INFOGRAPHICPREGNANCY

The Second Trimester: A Month-by-Month Timeline

By Kerry Weiss
Reviewed by Alyssa Quimby, M.D.
November 01, 2022
The Second-Trimester Timeline The second trimester lasts from weeks 14 to 27, or months 4 through 6. Month 4 You might still have some early-pregnancy symptoms, like nausea and fatigue. But as the month goes on, those tend to fade, and you may feel more energized. In fact, you may even experience an increased libido in the second trimester. You may start to notice a few new symptoms, such as: Heartburn Constipation Bleeding gums or nosebleeds Stuffy nose Snoring You should increase your food intake by around 300 nutrient-rich calories a day. Examples: 1 medium pear and a small handful of almonds 1 low-fat string cheese with 1 cup of cherry tomatoes 1 cup of veggies with 2 tablespoons of hummus You probably have scheduled checkups every 4 weeks. Ask your doctor any and all questions you have. By the end of the month, the baby will be around 6 inches long and weigh about 4 ounces. Month 5 You may start to “look pregnant.” Most people start to show between 16 and 20 weeks during their first pregnancy. In subsequent pregnancies, they tend to show sooner. Your bump isn’t the only thing growing—you may have gone up around 2 bra sizes by this point. Your doctor may recommend you gain up to 1 pound each week from now until the end of pregnancy. And because the fetus is getting bigger, you may also start to feel them moving around. For most people’s first pregnancies, this happens around 18 to 20 weeks. Many people compare the feeling of these first movements to butterfly flutters. [box:]The Anatomy Scan Around 20 Weeks This important test checks on the development of your baby’s organs and screens for potential issues. It’s also when you can reliably find out the baby’s predicted sex—if you want to. The 20-week mark is also the approximate halfway point in your pregnancy. Your sleep position counts—around week 20, it’s important to start sleeping on your side to help promote healthy blood flow to your baby. By the end of the month, your baby will be around 10 inches long, weighing anywhere from about ½ to 1 pound. Month 6 In the second half of pregnancy, the baby starts to grow rapidly. As your bump gets bigger, your center of gravity changes, making it easier to lose your balance. If you fall, your baby will likely be fine, but make sure you tell your doctor. For a fall after 24 weeks, they’ll probably ask you to come in for monitoring. Stretch marks may also start to appear. Your breasts/chest may start to leak colostrum, the first type of milk your body produces for your baby. But this doesn’t happen to everyone! If it doesn’t, it’s not a sign of nursing struggles. You may even start to notice painless “practice” contractions called Braxton Hicks contractions. These are the first signs your body is preparing for labor and delivery. You may also experience an increased appetite. Food cravings tend to peak in the second trimester. By the end of the month, your baby will be around 12 inches long and weigh around 2 pounds. Next up will be the third trimester, your final countdown to meeting your baby! Sources American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Cleveland Clinic March of Dimes Mayo Clinic National Childbirth Trust. Sex in trimester one, two and three of pregnancy. Accessed October 6, 2022. National Health Service (UK) National Institutes of Health Planned Parenthood. Pregnancy Month by Month. Accessed October 6, 2022. Tommy’s. Sleep position in pregnancy Q&A. Accessed October 6, 2022. White, L. (2022) When do you start showing in pregnancy? Mother & Baby.

For the text version of this infographic, read on:

The Second-Trimester Timeline

The second trimester lasts from weeks 14 to 27, or months 4 through 6.

Month 4

You might still have some early-pregnancy symptoms, like nausea and fatigue. But as the month goes on, those tend to fade, and you may feel more energized.

In fact, you may even experience an increased libido in the second trimester.

You may start to notice a few new symptoms, such as:

You should increase your food intake by around 300 nutrient-rich calories a day. Examples:

  • 1 medium pear and a small handful of almonds
  • 1 low-fat string cheese with 1 cup of cherry tomatoes
  • 1 cup of veggies with 2 tablespoons of hummus

You probably have scheduled prenatal visits every 4 weeks. Ask your doctor any and all questions you have.

By the end of the month, the baby will be around 6 inches long and weigh about 4 ounces.

Month 5

You may start to “look pregnant.” Most people start to show between 16 and 20 weeks during their first pregnancy. In subsequent pregnancies, they tend to show sooner.

Your bump isn’t the only thing growing—you may have gone up around 2 bra sizes by this point.

Your doctor may recommend you gain up to 1 pound each week from now until the end of pregnancy.

And because the fetus is getting bigger, you may also start to feel them moving around. For most people’s first pregnancies, this happens around 18 to 20 weeks. Many people compare the feeling of these first movements to butterfly flutters.

Week 20

This is the approximate halfway point in your pregnancy.

Around this time, you’ll have an anatomy scan. This important test checks on the development of your baby’s organs and screens for potential issues. It’s also when you can reliably find out the baby’s predicted sex—if you want to.

Your sleep position counts—around this time, it’s important to start sleeping on your side to help promote healthy blood flow to your baby.

By the end of the month, your baby will be around 10 inches long, weighing anywhere from about ½ to 1 pound.

Month 6

In the second half of pregnancy, the baby starts to grow rapidly.

As your bump gets bigger, your center of gravity changes, making it easier to lose your balance. If you fall, your baby will likely be fine, but make sure you tell your doctor. For a fall after 24 weeks, they’ll probably ask you to come in for monitoring.

Stretch marks may also start to appear.

Your breasts/chest may start to leak colostrum, the first type of milk your body produces for your baby. But this doesn’t happen to everyone! If it doesn’t, it’s not a sign of nursing struggles.

You may even start to notice painless “practice” contractions called Braxton Hicks contractions. These are the first signs your body is preparing for labor and delivery.

You may also experience an increased appetite. Food cravings tend to peak in the second trimester.

By the end of the month, your baby will be around 12 inches long and weigh around 2 pounds.

Next up will be the third trimester, your final countdown to meeting your baby!

Sources

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Cleveland Clinic

March of Dimes

Mayo Clinic

National Childbirth Trust. Sex in trimester one, two and three of pregnancy. Accessed October 6, 2022.

National Health Service (UK)

National Institutes of Health

Planned Parenthood. Pregnancy Month by Month. Accessed October 6, 2022.

Tommy’s. Sleep position in pregnancy Q&A. Accessed October 6, 2022.

White, L. (2022) When do you start showing in pregnancy? Mother & Baby.