Your Pregnancy Week By Week: Fetal Development

Fetal Development: Week by Week- Week 13

You are now nearing the beginning of your second trimester of pregnancy and some of your more intense pregnancy symptoms may begin to get better. For many pregnant women, morning sickness goes away and they find that they are not as tired as they were before.

At this point your baby looks like a tiny infant with fully formed limbs and fingers and toes. Your body is also beginning to swell and grow as your baby begins to take up more and more space. Your uterus may even pop outside of your pelvic cavity a bit and alleviate the urge to urinate frequently.

Fetal Development: Week by Week- Pregnancy Week 14

Your baby continues to grow and develop. During this week in pregnancy, the fetus' neck continues to get longer and the eyes move closer together. He is learning how to move his hands through the amniotic fluid. Amazingly, his movements through the amniotic fluid may help influence how his fingerprints are formed. Fingerprints are formed by a complex variety of changes to the finger pads during the first several months. But both genetics and external circumstances may determine their final pattern....which is why no two fingerprints are ever the same!!!

By now, some of the more uncomfortable early pregnancy symptoms should be getting a bit better. But you may notice that you are a little more constipated than usual. The pregnancy hormones can have that effect by causing your bowel muscles to work slower. In addition, your growing baby is compressing your intestines making it difficult to completely evacuate them. Try increasing your fluids and the amount of fiber in your Pregnancy Diet.

Fetal Development: Week by Week – Pregnancy Week 15

During this week, your baby's body is covered in a very fine hair known as lanugo which protects the skin. In addition, during the 14^th week of pregnancy, your baby's bones are getting harder and muscles are developing more. His hearing is also getting better and he may jump in response to loud noises.

Your body should be growing and changing to accommodate your growing baby. Be sure to notify your physician if you gain a significant amount of weight very rapidly as it could be a sign of a pregnancy complication.

Fetal Development: Week by Week – Pregnancy Week 16

If you were to get a prenatal ultrasound during the 16^th week of pregnancy, your OBGYN would be able to tell you whether you were having a boy or a girl! In addition, you may notice your little baby sucking his thumb or grabbing his umbilical cord. During this week, your baby will also be urinating and over the last few weeks of pregnancy, his first stool (known as Meconium) has been forming in his intestines.

Sometime during the next few weeks, you may also begin to feel the first fluttery movements of your baby. These early movements may feel like gas bubbles or butterfly wings. If you have been pregnant before, you may be more aware of these movements and notice them sooner. Don't worry though if you don't feel anything yet, it is still very early!

• Fetal Development Weeks 1-4
• Fetal Development Weeks 5-8
• Fetal Development Weeks 9-12
• Fetal Development Weeks- 13-16
• Fetal Development Weeks 17-21
• Fetal Development Weeks 22-26
• Fetal Development Weeks 27-31
• Fetal Development Weeks 32-36
• Fetal Development Weeks 37-40