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Mother:
Most of the initial pregnancy discomforts are over, which
marks the start of the most enjoyable stage of pregnancy. Your
uterus will be enlarging at a steady, noticeable rate, which
may result in some abdominal achiness. This is normal - the
ligaments that support your uterus, begin to stretch to
accommodate your growing baby, in what is known as "round
ligament pain". Morning sickness may still hound you at this
stage, but should pass at the end of the third month. There
will be a marked increase in your appetite, but remember to
try and indulge in nutritious foods.
Baby:
Structures that were formed previously, continue to develop
rapidly. The bag of water surrounding your baby, cushions her
from bumps and allows her to move around freely within her
protective 'home'. The vocal cords begin to develop and the
face is looking more and more human-like each day, as the ears
move to a more normal position and the eyes move closer
together. Your baby's pancreas begins to produce insulin and
the liver begins secreting bile.
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Mother:
You are just beginning to "show" (this varies from woman to
woman). You will be feeling less tired and nauseous from now
onwards. You will probably start to "bloom" and feel fit and
active. Your uterus is the size of a large grapefruit, and may
also start pressing on your bowel - remember to increase your
daily fibre intake if constipation becomes a problem. You may
notice a dark line (the linea nigra) down the centre of your
abdomen, which will gradually fade after your baby is born.
Baby:
Your baby's heartbeat is strong and can be heard using an
ultrasound detector. The heartbeat is very fast - about twice as
fast as a normal adults heartbeat. Your baby is about 9-10cm
long from head to bottom, and begins to practice inhaling and
exhaling.
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Mother:
You are beginning to look like a pregnant mom. Your clothes feel
tight and it's time to put your jeans away.
Baby:
Your baby is growing quickly and the body is growing bigger so
that the head and body are more in proportion and your baby
doesn't look so top heavy. The hair on your baby's head is
becoming coarser, and the hair follicle's pigment cells are
beginning to produce pigment, which will eventually determine
your baby's hair colour. His/her skin is very thin and
transparent, making blood vessels visible through the skin. The
sucking reflex is already in action, and it is possible that you
will see your little one sucking his/her thumb on the ultrasound
scan.
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Mother:
This is an exciting week. A "highlight" of your pregnancy - it
marks the second antenatal visit and your doctor may do a scan
at this visit. Your partner may want to accompany you so that
you both can see an outline of your baby’s head and body on the
screen. Your waistline has disappeared.
Baby:
15cm long and weighing 28g, the fetus is now active and the
mother will feel his movements as he pushes his feet against the
amniotic sac. From now on, the time in the uterus will be spent
growing and maturing until the baby is able to survive
independently.
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Mother:
Your vaginal secretions may increase now. You may start feeling
a few flutters in your tummy which is definitely not
indigestion! Your nose may feel somewhat "stuffy" and you may
find yourself sweating more than usual (this is due to the extra
blood in your system).
Baby:
Your baby's mouth is now properly developed. From now on your
baby weighs more than its placenta. The baby begins to swallow
amniotic fluid continuously at this stage, helping her lungs
develop, ready for breathing at birth. The baby passes urine
into the amniotic fluid, which is continuously cleansed and
changed by the uterus. The amniotic fluid is completely replaced
every twenty-four hours until the baby is born. Any other waste
products are stored in the baby's intestines and will be
excreted as meconium after the birth.
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Mother:
You feel a prod or two which is definitely your baby moving. You
feel reassured about these exciting feelings. Your uterus is
just below your belly button now.
Baby:
The lines on the skin of the fingers are now formed, so your
baby has its own individual fingerprint. Finger and toe nails
are growing. Your baby is now about 20cm long. If your baby is a
boy, his prostate gland is beginning to develop.
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Mother:
You notice that your body is definitely rounder and you are
putting weight on your buttocks and thighs.
Baby:
Your baby's digestive system has matured in development but
still needs more refinement before birth.
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Mother:
You may see your baby's movements and you will notice your baby
being more and more active. Your navel will flatten and may even
pop out! Don't worry it will go back after delivery.
