By the end of your third month of pregnancy, the fetus is between two and three inches long and weighs about a half ounce. Development is occurring rapidly, both circulatory and urinary systems are working. Although the reproductive organs are intact, it is still difficult to determine the gender of your baby.

Your Body: You May Be Experiencing:

• an increasing appetite
• additional veins may appear on lower extremities
• fatigue & sleepiness
• frequent urination
• nausea, with or without vomiting
• constipation
• heartburn, indigestion, flatulence, bloating
• food cravings
• breast changes: tenderness and fullness
• occasional headaches
• occasional dizziness
• clothes my begin to be uncomfortable
• irritability, mood swings, weepiness fear, joy, elation a calming feeling

Your Baby: Weeks 9 - 13

At the start of the ninth week, the baby is now technically called a fetus. The fetal period is mainly a time of growth and differentiation of tissues and organs. The fetus will begin growing at a rapid rate and grows from about 6 cm to 10 cm (2.2-4 in.) in the third month and will weigh about one tenth of a pound by the end of the 3rd month. At beginning of 9th week, the head is about half of the fetus, but growth of the head slows down relative to rest of body. The face becomes more human looking and the eyelids are now closed. Urine also begins to form at the start of the 3rd month.

The external genitalia of both male and female fetuses look similar until end of 9th week but sex is usually determined by ultrasound around the 16th week. Before this time, the baby 's heartbeat may be heard with ultrasound.

Fetuses have reflex and muscle activity at the end of the third month but they are too slight to be felt by the mother.

Medical Care - Prenatal Visit 3

During the third prenatal visit your physician my check the following:

• weight and blood pressure
• urine, for protein and/or sugar
• fetal heartbeat
• uterus size by external palpation
• fundal height
• edema of the hands and feet
• varicose veins in the legs