Fourth Month Pregnancy

Our baby continues to grow and develop in the fourth month. By the end of this month, he will weigh between three and six ounces. He will be about eight to ten inches long. Your baby is starting to look more like a real baby. The facial features and outer ears are developing. The head is about half the size of the body. Baby’s skin is pink and transparent.

The placenta is fully functioning this month. The baby is making insulin and urinating. The teeth are formed inside the baby’s gums. The fetus moves and kicks more this month. As he grows larger, you will begin to feel these movements. Your baby will have periods of sleep and more active periods when he is awake.

The fourth month is an exciting time for you. Around the end of this month, you may feel the quickening. This is the first fluttering movements of your baby. Women describe it like the sensation of fluttering butterflies or bubbles. At first, you may not be sure it is the baby. After you feel it a few times, you’ll recognize the feeling. If this is your second pregnancy, you may feel this earlier than with your first. Since you know what to expect, you may be aware of movements a bit sooner.

When you feel the baby move for the first time, note it on your calendar and in the baby book. Your doctor will want to know when you feel the baby move. Mention this at your next visit. Feeling the baby move is one way to confirm the due date you have been given.

At this visit, the doctor will check the baby’s heart rate and measure the fundal height. You will be weighed and a sample of urine will be tested for the presence of protein or sugar. The doctor will keep track of your weight gain, as sudden gains can be an indication of certain complications.