The fetus is becoming more active and developing features that will be recognizable at birth. Fine hair called lanugo is covering the body, and the fetus is practicing "breathing" by inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid. You may notice your bump growing more visibly now.
Your Baby This Week
Size: Lemon (about 8.5 cm, or 3.4 inches)
Weight: About 43 grams
- Lanugo: A fine, downy hair covering the entire body. It helps regulate temperature and will mostly disappear before birth.
- Breathing practice: The fetus moves the diaphragm in and out, inhaling amniotic fluid. This strengthens the muscles needed for breathing after birth.
- Facial expressions: More varied now, including sucking and swallowing motions
- Neck: Longer and more defined. The chin no longer rests on the chest.
- Thyroid gland: Producing hormones
- Roof of the mouth (palate): Fully formed
The fetus is also producing meconium, the dark, sticky substance that will be its first bowel movement after birth.
Your Body
- Growing belly. The uterus is rising above the pubic bone and your bump is harder to hide.
- Round ligament pain. Sharp, brief pains in the lower abdomen or groin when you change position quickly.
- Thicker hair. Hormones slow the normal hair shedding cycle, making hair look fuller.
- Stuffy nose. Pregnancy rhinitis from increased blood flow to mucous membranes.
- Increased energy. The second-trimester boost is real for most people.
What to Do This Week
- Start sleeping on your side if you are not already. As the uterus grows, sleeping on your back can compress a major blood vessel (the inferior vena cava). Left side is often recommended, but either side is fine.
- Moisturize your belly. While stretch marks are largely genetic, keeping the skin hydrated can reduce itching as it stretches.
- Eat iron-rich foods. Your blood volume is increasing, and iron needs go up. Red meat, spinach, lentils, and fortified cereals are good sources.
Common Questions
Can the baby feel when I touch my belly?
The fetus can respond to pressure on the uterine wall, but it is a reflex at this stage, not a conscious response. Touching and rubbing your belly is perfectly safe and may become a bonding habit.
Why do I keep getting nosebleeds?
Increased blood volume and swollen blood vessels in the nasal passages make nosebleeds common during pregnancy. They are usually harmless. Keeping the inside of your nose moist with saline spray can help prevent them.