Fourth month of pregnancy marks the beginning of the second trimester and now gives you the opportunity to start enjoying your pregnancy. So far you have made it through morning sickness, constipation, and maybe some headaches. But now these difficulties will set aside and you will once more feel a bit of energy coming back in you. Second trimester is known the safest for traveling as well. So if you are planning a little vacation, then this is the time.

Your Baby

Your baby now moves, kicks, swallows and can even hear your voice. The baby’s skin is pink and transparent. The umbilical cord continues to grow and thicken to carry enough nourishment from mother to fetus. Placenta is fully formed. By end of 4th month, fetus is 6 to 7 inches long and weighs about 5 ounces. . Your baby is starting to look more like a real baby. The facial features and outer ears are developing. The head is about half the size of the body. As your baby grows larger, you may start feeling it tiny kicks which is a really special feeling. Your baby will have periods of sleep and more active periods when he is awake. This tiny movements are called quickening.

Your Body

Your body is going through a lot of changes in the fourth month of pregnancy. Your appetite will increase as your morning sickness goes away. You will also start to feel more energetic. By the end of fourth month of your pregnancy, you will be able to feel the baby movements or quickening. By the fourth month your belly begins to show and now is the time to go for maternity clothes and bigger bras. Your body now needs extra iron for the growing baby, so eat lot of iron rich food. You will probably gain about 1 pound a week, or 12 to 14 pounds, during the second trimester.

Prenatal Care Guide

Fourth month of pregnancy also means lot many tests from the doctor’s side. If your doctor recommends prenatal testing using amniocentesis, or alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) testing for neural tube defects, they will be done at 16 to 18 weeks. Also as you feel your baby’s movement, remember to mention it to your doctor. Feeling the baby move is one way to confirm the due date you have been given. At this visit, the doctor will check the baby’s heart rate and measure the fundal height. You will be weighed and a sample of urine will be tested for the presence of protein or sugar.

The fourth month of pregnancy is also the right time to join the child birth classes. Depending on the method you choose, there may be many sessions. Consider other classes that may be offered at your hospital or birth center. Some first time moms find the newborn care classes to be very useful.