The fourth month of pregnancy is the most interesting and enjoying of all the other months of pregnancy. This is because it is at this stage where the baby bump starts to grow and be noticeable. The mother therefore becomes the center of attraction wherever she is. Many people want to know if really she is pregnant and for how long. The mother also becomes overwhelmed with the fact that she is actually pregnant as this is the month when the baby starts to move. The other family members too become more and more involved since the pregnancy now seems “real”. This month usually includes several physical changes both in the mother and her baby.

fourth month of pregnancy


Physical changes occurring during the fourth month of pregnancy.


In the mother

  • During this month, a lot is happening inside the mother’s womb and therefore she will experience many changes in her feelings. Below are some of mostly expected changes in the mother.
  • There will be a lot of changes around the tummy. The tummy becomes rounder with a much wider waist and the mother feels frequent heaviness as the belly now feels full.
  • The breasts suddenly appear bigger and rounder. They also become full and more conspicuous and the nipples darken in preparation of lactation after delivery.
  • There are also changes that occur in the mother’s skin during this time. Apart from the nipples and the areola darkening, the veins too become more pronounced and the face blotchy. This may signal diet deficiency in the mother although some experts portray it as very normal during this time.
  • At this stage too, the appetite of the mother may start to increase. This is because she starts to feel a lot better and may gain more weight rapidly. This time therefore, the mother needs to be more careful about her diet so as to maintain a suitable delivery weight as well as achieve the nutrient required for essential baby growth and nourishment.
  • Also, the mother becomes calmer with less mood swings. This is because she starts to feels a lot better than before.

In the child

There are also a lot of changes occurring in the developing child inside the mother’s womb during pregnancy 4th month. These may include:-

  • The nervous system starts to function and consequently the limbs of the baby become functional i.e. movements starts.
  • The Lunago (fine hair) now covers the child’s body and real hair including the eyebrows and eyelashes starts to grow. The nails also start to develop around this time.
  • The features of the face also start to develop. The eyes shift from the neck region to the right sides of his head. The neck too lengthens and the chin becomes more apparent with an ultra sound scan.
  • The brain structures too develop during this time. The head, initially very large, becomes proportional with the rest of the body. The child can now respond clearly to touch.

To do list

  • Like other stages, pregnancy 4th month is equally important and requires several precautions. This means therefore that it requires a lot to be done by the mother to ensure safety of both herself and the baby. These include:-
  • Need to stay as healthy as possible through balance diet and exercise.
  • Need for suitable maternity clothing to improve the looks.
  • Need for a good financial planning especially for postpartum.