All about baby
By now your baby is covered with fine downy hair called lanugo, which disappears in the last few weeks of pregnancy. This helps to protect your baby's skin, which is still so fine and translucent that the blood vessels can be seen underneath.
This week marks a period of rapid growth - your baby's skeleton is hardening, taste buds are forming and the heart is now pumping about 50 pints of blood per day.
Your baby is beginning to sense more about the world - both inside and outside of the womb. As well as sucking its thumb and grabbing the umbilical cord, your baby will hear its first sounds and will be able to listen to your heartbeat, your digestion and your voice.
- Measures about 10.5 cm crown to rump
- Weighs in at around 2.5oz
Over to you
Now that you're in your second trimester, with pregnancy nausea all but gone and energy levels on the rise again, you'll begin to bloom... in theory. Admittedly, not everyone enjoys this wonderful surge in wellbeing during their pregnancy, but nevertheless you should see some positive changes.
One of these changes might be your hair - noticed it getting thicker and glossier? Even your eyelashes, eyebrows and pubic hair may appear thicker and your nails may grow faster. Your hair's texture may change too and it may feel oilier or drier than normal. This is because your oil-producing glands may either speed up or slow down in response to hormonal changes.
These hormones also change your hair's regular growth pattern. A head of hair naturally grows for about seven years, then stays on your scalp for about six months before falling out. But during pregnancy this growth pattern is interrupted. Once your hair stops growing, it isn't shed as usual. So your hair will feel thicker and stronger, and it may even be easier to style.
In the know
Hair care
Now's a great time to visit the salon. Treat yourself to a cut and blowdry to make the most of the extra volume. And throw in a scalp massage while you're at it - a perfect chance to switch off and unwind.
There is no conclusive evidence that hair dyes and perming agents cause any harm to your unborn baby, however many pregnant women prefer to wait until after the first trimester. It is worth mentioning to your hairstylist that you're pregnant so that she can take extra care, like avoiding products coming into contact with your skin and keeping the area well ventilated.
You may find that you need to change your hair products to suit its new texture. For dry hair, only shampoo once every few days, and only when your hair really needs it. Use deep-conditioning packs or hot oil treatments once a week.
If your hair is frizzy or long and dry at the ends, try rubbing a few drops of coconut or jojoba oil on your palms and smoothing your locks from earlobe-level to the ends. Styling wax and serums are good for taming flyaways and frizz.
If your hair has become oilier than usual, wash it once a day, and only apply conditioner when you need it to work out tangles. Don't use a natural bristle brush, which can stimulate your scalp's oil production. Opt for a brush with wood or nylon bristles instead.
Go to next week's article: Pregnancy Week 16
Please note that the contents of this section are for information only and are not intended as medical advice or as a substitute to your doctor's advice. For medical care and advice, you should consult your doctor on a regular basis. If you have any problem which concerns you, consult your doctor immediately.
