The second month of pregnancy is when things start to feel real, even if nothing shows on the outside yet. Your period is gone and a test has probably confirmed the news. Now your body gets to work on the part nobody sees, building the systems your baby will need for the rest of the pregnancy and beyond. It's also when morning sickness tends to introduce itself, whether you invited it or not. Month 2 covers weeks 5 to 8 of the first trimester, and our page on the trimesters of pregnancy shows how the weeks line up.

Physical changes you might notice

No period, obviously, though light spotting can still happen and isn't automatically a red flag. Mention it to your provider anyway. Fatigue and sleepiness tend to deepen this month rather than ease up. Frequent urination starts as your uterus grows and your blood volume increases. Nausea and vomiting are common, and so are heartburn, indigestion, and gas, courtesy of hormones slowing down your digestion. Breast tenderness usually sticks around too.

Emotional changes you might notice

Expect some emotional whiplash. Irritability, mood swings, and sudden tears can show up out of nowhere, and so can moments of real joy and excitement. If the pregnancy wasn't planned, feelings of disbelief, anger, or denial are completely normal too. None of that makes you a bad parent. Hormones are doing a lot of the driving here. It usually settles down some in the second trimester.

Appetite changes

Certain foods might suddenly turn your stomach, sometimes ones you used to love. Morning sickness, despite the name, can hit any time of day. Small, frequent meals tend to work better than three big ones. Greasy or heavily spiced food is often the first thing to go. Crackers or something plain by the bed help a lot of women too. If nausea is more than you can manage, ask your provider about options. ACOG has a good rundown on nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, and our pregnancy nutrition guide can help if you're worried about eating enough.

The inside story

By the end of this month, the embryo is about half an inch long, roughly the size of a raspberry. The heart is already beating. Arm and leg buds are forming, along with the beginnings of eyes, ears, and a nose. It doesn't look like a baby yet, but the blueprint is well underway. Our ultrasound images page shows what an early scan actually looks like.

Your first prenatal visit

Many providers schedule the first prenatal visit around week 8. Expect questions about your health history, a physical exam, and some blood and urine tests. You may also get an early ultrasound to confirm your due date. It helps to write down your questions beforehand, because the visit goes by fast. Our guide to tests during the first trimester covers what to expect, and the prenatal appointment timeline shows the visits ahead. You can also check your due date with the baby due date calculator.

Sleep and energy

Your body is spending a huge amount of energy this month building the placenta and supporting rapid early growth. Fatigue isn't in your head. Don't push through it out of stubbornness. A nap, an earlier bedtime, a short walk, and letting a few chores slide can all help more than you'd expect.

Easing the stress

Relaxation techniques, warm baths, prenatal yoga, and low impact aerobic exercise can all take the edge off. Skip hot tubs, saunas, and anything else that raises your core body temperature too much. Overheating early in pregnancy has been linked to birth defects. If your job is draining or your anxiety is running high, taking more breaks than usual isn't indulgent. It's necessary.

Special risks worth knowing about

Early miscarriage remains the most common concern at this stage. Estimates run from 10 to 20 percent of confirmed pregnancies. It's most often for reasons that have nothing to do with anything you did. Our Month 1 page covers this in more detail. Ectopic pregnancy, where the embryo implants outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube, is far less common. It happens in about 2 percent of pregnancies, or roughly 1 in 50. It's serious and needs prompt treatment, so sharp one sided abdominal pain, especially with bleeding, is worth calling about right away. Don't wait to see if it passes. Learn more in our ectopic pregnancy guide.

Common questions about month 2

How many weeks is the second month of pregnancy?

Weeks 5 through 8, counted from the first day of your last period. Some sources stretch it to week 9, since months and weeks don't line up perfectly.

When does morning sickness start?

For many people it begins around week 6. It often eases toward the end of the first trimester, though every pregnancy is different.

When can you hear the baby's heartbeat?

A heartbeat can show up on a vaginal ultrasound as early as about week 6. Hearing it with a handheld device usually comes later, so don't worry if your first scan is quiet.

Curious what's ahead? Month 3 picks up right where this leaves off, and you can see all nine months in Your Pregnancy, Month by Month.