Stages of pregnancy: 2nd trimester

• A. Fetus begins movement & continues to develop organs & systems
• B. Major organs & nervous system develops
• C. Development is complete and grows to birth size
• D. Heart forms

Answer: (A)

In the second trimester the focus shifts to movement and maturation. This period, roughly weeks 13 through 26, is when many mothers first feel fetal movement (quickening) and the fetus continues to grow and fine-tune its organ systems. While organ formation and nervous system development largely occur earlier in pregnancy, during the second trimester those organs are maturing and gaining function, rather than being newly formed. The heart and major organs were already forming in the first trimester, so the best description of the second trimester is the combination of starting movement and ongoing development of organs and systems. The stage after this continues toward further growth and readiness for birth.