Pregnancy is the most beautiful phase of a woman’s life. If you are pregnant, you would want to experience the entire phase in the best possible way. From conception to delivery, your baby will go through several stages of development. This is why pregnancy is divided into a few stages and phases. The entire nine-month pregnancy period consists of 40 weeks, which is divided into three trimesters.
The baby in your womb which was a cluster of cells to begin with, during the first part of the first trimester begins to develop more in the second trimester. The second trimester begins from the 12th or 13th week and lasts till about the 24th or 25th week.
Here we’ll give you a week-by-week breakdown of the development of a baby during the second trimester of pregnancy.
Week 13
When you enter the 13th week of your pregnancy, the baby in your womb starts making urine and releasing it into the amniotic sac. The amniotic fluid is swallowed by the baby and then released back in the form of urine into the amniotic sac (1). It is also during this time that bones in your baby’s body begin to harden, especially the long bones and the bones in the head. If you talk about the skin, it is still transparent and will begin to thicken soon.
Week 14
14 weeks into the pregnancy, your baby’s sex will start becoming more apparent. You will also feel the baby’s neck and lower limbs becoming more well-defined. It is during this phase that red blood cells start developing in the baby’s spleen. By this time, your baby will be almost 3 and a half inches long and will weigh around 45 grams.
Week 15
The second trimester (2) is very crucial for the overall development of your baby. The bones that started growing in the 14th week continue to do so in the 15th week too. You will be able to see all this development in ultrasound a few weeks from now. In the 15th week, your baby’s scalp and hair patterns also start forming.
Week 16
A 16th week into the pregnancy, your baby’s eyes start moving slowly. The head of the baby is still erect, and ears are also about to reach their final shape and position. In the 16th week, your baby’s limb movements are such that they can be detected by ultrasound. Although, you won’t be able to feel them. Your baby’s length also increases by almost an inch reaching up to 4 and a half inches.
Week 17
Your baby starts becoming more and more active during this phase of pregnancy. The development of toenails also starts in the 17th week. Your baby’s activity in the amniotic sac also enhances, and his/her heart pumps around 100 pints of blood each day.
Week 18
The 18th week of your pregnancy is crucial in several forms for your baby. The baby’s ears are almost developed, and this is the time your baby might start hearing sounds. His/her digestive system also starts developing in this phase of pregnancy. By this time, your baby’s length also increases by almost another inch reaching up to 5 and a half inches.
Week 19
During this week, the development of your baby slows down a bit. The organs and body parts that have developed until now are covered by a protective layer called vernix caseosa (3). This is a greasy coating that starts developing on your baby’s body protecting it from any harm – abrasions or chapping of the skin – that can occur due to its body’s exposure to amniotic fluid.
Week 20
During this week, you are just halfway into your pregnancy. By now you’ve reached almost halfway, and you must be feeling great about delivering a baby soon. But you need to be more cautious now as your pregnancy progresses further.
A 20th week into the pregnancy, your baby can now sleep and rise regularly. You can also start to feel some of its movements. Also, the length of the baby also increases by almost one inch again, reaching up to 6 and a half inches.
Week 21
By this time, the baby is covered with fine hair called lanugo. The main function of the lanugo is to hold vernix caseosa in place. Now the priority is to help protect the baby’s developed body parts. Vernix caseosa helps in doing the same.
It makes sure that any movement in the amniotic fluid doesn’t cause any harm to the baby. You might have observed most babies suck their thumb; this is a reflex action that develops during the 21st week of pregnancy.
Week 22
By the 22nd week, your baby’s hair is visible, both on the eyebrows and on the scalp. The fat underneath the skin also starts forming. This is the beginning of body heat production in your baby’s body. The length of your baby has by now reached 7 and a half inches.
Week 23
Your baby’s movements become more prominent in the 23rd week of pregnancy. It can start hiccupping or making some sudden jerky movements, including rapid eye movements. The basic foundations for fingerprints start in this week of pregnancy. Ridges start developing on the palms and soles of feet, which will later form fingerprints & footprints.
Week 24
Your baby’s skin starts showing off the developed blood capillaries which look like wrinkles on the skin.
Week 25
If you are waiting for your baby to respond to your movements and sound, this is the time for that. During the 25th week of pregnancy, your baby starts responding to sound from outside.
Week 26
This is that period of pregnancy when your baby’s lungs start developing. While developing, the lungs ensure that the air sacs are held in place. By now, your baby might be around 9 and a half inches long.
Week 27
This is almost the end of the second trimester.
Word From Us
With still 12-13 weeks remaining before you deliver your baby, his/her nervous system begins developing in the next trimester. Make sure that you visit your doctor regularly to know more about the developmental process of your baby.
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