4 months pregnant
2nd Trimester
24 more weeks to go..
The circulatory system of the baby has strengthened and is pulsating with a good flow. In fact, the heart is beating around 150 to 180 times per minute and pumping around 24 litres of blood every day! The facial muscles are developing enabling expressions like frowning and narrowing of eyes. The head is becoming more erect and a phase of rapid growth kicks off from this week. Since there isn’t any fat yet, the skin is still translucent and veins can be spotted through it.
चतुर्थे सर्वांगप्रत्यंगविभागः प्रव्यक्तो भवति, गर्भह्रदयप्रव्यक्तिभावात चेतनाधातुरभिव्यक्तो भवति। तस्मात गर्भश्चतुर्थे मासि अभिप्रायमिन्द्रियार्थेषु करोति। द्विह्रदया च नारी दौह्रदिनी आचक्षते। (सुश्रुत शारीरस्थान)
The growth of muscles and bones is now giving the back strength enabling the baby to straighten her head and neck.
The taste buds and pores on the tongue have started working. So, your baby can taste the amniotic fluid. Since amniotic fluid mixes in itself flavours of your diet, what you eat can lead to development of taste preferences in the baby.
The earliest eye movements can be spotted between 16 and 18 weeks. And, when they start, the baby might be getting curious so it’s common for them to start touching their eyelids.
The ability to hear is still developing but some limited sounds might be audible to the baby now.
Your baby’s legs are growing fast. And if your baby is a girl, thousands of eggs are forming in her ovaries.
The growth of muscles and bones is now giving the back strength enabling the baby to straighten her head and neck. Your baby’s legs are growing fast.
The taste buds and pores on the tongue have started working. So, your baby can taste the amniotic fluid. Since amniotic fluid mixes in itself flavours of your diet, what you eat can lead to development of taste preferences in the baby.
The earliest eye movements can be spotted between 16 and 18 weeks. And, when they start, the baby might be getting curious so it’s common for them to start touching their eyelids. The ability to hear is still developing but some limited sounds might be audible to the baby now.
And if your baby is a girl, thousands of eggs are forming in her ovaries.
A harmless nosebleed can happen to anyone, anytime. It becomes more common in pregnancy with between 18% and 42% of pregnant women experiencing pregnancy rhinitis which, simply put, is the inflammation and swelling of the mucous membranes in the nose. It is also called Epistaxis.
Pregnancy rhinitis causes congestion in the nasal tract, postnasal drip, and runny nose. When you keep blowing your nose to clear the blockage, a nosebleed can occur. It may also happen if the membranes in your nose have become dry because of cold weather, dry air, or high air conditioning.
Certain medical conditions such as high blood pressure or clotting disorders can also cause nosebleeds. Most nosebleeds are benign, spontaneous and just stop their own.
iMumz tip:
During the day following the bleed, make sure you avoid:
During pregnancy, sciatica also known as lumbosacral radicular syndrome can arise if your growing baby and expanding uterus put pressure on your sciatic nerve. When the nerve is pressed, it can cause inflammation, irritation, and pain. You'll know it's sciatica if you're experiencing shooting pains that start in your lower back, and radiate down your legs. It starts at the buttocks, goes down the back of your thigh and to the foot. It can feel as sharp, shooting, or burning pain. Other sensations are numbness, pins and needles, or weakness in the affected leg or foot.
Almost 50 and 80 percent of women have back pain during their pregnancies, some cases among those may be of Sciatica pain.
iMumz tip:
A very useful exercise is the ‘seated piriformis stretches’. The piriformis muscle is deep in the buttock area. When this muscle is tight and stressed, it can irritate the sciatic nerve. This stretch makes the muscle more flexible. The steps are:
Another beneficial exercise if the Yoga Pigeon pose
Since the body is growing and changing constantly and rapidly during pregnancy, you may need a new bra sooner than you would think. You should keep measuring yourself as your pregnancy progresses. It is important to remember that your size may increase up to three cup sizes, and measuring frequently can help you buy one that fits well.
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Check your iron intake! Iron is especially important during these weeks of pregnancy to produce the red blood cells your body needs. Without enough iron, you may become anaemic. This can make you feel fatigued and make you more susceptible to illnesses.
During pregnancy, you need 27 milligrams of iron a day (compared to 18 milligrams for adult women 19 to 50 who are not expecting). Aim to get no more than 45 milligrams of iron a day. If you take more than that (either from an extra iron supplement or from your prenatal vitamin), it can cause your blood levels of iron to rise too high, possibly causing problems for you and your baby.
Your risks for anaemia increase if any of these are true:
Fruits like apples, banana and pomegranates are a rich source of iron. Peanuts, almonds, walnuts, cashews, pine nuts, hazelnuts and pumpkin seeds How about a shot of beetroot juice every day, seasoned with some lemon, salt and pepper?
iMumz provides micro nutrients week by week for your daily dose of nutrition. Diet charts and recipes are made by mothers to give your daily dose of health for your baby and you.
Recent studies found that only about one-third (32%) of women gained the recommended amount of weight during pregnancy and most women gained weight outside the recommendations (21% too little, 48% too much).
From now on, you'll gain about 1 pound (0.5 kilogram) a week until delivery.
For most women, the baby bump will now be showing. The stretching of the skin might make your belly itchy. Apply coconut oil for relief. Avoid creams with chemicals, especially those that contain Retin-A and salicylic acid.
As your belly grows, you might also feel that urge to frequently urinate easing off.
You might feel bloated occasionally. Add enough fibre to your diet, exercise and keep yourself hydrated. If you want to take a laxative, consult your doctor and take a natural one.
You doctor might measure your fundal height. It’s the size of your bump, or the distance from your pubic bone to the top of your uterus. This measurement is a non-invasive way to make sure baby is growing properly and amniotic fluid levels are about right.
Your fundal height measurement should be equal to your pregnancy week, plus or minus two, in centimetres. Hence, in this week, it would be between 14 and 18 centimetres.
You might be able to feel your baby kicking from next week onwards, which is something exciting to look forward to. Pregnant women describe their baby's movements as fluttering of a butterfly, nervous twitches, or a tumbling motion.
The first movements can be felts as early as 13 weeks or as late at 25 weeks, too. The location of the placenta can also keep you from feeling her kicks and movements.
The baby also has a pattern of sleep and staying awake. They are usually most active between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m., since your blood sugar levels post the meal has spiked. They might also kick in response to daddy’s touch.
It's unsafe to reach above my head
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Reaching up above your head to a kitchen shelf or hanging clothes on the washing line is totally safe. It does not affect your baby's umbilical cord in any way.
The bond a mum forms with her baby as soon as she finds out she’s pregnant influences the baby’s future growth and development. A strong bond between a mother and her baby is associated with better development outcomes later in life, as per many studies.
The baby may not be able to hear your voice as of now, but if you listen to audio books or traditional texts that give you calming messages, the positive hormones that are released in your blood-stream reach the baby. They give tremendous reassurance. How about a guided meditation that fills the pores of your body with thankfulness and gratitude?
We have weekly bonding activities to help mums to connect with babies for their all-round development.
The award-winning iMumz App is helping 350,000 + women make their pregnancies healthier and happier.
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