Monday, November 5, 2007

Inchworm: 14 weeks



Inchworm is stretching out! We have reached "lemon week" (for size) From head to bottom, baby measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and weighs 1 1/2 ounces.

This week's big developments:

  • The body's growing faster than the head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck.
  • By the end of this week, the arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of the body (legs still have some lengthening to do).
  • Baby is starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over the body.
  • Inchworm can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his/her thumb!
  • Thanks to brain impulses, the facial muscles are getting a workout as the tiny features form one expression after another.
  • The kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him/her— a process he'll keep up until birth. [gross!]
  • The liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right.
  • The spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells.
  • He/She can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him/her sucking the thumb. (very true! I actually hit 14 weeks a couple of days ago... and we caught Inchworm in the act of sucking his/her thumb!)
  • Though I can't feel the tiny punches and kicks yet, Inchworms arms and legs (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.




2 comments:

Rochelle said...

Inchworm is so the cutest baby ever!
Molly sucked her thumb the minute she was born and they laid her on me.

fiona said...

Lemon-size already, way to go Inchworm! And a "distinct neck," too, gotta love necks! Yeah, the pee is gross, at one of our ultrasounds, we could see Nuala actually peeing then and there. Kinda icky to think about.