Great news: You’re about to turn the corner into the second trimester and you should start feeling a whole lot better. Here’s everything you need to know about the fourth month of pregnancy, including:

• What to expect during weeks 13, 14, 15 and 16 of pregnancy
• Common symptoms during the fourth month of pregnancy
• Emotions during month four of pregnancy
• To-do list in the fourth month of pregnancy
• Self-care during month four of pregnancy
• Your partner during the fourth month of pregnancy

 

Pregnancy weeks 13 and 14

 

Your baby is the size of: a lemon

Your baby’s head is about half the size of its total length of three inches, but don’t worry – its body will catch up eventually. The eyes are moving into their correct position and tiny bones such as those in the wrists and ankles are forming. Your baby’s vocal cords are also developing.

Week 14 marks the beginning of the second trimester! Pregnancy symptoms should finally ease off (making it the easiest trimester) and you’re probably starting to show. Your baby is always on the move now, but you won’t be able to feel it yet.

The neck is getting longer and facial features are becoming more defined. And would you believe your little one has hair already? In addition to head hair and eyebrows, your baby has a fuzzy layer all over its body called lanugo to keep it warm until it starts accumulating body fat. Then, lanugo falls off… phew! 

 

Pregnancy weeks 15 and 16

 

Your baby is the size of: an orange

Your baby is about four and a half inches long and is busy learning to breathe, swallow and suck. Not to mention that your little kung fu fighter is kicking away constantly! It shouldn’t be much longer before you feel movement. If you’re having a girl, hundreds of thousands of eggs are already forming in her ovaries.

By week 16, the nervous system is functioning and bones are getting harder. Your baby starts practicing its best frowns and scowls thanks to developing facial muscles and it can straighten its head and neck. The eyes and ears are now working, so your little one can see light through sealed eyelids and hear your voice! Your fetus is becoming decidedly more baby-like – except for its translucent skin due to lack of body fat.

 

Common symptoms during the fourth month of pregnancy

 

This month, you might experience:

• Less fatigue
• Less frequent need to urinate
• Decreasing breast tenderness but continued growth
• Boost in sex drive
• Increased appetite
• Food cravings and aversions
• Constipation
• Heartburn and indigestion
• Faintness or dizziness
• Increased vaginal discharge
• Visible/varicose veins
• Headaches
• Backaches
• Round ligament pain
• Blocked nose
• Bleeding gums
• Forgetfulness

 

Emotions during the fourth month of pregnancy

 

You may find that you start to feel happier and more positive as your difficult first-trimester symptoms ease up. But you might also find yourself struggling with the changes in your body and worrying about impending parenthood. If you have any concerns, talk to your partner, a close friend or your doctor.

 

What to do during the fourth month of pregnancy

 

Try to knock these tasks off your to-do list to this month:

• Go to all your prenatal appointments. Your healthcare provider will monitor your health and your baby’s growth and movement. 
• If your first-trimester genetic tests came back with an increased risk of a genetic disorder, your doctor may want you to undergo an amniocentesis between 16 and 20 weeks or a quad screen between 15 and 22 weeks to confirm the diagnosis. You may also have to do these tests if you missed your first-trimester tests. 
• Keep taking your prenatal vitamin to ensure you’re getting enough folic acid and focus on eating foods that are high in iron, calcium and fiber.
• It’s normal to start putting on as much as 4lbs a month in the second trimester, but try to take advantage of the fact that you feel better to get moving. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says mamas-to-be should get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day to reduce their risk of pregnancy illnesses such as gestational diabetes and make labor easier.
• Has your sex drive returned in full force? Enjoy every minute! If it hasn’t, that’s OK too. Kisses, cuddles and massages can help keep intimacy alive.
• To prevent varicose veins, avoid sitting for long periods, put your feet up when you do sit and consider wearing support stockings.
• If you haven’t already, it’s time to start getting used to sleeping on your side. During the second and third trimesters, sleeping on your tummy will be uncomfortable and sleeping on your back can put pressure on a vein called the vena cava and reduce blood flow to your baby. Sleeping on your left side will promote optimal circulation, but your right side is OK too.
• Keep up those Kegel exercises to ensure your pelvic floor is ready for childbirth. Tighten your pelvic floor muscles for three to five seconds, then relax for three to five seconds. Work up to three sets of 20 per day.
• Plan your maternity leave. Find out about your employer’s policy and fill out any necessary paperwork. If they don’t offer paid family leave, let them know how much unpaid leave you plan to take. Find out more about your rights here.
• Create a baby registry. Online is the way to go these days – and you can create your registry directly on The Tot! That way, you’ll know that all the gifts you receive are baby-safe and made from high-quality materials.

 

Self-care during the fourth month of pregnancy

 

You’re probably feeling a lot better, so now is a good time to knock some important items off your to-do list. But don’t forget to take breaks and get plenty of rest to avoid burning yourself out.

Keep up the self-care routine even if you’re feeling great. Once you’re a mom, you’ll be glad to have a stress-busting toolkit already in place. Don’t feel pressure to meditate or do yoga if they’re not your thing – everyone’s self-care routine is different. Perhaps calling a friend or reading a book relaxes you. You do you!

 

Your partner during the fourth month of pregnancy

 

Your partner might feel left out of the whole pregnancy process or be nervous about becoming a parent. Check in with them to see how they’re feeling and ask them to help you choose baby names or colors for the nursery. You can also let them know that they’ll have to take a day off work in about four weeks for the all-important 20-week anatomy scan. That’s when you’ll find out the sex (if you want to and haven’t already) and you’ll get to take home a photo of your baby!

 

Continue exploring 

 

• Pregnancy Month 5: Wait, what?! Already halfway through your pregnancy? Wahoo!
• Can’t decide on a name? Read 10 expert tips for choosing a baby name