Second Trimester of Pregnancy

Weight gain in the second trimester should be between 12 and 14 pounds. The fourth month is considered weeks 14 through 17. The uterus is continuing to grow during the pregnancy's fourth month, and it may have reached the size of a small melon. A hardening under the belly button is another of the most common second trimester pregnancy symptoms.

The placenta is fully formed by the pregnancy's fourth month, allowing the baby to breathe and eat. Tenderness in the breasts may have decreased and appetite may have increased. Often near the end of the fourth month, the mother-to-be can feel fetal movement. Some other symptoms for month four may include:

Pregnancy Fourth Month

• a change in overall appearance due to weight gain
• apprehension and frustration
• swelling and bleeding gums
• red palms
• healthier appearance of hair (more shine and body)
• worse appearance of hair (limp)
• trouble sleeping
• snoring due to nasal stuffiness
• milky and mild smelling discharge from the vagina
• higher blood pressure than normal
• sugar in the urine
• anemia
• nosebleeds
• nasal stuffiness

Pregnancy Fifth Month

The fifth month of pregnancy is the 18th to the 22nd week. If the mother-to-be has not felt the baby move, she is very likely to feel it this month. Her abdomen will become very round. She may feel the following symptoms:

• aches in her abdomen
• faintness
• a hearty appetite
• leg cramps
• mild swelling of the face and ankles
• a faster heart rate
• faster growing of hair and nails
• aches in her feet
• easier or more difficult orgasm
• backache
• skin discoloration on her face and/or abdomen
• itchy palms
• dry eyes
• visual changes (for the duration of the pregnancy)
• a protruding navel
• irregularities in body temperature
• forgetfulness

Pregnancy Sixth Month

The sixth month of pregnancy is weeks 23 to 27. Mom-to-be may feel like her child is doing leg exercises, karate kicks or trying to break through her belly at times. There is a definite increase in fetal activity. She may feel aches along the sides from the stretching of her uterus. A protruding navel is now apparent. It is not uncommon for the mother-to-be to begin to feel some anxiety about the next phase of the pregnancy. In addition to the other symptoms previously discussed, she may have the following:

• pain and numbness in the hands
• a tingling sensation in the hands and feet
• clumsiness
• an itchy abdomen
• rectal bleeding, hemorrhoids
• anal fissures
• clogged milk ducts
• toxemia (hypertension caused by pregnancy)

Prenatal care is extremely important. Many of these conditions occur in 20 to 50 percent of all pregnant women. It is important to be under the care of a physician who can offer suggestions on how to ease your fourth month pregnancy symptoms and make you more comfortable.

First trimester
Final trimester