Second Trimester Fetal Growth

An 18 week unborn child, sucking thumb.


"Life is present from the moment of conception."

- Dr. Jerome Lejeune, late professor and world renowned geneticist,
University of Descarte, Paris


"A person's a person, no matter how small!"

- from "Horton Hears a Who," by Dr. Seuss,
late famous children's author
an unborn child at 4.5 months

14 weeks - Muscles lengthen and become organized. The mother will soon start feeling the first flutters of the unborn child kicking and moving within.


15 weeks - The fetus has an adult's taste buds and may be able to savor the mother's meals.


16 weeks - Five and a half inches tall and only six ounces in weight, eyebrows, eyelashes and fine hair appear. The child can grasp with his hands, kick, or even somersault.

an unborn child at 5 months, bottom view unborn child at 5 months, face

20 weeks - The child can hear and recognize her mother's voice. Though still small and fragile, the baby is growing rapidly and could possibly survive if born at this stage. Fingernails and fingerprints appear. Sex organs are visible. Using an ultrasound device, the doctor can tell if the child is a girl or a boy. The one on the left is a baby girl.

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For more information on fetal development check out our pregnancy videos.

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