2 months pregnant: Development and what to expect

At 2 months pregnant, you might have only just found out you’re expecting. This is a monumental life change, and whether you were trying to conceive or not, it’s typical to feel mixed. Give yourself some time. 

You might be curious about what’s going on inside your 2-month-pregnant belly. Read on to find out the upcoming changes to your baby and body, with advice from Flo expert Dr. Renita White, obstetrician and gynecologist, Georgia Obstetrics and Gynecology, Georgia, US. 

And don’t forget: You can start following your baby’s development week by week by subscribing to a pregnancy-tracking app like Flo. 

Key takeaways

• 5 weeks pregnant marks the beginning of the embryonic stage of pregnancy when all your baby’s major systems and structures develop. 
• It’s a huge month of change as your baby starts to gain distinctly human features. By week 8, details like your baby’s fingers and toes, facial features, and even their first teeth will have started to form. 
• You might start experiencing pregnancy symptoms this month, like nausea, fatigue, and breast changes. 

Fetal development between weeks 5 and 8 of pregnancy

Many people find out they’re pregnant during their 2nd month of pregnancy because they have noticed a missed period. This is often the first sign of pregnancy. It’s a time of big news and big change. 

By around week 5, you’ll likely have high enough levels of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) for a pregnancy test to show positive. 

Meanwhile, week 5 marks a major milestone in terms of your baby’s development, as they enter the embryo stage. This phase lasts until the end of week 8 and is when all your baby’s major systems and structures develop. “During the 2nd month of pregnancy, the fetus starts to grow eyes, arms, and legs, and the brain and spinal cord continue to develop,” says Dr. White. 

Week 5

At 5 weeks pregnant, your baby is roughly the size of a sesame seed, but they’re making massive developmental progress. This week, their central nervous system is starting to emerge as they continue to develop their neural tube. This currently microscopic tube will later form your baby’s brain, spinal cord, and other elements of the central nervous system. 

The foundations for all your baby’s major organs are also now in place. The small tube-like structure that will eventually form their heart is currently pulsating around 110 times a minute by the end of this week. 

Week 6

This week, your baby’s unique facial features will start to form as they develop the structures that will soon become their ears, eyes, and mouth. Meanwhile, little buds are forming that will grow into their arms and legs. Even tiny details like their nostrils are beginning to be mapped out.

However, at 6 weeks pregnant your baby currently has one feature that they will lose long before the time you meet them: a tiny tail. They are shaped a bit like a tadpole right now! They’ve also started to form a thin layer of skin, but at the moment it’s transparent. 

Week 7

At 7 weeks pregnant, the buds of your baby’s limbs continue to grow and form soft cartilage that will develop into bones. The end of each bud will flatten out where their hands and feet will eventually be, creating paddle-like limbs. 

It’s also a big week for your baby’s hearing, as their inner ear starts to develop. It won’t be too long before they’ll be able to hear your voice, which can happen around 16 weeks pregnant. 

Week 8

All your baby’s major organs and systems are developing by 8 weeks of pregnancy, even though they’re still only the size of a kidney bean. They’re starting to appear more human-like, with minuscule fingers and toes starting to form on their hands and feet. 

Your baby’s facial features are also becoming more obvious and defined, with their nose and upper lip taking shape. Meanwhile, the buds of your baby’s first teeth are forming, even though they won’t appear until they are around 6 months old. 

By the end of this week, your baby will have reached the end of the embryonic stage and officially become a fetus. 

Symptoms you might experience when 2 months pregnant

It’s not only your baby that’s experiencing changes this month. It’s fairly common to start to experience first pregnancy symptoms at 2 months pregnant.  

“Early pregnancy symptoms are similar in the 1st and 2nd month of pregnancy,” says Dr. White. “However, if you are going to get symptoms, they are more likely to begin in the 2nd month. They tend to start around 6 to 8 weeks of pregnancy but can peak around 8 to 10 weeks.”

Some of the most common 1st-trimester symptoms are: 

Nausea and vomiting

You may have heard of the term “morning sickness,” but pregnancy nausea can strike at any time of day. 

Breast changes

Your breasts might feel tender or swollen. You may also have noticed that your nipples look different or your areolas have become darker. 

Fatigue

It’s normal to feel more tired when you’re pregnant. Take all the rest and naps you need. 

Mood swings

As your hormones fluctuate, you may notice a change in the way you feel. Navigating the ups and downs of early pregnancy isn’t easy, so lean on your loved ones for support. 

Needing to pee more often

As your uterus grows, it can press against your bladder and make you feel like you need to pee more frequently. You might also find you need to pee more as the amount of blood circulating in your body increases during pregnancy. Your kidneys have to process and filter this extra blood, which can impact how much you need to pee. 

Skin changes

Some people experience acne during the 1st trimester as hormones cause their skin to produce more oil. 

Some people experience light bleeding or spotting during early pregnancy. You might also notice cramping too. It’s easier said than done, but try not to worry. Light bleeding and abdominal pain can be common in early pregnancy and don’t necessarily mean anything is wrong. If you have more significant bleeding or pain that is severe and doesn’t go away, or you’re at all worried, then you should get in touch with a health care professional.  

Pregnancy symptoms can be hard to cope with, especially during the 1st trimester when you might be keeping your pregnancy secret. So go easy on yourself and try to rest as much as you can. 

That said, experiencing no symptoms at all can be tough too, as you may wonder if everything is OK. It’s important to know that everyone experiences pregnancy differently, and having no symptoms doesn’t mean that anything is wrong. 

If you have any concerns about your pregnancy or are struggling to handle the early pregnancy symptoms, don’t hesitate to have a chat with a health care professional. 

Beginning your pregnancy journey

Life at 2 months pregnant can be full of mixed feelings. You might be processing your pregnancy news and dealing with symptoms for the first time. There’s a lot of change going on, physically and emotionally. Whether you’re feeling happy, frustrated, anxious, or relaxed, know that every emotion is valid and there’s no “right” way to feel. 

You’re just at the start of your pregnancy journey (your due date probably feels a lifetime away right now), but there’s plenty to look forward to in the months ahead. Right now, the next steps you can think about include the following: 

• Let your doctor know that you are pregnant (if you haven’t done so already) and attend your first prenatal checkup. 
• Make healthy lifestyle adjustments like stopping drinking alcohol, smoking, and taking recreational drugs. You should also avoid contact sports and using hot tubs and saunas. 
• Start taking prenatal vitamins like folic acid. 
• Make sure you get lots of rest and drink plenty of water. 
• Find out which foods to avoid during pregnancy (like raw fish, raw meat, and unpasteurized dairy products) and fill your diet with lots of healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. 
• Try the pregnancy tracker on the Flo app to learn more about your pregnancy week by week. 

This might feel like a lot of information, but remember, your doctor is there to guide you through these first months of pregnancy.