Stages of Fetal Development - Second Trimester

• The fetus is about 4³/₄-inches from head to rump and weighs 4 ounces.
• The head is erect and the arms and legs are developed.
• The baby’s eyes have begun to face forward and slowly move, and the ears are close to reaching their final position.
• The baby might be able to make sucking motions with his or her mouth.
• Although still too slight to be felt, the baby’s movements are becoming coordinated and can be detected during ultrasound exams.

• The fetus is about 5 inches from head to rump and weighs about 8 ounces.
• The skin is pink and transparent, and the ears stick out from the head.
• The baby might begin to hear.

• The fetus is about 6¹/₄ inches from head to rump.
• All organs and structures have been formed, and a period of simple growth begins.
• Respiratory movements occur, but the lungs have not developed enough to permit survival outside the uterus.
• By this time, the woman can feel the fetus moving.

• The fetus is about 7¹/₂ inches from head to rump and weighs about 1 pound.
• The baby has nails on its fingers and toes, fingerprints, and perhaps some head and body hair.
• This is the lowest limit of viability (meaning the baby may have a possibility of survival outside the woman's body with intensive care services).
• There is little chance before this time that a baby could survive outside the woman’s body.
• Eyebrows and lashes appear.
• The baby now has increased muscle development and is more active.
• The fetal heartbeat can be heard with a stethoscope.

By 20 weeks of gestation, the unborn child has the physical structures necessary to experience pain. There is evidence that by 20 weeks of gestation, unborn children seek to evade certain stimuli in a manner in which an infant or adult would evade stimuli.

• The fetus is about 8¹/₄-inches from head to rump and weighs about 1¹/₄-pounds.
• Changes are occurring in lung development, so some babies are able to survive with intensive care services if born at this point.
• The baby is regularly sleeping and waking.
• Real hair is growing on his or her head.