Second Trimester of Pregnancy Forum - Whats happening in the second trimester?

About you:
You should be feeling better now after all the sickness and tiredness. The risk of miscarriage drops. Your energy levels should be on the rise again. You may start to experience heartburn. Your breasts are already beginning to form colostrum in preparation for the baby's birth. Make sure you get loads of fibre in your diet, as constipation may start to become a problem now. You may find you need to start wearing maternity clothing!Some women notice the development of small tags of skin. These are harmless, but if you are concerned about them in any way, show them to your care provider. Your sexual drive may return. This is the earliest possible time to consider an amniocentesis. This test is used to detect genetic abnormalities and determine fetal well-being. You may start to feel the baby in this trimester, around week 16 onwards
About the baby: week 14
The chin, nose and forehead are more defined, and look more human now. The baby is able to smile, frown and wrinkle its brow. Reflexes are now beginning to operate. Touch the baby's feet and her toes will curl down, touch her palms and her fingers will close. The baby's neck is longer now and its chin is no longer resting on its chest. Though your little one is still only about 3 inches long and weighs no more than a slice of cheese it has its own distinct fingerprints. Though medical science hasn't completely figured out how, the amniotic fluid completely regenerates itself every 3 to 4 hours, constantly providing the baby with a clean, warm, safety cushion.
week 15
Your baby may be able to hear now and is comforted by sound. colourless eyelashes and eyebrows are formed. A very fine down, known as lanugo is now covering the baby's entire body. Most of this will disappear before her birth. The baby's heart is pumping the equivalent of about 25 quarts of blood a day. The scalp hair pattern is developing. If you could see it you would already be able to tell if he got Daddy's cowlick.
Week 16
Your baby may be 6 inches long now and weigh 3oz. Fingernails and toenails are forming. The baby's eyes are moving now, even though the eyelids are still shut. The eyes are very sensitive to light. The baby may experience its first hiccups, although it might not be felt yet. The genitals are formed well now and you may be able to find out the sex. The baby is drinking an average of 16 ounces of amniotic fluid a day now.
Week 17
Brown fat deposits are forming under the baby's skin now. This fat will help her to maintain her body temperature after birth. The baby is starting to outweigh the placenta. Loud noises may startle the baby. Tastebuds are developed now.
Week 18
The baby's bones are growing stronger. The baby weighs almost half a pound now. Meconium, the baby's first bowel movement, is beginning to accumulate in the bowel. It is made up of undigested debris from the amniotic fluid and various secretions of the digestive tract. Your little boy's prostate gland is beginning to develop. Though there is no direct exchange of blood between you and the baby, the placenta is transferring nutrients and oxygen from your blood to the baby via the umbilical cord. Vernix, a white, cheesy textured substance, is now covering and protecting the baby's delicate skin.
Week 19
Your little girl now has about 6 million rudimentary eggs in her ovaries, they will decrease to about 1 million by the time she is born. Buds for permanent teeth are now forming behind the buds for baby teeth. If your little one is suffering from hydocephalus, spina bifida or other central nervous system abnormalities, they can be seen by ultrasound now. The baby spends about 6 hours a day awake and 18 or so asleep. This is about the same ratio as a newborn.
Week 20
Your little girl's uterus and vagina are developing now. Your baby's heart is beating at a rate of 120 to 160 beats per minute. The baby's sense of smell is present now
Week 21
Your baby should be moving vigorously by now and can be stimulated or soothed by you. Baby's legs have grown longer and are now in the proper proportion to the rest of his body. The baby is hungry even if you are not, so try not to skip any meals.
Week 22
Your baby now weighs between 3/4 and 1 pound and is about 10 inches long. Although the baby is still very thin, she is beginning to grow, gain weight and lay down the necessary amount of fat for good health. The liver is starting to function
Week 23
Your baby's pancreas is developing well and is even beginning to produce insulin. The bones in the little one's middle ear are hardening now. Your baby weighs at a pound.
Week 24
Your little one may put on as much as 6 ounces this week. That is 1/3 of his total body weight. That is comparable to a 130 lb. woman gaining 43 pounds in one week! The lungs are gaining blood vessels now.
Week 25
All 33 rings, 150 joints and 1000 ligaments in the structure of the spine are forming now. The surfactant that is essential for lung function after birth is beginning to develop.
Week 26
Your baby may weigh 2 pounds now. The skin is less transparant now. The baby's brain is now registering brain wave activity for the visual and auditory systems. Many babies have got a predictable sleeping routine now
Week 27
The eyes can open now. The skin is very wrinkled now. The retina at the back of your baby's eyes is beginning to develop. The hair follicles on the skin are just now forming. Blood flows through the umbilical cord and through the baby's body within 30 seconds, traveling at 4 mph.