The second trimester begins with the sixteenth week of
pregnancy. For the mother, many of the minor discomforts of the
first trimester will disappear, and she will start to look
pregnant and be able to feel the baby move. Good nutrition is
important to ensure that both mom and baby gain weight at the
right rate. In the fourth month, the baby weighs about six
ounces and grows to be about eight to ten inches long. The
umbilical cord continues to grow and thicken in order to carry
plenty of blood and nourishment. Soon, the mother may start to
feel a slight sensation of movement, like bubbles, in her lower
abdomen. This movement, called 'quickening,' can actually help a
doctor determine when the baby is due. By the fifth month, the
baby will have grown to weigh around eight ounces, and is half
as long as it will be at delivery. The doctor will now be able
to hear the baby's heartbeat. This month, the mother may gain
three to four pounds and begin to breathe deeper. The area
around her nipples may look darker and