Second Trimester Your 3D Animated Pregnancy Guide

Now that you're in the second trimester there's so much to look forward to. Let's dive into all the incredible changes that's happening with your baby in those weeks. At the start of the second trimester your baby is about the size of a lime and by the end they'll be about the size of a cauliflower, weighing nearly two pounds and measuring 35 centimetres. This period of growth is essential as they prepare for life outside the womb. By week 13 your baby's body is becoming more proportionate. In early pregnancy their head is much larger compared to the rest of their body but during this trimester their limbs grow and they begin to look more like a newborn. Their face is also becoming more defined. Their eyes are moving closer together, ears shifting into place and their nose and lips are more prominent. The umbilical cord is also developing further, thickening and lengthening to ensure your baby gets all the oxygen and nutrients they need. Around this time your baby is also starting to develop reflexes and one of the most common ones is sucking their thumb. This is an important skill because it helps prepare them for feeding after birth. You might even see this happening in your ultrasound scan. It's an early sign that they're practicing for life outside the womb. Your baby's digestive system is also progressing. Around 14 weeks they start swallowing small amounts of amniotic fluid which helps their digestive tract develop. By week 16 their kidneys are functioning. They begin producing urine which is released into the amniotic fluid. Another fascinating change is the appearance of lanugo, a fine hair that begins covering your baby's body. This happens to regulate their temperature and protects their skin while they're still in the womb. At week 19 something exciting happens. You might feel your baby move for the first time. This is often called quickening and it can feel like tiny flutters or gas bubbles. As they grow these movements will become stronger and more frequent. You should start to notice a regular movement pattern between now and 24 weeks. Though if your placenta is at the front of your uterus called an anterior placenta it may cushion some movements making them harder to feel. If you have any concerns about the movements of your baby or feel a decrease in movements always contact your midwife or maternity unit. By week 20 your baby's hearing is developing and they can start recognising sounds. Your voice, your heartbeat and even music or conversations around you can be heard from inside the womb. Some studies suggest that babies may even respond to familiar sounds after birth so now is a great time to start talking or singing to them. During the second trimester you'll also have an important ultrasound known as the anatomy scan usually performed between 18 and 22 weeks. This detailed scan checks your baby's development, measures their growth and ensures everything is progressing as expected. If you want to find out your baby's gender this is usually when you can. By week 23 your baby's brain is developing at a rapid pace forming millions of neurons that will help them learn and develop after birth. At week 24 their lungs begin producing surfactant a substance that helps their lungs expand and contract preparing them for breathing after birth. At this stage babies born prematurely have a much greater chance of survival than ever before. Advances in neonatal care mean that babies born at 24 weeks now have around a 60% chance of survival. Now let's talk about what's happening to you. The second trimester is often a time when people start feeling better but your body is still working hard to support your growing baby. One of the most noticeable changes is often weight gain. On average people gain about one to two pounds per week during this trimester. Most of this weight comes from increased blood volume, the growing placenta and of course your baby. You may notice stretch marks appearing on your belly, breasts or thighs. This happens as your skin stretches to accommodate the growing bump. At first stretch marks often appear pink, red or purple but over time they usually fade to a pale white or silvery colour. Moisturising may help soothe any itching that comes with them but whether you develop stretch marks or not is mostly down to genetics. Another common change is the appearance of a dark line running down the centre of your belly. This is caused by pregnancy hormones and usually fades after birth. And that's the second trimester, a time of incredible growth and development for your baby and big changes for you as well. In the next video we'll dive into the third trimester and what you can expect as you prepare for labour and meeting your baby for the first time. If you found this helpful don't forget to like, subscribe and stay tuned for more real down to earth pregnancy advice. Thanks for watching and I'll see you next time.