Though the baby is barely the size of a kumquat - a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom - and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.
The baby's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs - including kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver - are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.
If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.
In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with is developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size - to nearly 3 inches.
I know that many of you do not care about any of this. That's ok. I was the same way. But to a momma-to-be, it's pretty cool. So bear with me every week. You will probably have to endure more! :)
Thought that this cartoon expresses exactly how I feel this week!
I love Babycenter! It is so fun to get the email updates every week! I hope you are feeling well. Any don't worry... pretty soon you will be wanting to eat everything in sight!
ReplyDelete