Skip to main content

What major changes occur in a developing fetus during the second trimester of pregnancy?

The second trimester of pregnancy (the fourth, fifth, and sixth months) may be best described as the time when the fetus really begins to look like what we think of as a baby. During the first trimester, the embryo grows from just a small clump of cells to a recognizable fetus. Beginning with the fourth month, or about the fourteenth week of pregnancy, some major changes begin to take place! The fetal brain is beginning...

The second trimester of pregnancy (the fourth, fifth, and sixth months) may be best described as the time when the fetus really begins to look like what we think of as a baby. During the first trimester, the embryo grows from just a small clump of cells to a recognizable fetus. Beginning with the fourth month, or about the fourteenth week of pregnancy, some major changes begin to take place! The fetal brain is beginning to fire nerve impulses, and the fetus may be gaining a sense of control over their facial muscles. The fetus may be observed moving on an ultrasound during the fourth month, though the mother may not feel it for several more weeks. The liver and pancreas begin producing secretions, and cartilage is beginning to harden into bone.


During the fifth month, the mother is more likely to feel "kicking" or quickening, as the fetus has increased control over their muscles and many of the bones and joints have hardened. The senses will also begin to develop around this time, and myelin is laid down as a protective coating of the nerves. Because the fetus' sense of hearing is developing during this time, some parents like to talk or play music and observe for fetal movement.


During the sixth month of gestation, the fetal heartbeat may now be heard with a stethoscope. A fine, peach-fuzz like fur covers all of the fetus' body and will help to keep them warm after birth. Meconium--the baby's first poo after being born--is developing inside the gastrointestinal tract. By this time, the fetus is far more recognizable as a baby, and even develops eyelashes and eyebrows. The nails also finish growing during this time. Towards the end of the sixth month, the fetus will begin to store fat in their soft tissues, and the lower airways of the lungs are beginning to develop.

Popular posts from this blog

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...
Post a Comment
Read more

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

Explain and discuss how the definitions of freedom change for the nation, for the freedmen and for southern whites after the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to... After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to belong to without being ordered to attend religious services (or not to attend) by their mast...
Post a Comment
Read more