Baby:
Baby is now 25cm. long - just half as tall as he will be at
birth. Fluid has increased around your baby and it can move and
rotate in your womb with ease. He's now developing the ability
to spread his fingers wide or make a tight fist. The scalp hair
begins to grow. He has a complete set of vocal chords, but
without air he can't cry. If your baby is a girl, her uterus is
starting to develop.
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Mother:
Your skin has stretched to accommodate your growing abdomen and
may begin to itch. The top of your uterus is now parallel with
your belly-button. Heartburn is common at this stage - ask your
doctor to recommend some effective antacid tablets. Your ankles
and feet may swell, particularly at the end of the day. Drink
lots of water and try and rest with your feet elevated. You're
over halfway there already!
Baby:
Your baby's protective skin covering called vernix caseosa, is
forming from oil secretions in her skin. Vernix prevents your
baby's skin from becoming water logged in the amniotic fluid.
Gradually this creamy white covering will be absorbed by the
skin, but some may still be evident at birth.
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Mother:
A balanced maternal diet, rich in proteins and carbohydrates
will ensure your baby's developing organs attain normal size.
Your gums may be swelling because of pregnancy hormones in your
system. Dental hygiene is important during pregnancy.
Baby:
Your baby is now capable of strong sucking motions and some
babies are expert thumb-suckers long before birth. Your baby can
grip with his hands. The head to bottom length is about 16cm.
Your baby becomes covered in a very fine soft hair called "lanugo"
- the purpose of which is thought to regulate body temperature.
The lanugo disappears just before birth - though sometimes a
little is left. If your baby is a boy, his testes have begun
their descent from the pelvis to the scrotum.
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Mother:
Your weight gain is between (4.5 - 6.8kg). Your legs may feel
swollen especially if you have been on your feet all day. Try
and rest whenever you can and do put your "feet up". Many women
will now complain of stitch-like pains down the sides of their
stomachs - this is just the uterine muscle stretching, and will
disappear after a few minutes relaxation.
Baby:
May begin to follow a pattern of sleeping and waking. Very often
different from yours so when you go to bed, your baby wakes up
and starts kicking
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Mother:
The top of your uterus now reaches above your navel. You may be
feeling Braxton Hicks contractions or "rehearsal" contractions.
These contractions pump blood to your uterus.
Baby:
All the vital organs are now sufficiently mature for the baby to
survive a short time if he were delivered, but it's unlikely
that he'd live for very long because his lungs are still too
immature. The fetus's length is about 32cm and weighs about
566g.
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Mother:
Your uterus is the size of a football and you are noticeably
bigger. As the baby grows so does the need to pass urine more
frequently. Your growing uterus places pressure on your back and
pelvis which often results in aches and pains - Listen to your
body, rest when you feel the need!
Baby:
Your baby's nostrils are opening and muscular breathing
movements begin. External sounds such as music and voices are
heard by your baby. Your baby will weigh about 700g - but that
varies from baby to baby. The nostrils begin to open.
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Mother:
The top of your uterus is now between your belly button and your
rib cage. You may get cramps so avoid pointing your toes
downwards. If you feel your uterus suddenly tighten and then
relax, don't panic. You're experiencing what is called "Braxton
Hicks" Contractions or practice contractions. These are normal,
and usually quite painless (provided you have an empty
bladder!). They are your body's way of practicing and preparing
the uterus for the 'real thing'.
Baby:
Baby has a good chance of surviving outside the womb, due to the
formation of alveoli, the tiny air sacs in the lungs, and the
fact that the lungs now begin to secrete surfactant (a substance
which covers the inner lining of the air sacs which then allows
the lungs to expand normally during breathing). The care that
can now be given in neonatal units means more and more babies
born early do survive.
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Mother:
You will put on weight regularly now until about the 36th week.
At the end of this week, you will have finished the second
trimester already, which means that you should be experiencing
some shortness of breath, due to the uterus being so close to
your rib cage, and the lungs not having sufficient space to
expand.
Baby:
You will have heard your baby's heartbeat by now at one of your
antenatal visits. Your baby's eyelids are now able to open and
close.
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