Q: Fetus in second trimester?

Posted Wednesday, April 23, 2008 9:31 PM

Q: What basic changes does my baby go through in the second trimester?

A: In the second trimester (weeks 14 to 28), baby goes through major development, forming more detail and getting all of those brand new body parts into working order. His organs further develop and start functioning, getting ready for life in the outside world. He also grows eyebrows, eyelashes and fingernails (aww!), and his wrinkly skin becomes covered with fine hair (called lanugo) and a waxy protective coating (called vernix). In the second trimester you'll have the option of finding out baby's gender, as the genitals develop and can be viewed during an ultrasound (usually at your 20 week appointment). You'll start to feel baby too, as the little acrobat starts flipping and kicking around. In addition, by the end of trimester two baby will be able to swallow, hear, pee and suck his thumb.

-- Erin Walters 

Nestpert: American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists. Your pregnancy and birth. 4th ed. Washington, DC: ACOG; 2005.

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