The second three months of pregnancy

You've made it through the vulnerable first three months, and you're into the second trimester - a time when, it's said, your baby's mother should be blooming with health. So what's happening under the surface... to the baby, and her mum?

How has the baby developed?

By week 14 the risk of miscarriage is reduced by 65 per cent. Your baby looks fully formed but won’t be able to survive outside the womb until about week 24 – partly because the lungs aren’t yet fully developed.

• Babies at this stage measure around three inches and weigh nearly 43g (1.5 oz), although this does vary.
• The genitals are growing and the neck is fully formed.
• Your baby can bend and twist her fingers and toes.
• Even though her ears are not yet fully formed, she can hear.
• She is also starting to grow hair.

Whats happening to your partner?

The good news is that the morning sickness is over but the physical signs of pregnancy will become unmistakable.

• The baby’s constant movement may also cause some discomfort.
• She’ll soon have trouble fastening her trousers as her bump begins to show.
• Her skin and hair may be affected by hormonal changes and this can cause spots in some women.
• She may also experience constipation, odd cravings for foods and mood swings.
• Your changing partner
• Her health in pregnancy: the basics

The second scan

Between 18 to 22 weeks it is time for the next antenatal check up and scan, also known as the Anomaly Scan. By now your baby will measure around six inches and weigh around 190g (7 oz).

• Scans: what to expect

The midwife will let you hear the baby's heart beating - twice as fast as an adults heart rate - and you may be able to see some movement on the scan.

They may be able to tell the baby’s sex by now but it is not an exact science and in the UK different hospitals have different policies on whether to reveal the sex of the baby.

At this point they will offer your partner the Triple Test test for Down’s syndrome; Depending on the results, you may be offered an amniocentesis to find out for sure if your baby has Down's syndrome or not.

• During an amniocentesis, a needle is inserted through your partner's abdomen and into the amniotic fluid that surrounds the foetus. A small sample is removed for testing. The procedure normally takes up to ten minutes and your partner shouldn't experience anything more than mild discomfort. Your baby will be oblivious to what's going on.

Age and other factors can increase the risk of Down's syndrome, and the NHS website has more information on the screening programme.

• Problems in pregnancy: what can go wrong?

The first kicks

Babies enter their most active phase from 20 weeks – kicking, punching, stretching, twisting and turning, which you will be able to see and feel through your partner’s stomach.

By this stage the baby is able to hear and recognise your voice. On the next scan you might see her sucking her thumb or stroking her face because the taste buds and nerve endings have been formed.

24 weeks

Don't forget!
You must tell your employer that you're planning to take paternity leave by about the 25th week of pregnancy

The baby is at least eight inches long and weighs about 600g (1¼ pounds).

• The body begins production of white blood cells to fight infection and if your partner went into labour at this stage there would be at least a 20 per cent chance of the baby surviving if she was born prematurely.
• The new nerve endings allow more control over the hands and feet, and your baby can make a fist.
• Soon her nostrils will open, and her teeth are developing in buds inside the gums.
• The final three months of pregnancy
• What goes on at an ante natal class?

Author

Gavin Evans is a father of two daughters - aged 17 and 13 - and lives in North London. 15 years ago he changed gear from being a full-time reporter to full-time parent and part-time journalist. His writing on issues affecting fathers has been published in a wide range of publications including The Guardian, The Independent, Men's Health, Cosmopolitan, The Times and The New Statesman. He has written five books on sport, a chapter on men in Your Pregnancy Bible and is completing his first screenplay. Gavin also regularly posts blogs at www.gavinevans.net.

Your experiences

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