Pregnancy Month 2

Overview of month 2

Month 2 covers roughly weeks 5 to 8. It is a period of intense development, when the heart starts beating and the foundations of the brain, spine and other organs are laid down. It is also when early pregnancy symptoms are often at their most noticeable.

Weeks in pregnancy month 2

Your baby in month 2

The neural tube closes, the heart begins to beat and can often be seen on an early scan around week 6, and arm and leg buds appear. By the end of the month, fingers are starting to separate and the embryo is about 1.6 cm long.

Your body in month 2

Nausea, vomiting, tiredness, breast tenderness, frequent urination, food aversions and mood changes are common, although some people have very few symptoms.

Care during month 2

Many people have their first prenatal appointment between weeks 8 and 10. It may include blood tests, a health history and, in some places, a dating ultrasound. Schedules vary between countries and providers; your own care team will tell you what applies to you.

Why pregnancy months are approximate

A 40-week pregnancy does not divide evenly into nine calendar months: each calendar month is about 4.3 weeks, so nine months is roughly 39 weeks, and the due date falls a week or so later. Different books and apps therefore group weeks into months slightly differently. This site uses the common grouping in which month 2 spans about weeks 5 to 8. When you talk to a healthcare professional, you will hear weeks and days — for example “6 weeks and 2 days” — because that is far more precise. To see exactly where you are, use the Pregnancy Week Calculator.