2nd Month
weeks 8 to 12
(after your last period)
Your BabyYour baby grows to be about 2 1/4 inches long and weighs ab out 1/2 to 1 ounce by the end of this month
A distinct umbilical cord has formed
Its head is large because its brain is growing faster than its other organs
Its heart beats
Its stomach, liver, and kidneys are forming
This is a critical period in developing your baby's structures for seeing and hearing
Cartilage, skin, and muscles are starting to give shape to your baby's body
Its fingers and toes are forming
Its fingernails are beginning to appear
Its facial features are forming
Your BodyThe placenta continues to grow and make more hormones
Your breasts increase in size and the area around your nipples begins to darken
Your vaginal secretions are becoming thicker, whiter, and stickier; the tissues in and around your vagina are bluish from the heavier blood supply brought in to nourish the baby
Your growing uterus crowds into the space next to your bladder and you begin to urinate more frequently
You may still have nausea, and it may be more noticeable in the morning
You may still be sleepier and more tired than usual
Your waistline may begin to get bigger
your uterus is still small enough to lie behind your pubic bone but it is softer, rounder and larger now; it may feel like a small lump above your pubic bone by the end of this month
You may gain a pound or two by the end of this monthYour Responsibility
Get a prenatal check-up this month and plan to have them regularly
Ask for your prenatal test results such as your blood pressure, weight, and urine each time
Know your blood type and Rh factor
Ask for your hemoglobin or hematocrit results to know if you are anemic
Rest and relax; you won't need this much sleep later
Start a daily habit of exercise--walk, swim, bike
Avoid cigarettes, alcohol, caffeine, junk foods and any medications unless prescribed by your doctor for use during pregnancy
Take prenatal vitamins and iron as prescribed
Eat a balanced diet--plenty of whole grain breads and cereals
Try to enroll in an "Early Bird" prenatal class
Share with your partner your ideas and worries about how pregnancy is affecting the both of you because everyone has some feelings of doubt
Talk with good friends or family members who are parents about their experiences in the first few months of pregnancy
If you have insurance, find out what maternity and baby benefits you have.
[1st month][2nd month][3rd month]
[4th month][5th month][6th Month]
[7th Month][8th Month][9th month]
[Patricia V's main page][Yahoo!Geocities]
[Main Pregnancy page]
[Discomforts during Pregnancy]
[Discomforts 2]
