Second Trimester

I am officially in my 2nd trimester! How cool! The first one flew by and I know the rest of the pregnancy will too. I am just trying to enjoy every minute of it because I will never get this time back. They say the 2nd trimester is the "honeymoon" of pregnancy. I am excited to see what it is like. The first trimester was a breeze and there were so many times that I practically forgot I was pregnant. Here is what is happening with the babies this month:

Week 14

Baby's Length: 3.25-4 in.

Baby's Weight: 1-1.50 oz.

Baby's Size: Peach

Month 4

External Features: At four months fetal skin is transparent enough for underlying blood vessels to be seen clearly. Fingernails are well established and toenails begin to form. Nostrils by this time are almost formed and eyes move from the lateral sides of the head to the ventral side. Soft and thin hairs, called lunugo hairs, begin to grow on the scalp.

Organ Systems: Internally, a male fetus forms seminal vesicle and ovaries in the female fetus contain primordial follicles. Throughout the body, brown fat formation begins, as does hematopoiesis (blood cell formation) in the bone marrow. Liver functionality begins. In the brain, pyramidal tracts begin to form and tranverse grooves appear on the dorsal surface of the cerebellum.

A fetus at this stage had enough autonomy to suck its thumb and is active enough for the mother to feel the fetal movements. The time when a mother first feels the movement of the fetus is called "quickening."

Love, Megan