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