Second trimester and Garbh Sanskar

Weeks 14–27: the golden middle. Energy returns, the bump appears, and baby begins to hear. This is the ideal time to establish daily story, music and garbh samvad rituals.

Week by week

• Week 14 — size of a peach

  Baby can squint, frown and grimace. The neck lengthens and the head sits more upright.

• Week 15 — size of an apple

  Baby can sense light through closed eyelids. Bones are hardening.

• Week 16 — size of an avocado

  Tiny ear bones are in place — baby may begin perceiving sound vibrations.

• Week 17 — size of a pomegranate

  Fat stores begin to develop. The skeleton shifts from cartilage to bone.

• Week 18 — size of a sweet potato

  Baby's ears are in their final position. Many mothers feel the first flutters (quickening).

• Week 19 — size of a mango

  A protective coating called vernix forms on the skin. Senses are developing quickly.

• Week 20 — size of a banana

  Halfway. Baby swallows amniotic fluid and is increasingly active.

• Week 21 — size of a carrot

  Movements become stronger and more coordinated. Taste buds are forming.

• Week 22 — size of a papaya

  Baby's sense of touch grows. Eyebrows and eyelids are well formed.

• Week 23 — size of a large mango

  Hearing is developing — your voice, heartbeat and favourite sounds become familiar companions.

• Week 24 — size of an ear of corn

  The lungs develop branches and cells that produce surfactant. Baby has regular sleep-wake cycles.

• Week 25 — size of a cauliflower

  Baby responds to familiar voices. Hair begins to show colour and texture.

• Week 26 — size of a lettuce head

  Eyes begin to open. Baby may startle at loud sounds.

• Week 27 — size of a cabbage

  The third trimester nears. Brain activity increases and baby may hiccup.