped, then contact your midwife or maternity unit straight away.

You may be getting more leg cramps now, particularly during the night when you really want to sleep. Try doing foot and ankle exercises. Just pulling your toes upwards could help, or rubbing the muscle where it hurts.

This week, your signs of pregnancy could include:

• tiredness and sleeping problems
• stretch marks
• swollen and bleeding gums
• pains on the side of your baby bump, caused by your expanding womb (’round ligament pains’)
• piles
• headaches
• backache
• nosebleeds
• bloating and constipation
• indigestion and heartburn
• leg cramps](/start4life/pregnancy/week-by-week/2nd-trimester/week-20 “Leg cramps”)
• feeling hot
• dizziness
• swollen hands and feet
• urine infections
• vaginal infections
• darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the ‘mask of pregnancy’
• greasier, spotty skin
• thicker and shinier hair
• symptoms from earlier weeks, caused by pregnancy hormones, such as mood swings, morning sickness, weird pregnancy cravings,a heightened sense of smell, sore or leaky breasts, a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding).

Your baby at 26 weeks

Your baby or fetus is around 35.6 cm long from head to heel, and weighs about 760 grams. That’s approximately the size of small marrow, and the weight of six large carrots.

Around now, your baby’s eyes will be opening for the first time and the next trick will be to learn how to blink. It’s a myth that all babies are born with blue eyes – the color will depend on the parents’ genetics, and brown is very common. You won’t know the permanent color for a while, as they can keep on changing right into adulthood. However they will have probably settled on a color by the time your baby’s three.

At 27 weeks

You’re probably putting on a few pounds now, and your waist is a distant memory. You could be feeling bloated and constipated, and having problems keeping down food. This is partly because your stomach is being squeezed by your growing baby, and also due to the pregnancy hormone, progesterone. It might help if you drink lots of water, choose high fiber options and eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetable.

You could be feeling tired now, so nap when you can in the day. Your partner might mention that you’re snoring more. Snoring is very common in pregnancy as your nasal passages are more likely to become swollen and blocked.

Your signs of pregnancy could also include:

• sleeping problems
• stretch marks
• swollen and bleeding gums
• pains on the side of your baby bump, caused by your expanding womb (’round ligament pains’)
• piles
• headaches
• backache
• nosebleeds
• indigestion and heartburn
• bloating and constipation
• leg cramps
• feeling hot
• dizziness
• swollen hands and feet
• urine infections
• vaginal infections
• darkened skin on your face or brown patches – this is known as chloasma or the ‘mask of pregnancy’
• greasier, spotty skin
• thicker and shinier hair
• symptoms from earlier weeks, caused by pregnancy hormones, such as mood swings, morning sickness, weird pregnancy cravings, a heightened sense of smell, sore or leaky breasts, a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding).

Your baby at 27 weeks

Your baby or fetus is around 36.6 cm long from head to heel, and weighs about 875 grams. That’s approximately the size of a big leek, and the weight of a head of cauliflower.

Your baby’s lungs are now capable of breathing and that’s a big deal. Your baby is also getting plumper by the day. A few weeks ago, your baby looked a bit like a wrinkled prune. Now the folds of skin are being filled out by fat, and all their organs are maturing, as your baby prepares for life outside the womb.