Your baby’s environment is becoming more crowded as it is growing and filling up the space inside the uterus.
Throughout this month, changes in the appearance of your baby’s skin will take place. Right now, the skin is wrinkled. When more fat is deposited and more muscle development takes place, it will begin to look smooth.
The baby’s skin is not only wrinkled but is also transparent because it’s so thin. Thus, at this time, if you could see your baby, the bones, organs, and blood vessels would be visible, as they lie just beneath the skin.
Your baby continues to grow at a steady pace. More than 6 ounces (168 g) of weight will be gained during this week alone. This growth spurt helps your baby prepare for life outside your uterus.
Your baby weighs just under 1½ lbs., the equivalent of three 8-ounce cups of water. Most of the weight gained during this time in your baby’s development is muscle and bone mass and weight increases from growing organs and tissues. Very little fat is being manufactured right now. Ultimately, most of the muscles involved in movement develop before birth, and all those that remain are formed by baby’s first birthday. Muscles increase in length and width in order to grow with the skeleton. Their ultimate size depends on how much exercise baby gives them.
Between now and the baby’s expected date of delivery, his feet will almost double in size, from about 1.8 inches (45 mm) to 3.3 inches (83 cm).
You
Every day, you should become more and more aware of the baby’s movement. Although the bumps and thumps are now obvious to you, it may be a few more weeks before someone else can feel the baby move by touching your abdomen.
As the baby’s heartbeat becomes louder, it may be possible to hear the baby’s heart by placing an ear to your abdomen - a yoga-like pose that may be quite impossible for you to achieve, but easy for others!
A stethoscope will help you hear your baby’s heart beat loud and strong.
