“What is my baby’s life like before he is born? Will he be able to feel me? Will he listen when I talk to him or sing to him? Will he notice my touch?” These and many other questions are the doubts and concerns that run through the heads of many mothers during the development of the fetus in the second trimester of pregnancy.
Over the course of the first few months, fetal development leads to the halfway point of gestation. We are no longer talking about a set of cells! The fetus becomes more and more like a baby and even has organs and muscles that begin to function. If this second stage is characterized by something, in short, it is because it grows and matures in leaps and bounds.Keep reading! In this article we talk about this precious moment of sweet waiting.
The sweet wait: the second trimester of pregnancy
We always say that the development of the fetus in the second trimester of pregnancy is consideredthe sweetest moment. The so-called “sweet wait”. Because?
Changes that your body undergoes in the second trimester of pregnancy
First of all we forget that fears in pregnancy related to the loss of the baby so present during the first trimester disappear. Something that in itself invites tranquility. Discomfort and discomfort disappear (goodbye to the much hated nausea!) which is also something to be grateful for, right? Here you can delve deeper into the physical changes of pregnancy.
Everything we have discussed invites you to have increased appetite(which does not mean that you have to eat for two, far from it),tiredness disappears making sleep during pregnancyIt is more comforting and the energy is greater and the size of the belly invites enjoyment. It is important to pay special attention to the nutrition in pregnancysince it depends on it to obtain all the necessary nutrients for the baby.
The development of the fetus in the second trimester of pregnancy makes it the ideal time to take advantage and perform gentle exercises like the childbirth preparation classes.
Fetal development milestones from weeks 13 to 26
Once finished the development of the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy(until week 12 or so) its approximate size was 6-8cm long. So that we can imagine it, it would be like a pea pod or a lemon. Although he is still very small, at this moment his limbs are beginning to differentiate and distinguish themselves and even some of his organs are already formed.
We must emphasize that the dates , both of the delivery like pregnancy week by week, are estimated taking into account the first day of your last menstruation.
Weeks 13-14: The lanugo
His body begins to cover itself with lanugo, avery fine hair that helps protect it. The umbilical cord is stronger and also begins to form urine. At this time he is already able to swallow and suck.
Weeks 15-18: The first kicks!
Week 19: Formation of the “sebaceous joint”
Or what is the same, the vernix caseosa. It is a whitish substance that covers the skin of some babies when they are born. What is its function? Protect him from contact with amniotic fluid.
Week 20: Halfway through pregnancy!
We reach the halfway point of pregnancy. Here, yes, yesall its vital organs are formed(hence it is time to perform a vital ultrasound – morphological ultrasound – in pregnancy). Here you can get more information about pregnancy ultrasounds.
Week 21-22: Meconium
The baby does hisfirst deposition(the famous meconium) that is expelled through the intestinal tract. The development of the airways occurs and the bone marrow begins to generate blood cells.
Week 23: Fingerprints
The lines on the palms of the hands begin to form at the same time as thefingerprints and nails. Furthermore, the iris of the eye acquires its pigmentation.
Weeks 24-26: Mature sense organs
Week 27: Road to the final stretch
What tests are done in the second trimester?
The development of the fetus in the second trimester gives rise to the practice of tests as important as thealpha-protein (AFP) testin which detects the existence of neural tube defects (week 16-18) and of course… the 4th month ultrasound! This is themorphological ultrasoundwhose objective is review your anatomy and evaluate the baby’s organs one by one in order to detect possible anomalies.
In addition to blood and urine tests, theO’Sullivan testfor him screening of gestational diabetes. For this A very sugary drink is drunk and a blood test is performed one hour after drinking it to determine if the values are altered.
Magic moment: You discover the sex of your baby
It sounds cliché that:“I don’t care if it’s a boy or a girl, the only thing I want is for it to turn out well.”. Of course. But you won’t deny that you don’t fantasize about the idea in which they tell you the sex of the creature. It is a way to imagine it and begin to configure your identity. In the morphological ultrasound, the already formed genital organs can be seen.that indicate whether the future new member of the family will be a girl or a boy.
The development of the fetus in the second trimester of pregnancy is the sweetest part of the sweet wait. The mother-child bond is strengthened once you notice it for the first time within yourself. Your desire, strength and energy seem to increase by the moment. You feel powerful and with emotionspositives to the surface. You and only you are giving life! Is there a feeling of greater fulfillment?
Information is power! At SingularMomwe always advocate for a correct information and support from professionals. We are fully aware of the physical, physiological and psychological changes you are facing. That is why our goal is to offer you the answers and exercises so that you can fully enjoy your pregnancy consciously and with the comfort and security that being able to do it from home gives you.
Thanks to our online childbirth preparation classes You can resolve all these doubts while acquiring resources that will help you not only during pregnancy and childbirth.but also during the postpartum and also in breastfeeding.
