Second Trimester...

As your pregnancy progresses, your baby might begin to seem more real. You might hear the heartbeat at your prenatal appointments, discover the sex of your child, and your enlarging abdomen might force you to put away your favorite jeans. But despite the minor troubles, the second trimester is typically the easiest.

While you're adjusting to the changes in body, fetal development is taking on a new meaning. It will seem as if it was only yesterday when your baby was simply a cluster of cells rolling its way down to your uterus. But now he or she has developed the ability to move its limbs, scratch its head and listen to your soft nurturing voice. I have made yet another road map for you to find out when these exciting activities will come into play.

Month 4 of Pregnancy:

Male or female genitalia are now formed and the baby's liver and spleen are producing red blood cells. Also, his or her upper limbs are proportionate to the rest of the body. The lower limbs are slightly shorter. Fifteen weeks into your pregnancy, or 13 weeks after conception, your baby is growing rapidly. Your baby's skeleton is developing bones, which will become visible on ultrasound images in a few weeks. Your baby's scalp hair pattern also is forming. Your baby's ears begin to stand out on the sides of his or her head and your child might even begin to hear.

By the 19th week, a greasy, cheese-like coating called vernix caseosa begins to cover your baby. The vernix caseosa helps protect your baby's delicate skin from abrasions, chapping and hardening that can result from exposure to amniotic fluid. 

Month 5 of pregnancy:

Approximately half way (week 20) through your pregnancy, you may begin to feel your baby move, since he or she is developing muscles and exercising them. This first movement is called quickening. your baby begins to have rapid eye movements. By week 23, your baby's tongue will soon develop taste buds. Fingerprints and footprints are forming. For boys, the testes are descending from the abdomen and for females, the uterus and vagina might begin to form. Along with a lifetime supply of eggs.

Month 6 of pregnancy:

Unfortunately, month 6 is the end of your relaxing state of pregnancy and is when most of the development has occurred. His or her skin becomes reddish in color, wrinkled, and veins are visible through the baby's translucent skin. Baby's finger and toe prints are visible. The eyelids begin to part and the eyes open and your precious baby can finally respond to your voice by simple movements. The final week of the trimester, or 25 weeks after conception, your baby's lungs and nervous system are continuing to mature. 

Reference:

Mayo Clinic. Ed. Kenneth G. Berge, Philip T. Hagen, Scott C. Litin, and Sheldon G. Sheps. Mayo Foundation, 4 Dec. 2012. Web. 11 May 2013. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fetal-development/PR00113>.

WebMD. Ed. Michael W. Smith, Brunilda Nazario, and Hansa Bhargava. WebMD, 8 July 2012. Web. 11 May 2013. <http://www.webmd.com/baby/4to6-months>