The second trimester

At about 20 weeks, your uterus will extend beyond the belly button. An ultrasound can clearly identify your baby’s gender. If you are carrying a girl, she already has six million eggs in her ovaries. By birth, the amount of eggs will have decreased to one-sixth of this amount.

By 22 weeks, your foetus weighs nearly one pound, and measures ten and a half inches head to toe. He or she more closely resembles a baby. Eyebrows and eyelashes begin to grow. And a tiny pair of ears can actually tune in to your conversations.

Periodically, some women may feel their uterus tightening. These contractions, called Braxton Hicks contractions, are harmless. You will probably continue to experience them throughout your pregnancy as your body prepares itself for birth. While Braxton Hicks are completely normal, if they occur more than four times an hour call your doctor or midwife. Differentiating between Braxton Hicks and the real thing is sometimes difficult. It’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the signs of premature labour so that labour can be delayed until a safe time.

By 24 weeks, rapid eye movement has begun. Does this mean your baby is dreaming of past lives? Weighing in at one pound, six ounces and measuring 11 and a quarter inches, head to toe, your baby now has a five to 20% chance of survival if born today. By the time your foetus weighs two pounds, the odds of survival soar to 70%, although premature babies are more susceptible to a host of problems.

Owing to an increase in maternal oestrogen and progesterone, pregnant women are more susceptible to dental problems.

Between weeks 24 to 28, your baby is at his or her most active. More sensitive to the environment, your baby can now respond to touch and will jump in reaction to a loud noise, such as the pan of roast beef you just dropped. Why so clumsy? Water retention and loosening of joints are to blame. Plus forgetfulness can be attributed to hormonal changes.

By week 28, you’ve reached the end of the second trimester. Your little one measures 13 inches head to toe and weighs two pounds and four ounces. Your baby’s eyelids, which have been fused shut, begin to open. From this point on, your baby will spend much time observing the womb.

The second trimester has been a great journey. Between your baby’s daily exercise routine and your burgeoning belly, you have tangible evidence that you are indeed carrying life inside you. It’s hard to believe that in just a little over two and a half months, you will be holding that evidence in your arms.