Third and Fourth Months of Pregnancy

Your pregnancy is progressing along. If you did not realize you were pregnant before, you certainly do now. By the end of the fourth month most women are no longer able to fit comfortably into their pants. Your lower abdomen is starting to swell slightly and you can feel it even if you do not “show” to others just yet.

The Baby

The baby is growing rapidly every day. During the third month it still is very tiny, three to four inches long. She is forming ears and her eyes are open, although her eyelids are not yet formed. Her limbs and bones are growing, too. The baby moves around vigorously, but the mother typically cannot feel it just yet. The brain is developed almost fully and the head is a disproportionately large part of the body.

In the fourth month your baby will almost double in length to over six inches. The doctor should be able to hear the fetus’ heart beat by the end of the month. The baby floats gently in the amniotic fluid and even urinates now. It is now clearly distinguishable as a boy or girl, but not necessarily by sonogram. By the fourth week your baby can “breathe”. She is starting to practice using her lungs now. She could even be a thumb sucker by now.

Mom

You are still feeling tired a good bit, but this will start to ease up as you move from your first trimester (one to three months) into your second trimester. Morning sickness usually eases up after the first three months, as well.

You may start to show and need to wear maternity clothes. Your breasts are swelling and preparing for breastfeeding. Make sure you are eating a healthy diet. Avoid the old adage “you are eating for two now.” A good weight gain in the early months is one to two pounds a month.

A pregnant woman’s skin changes, too. Breast nipples start to darken and a dark line often appears down the middle of the tummy. This dark line is called the linea nigra. Skin changes such as these indicate the presence of healthy pregnancy hormones. If you have made it to your fourth month your chance of miscarrying is greatly decreased.

contact@yourpregnancybooklet.com