The Second Trimester
The time between the beginning of the fourth and the end of the sixth month is usually the most comfortable for the pregnant woman. The previous morning sickness disappears, and the fetus, being still rather small, does not cause any discomfort. However, sometime around the fifth month the fetal movements can be felt, and the fetal heartbeat can be heard without any elaborate equipment. The woman is visibly gaining weight. As the fetus continues to grow, the abdomen begins to enlarge visibly until, toward the end of the second trimester, the pregnancy becomes quite apparent.