The baby. . .

I got behind on my posts about the baby's development. Since the baby is 17 weeks tomorrow, here is the 16 & 17 week development:

The baby at 16 weeks:

Fat begins to form underneath skin, providing your baby with insulation for the coming months.

Did you know that both baby and placenta are now about the same size?

Your little one has reached 4.57 inches and approximately 3.53 ounces.

His head and neck are held straighter now.

This is a week of "mights!" You might hear the tiny thumps of his heartbeat with an external monitor now. The genitals are developed sufficiently that an experienced sonographer might be able to determine if your baby is a boy or a girl. (We already heard the heartbeat, but we have to wait on finding out if it is a boy or girl - not too much longer!)

Her heart is pumping as much as 6 gallons of blood a day and beats at a rate about double your heart rate.

If you could take a peek inside, you would witness your child's reflexes in action! (Sucking, swallowing and blinking are now evident.) She is probably even hiccuping even though you don't feel it yet!

Your baby has learned to breathe! This is apparent from the regular movements of his chest. Isn't it amazing that he is able to breathe "underwater," inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid? These actions help the lungs to develop and grow.

The baby at 17 weeks:

By week 17, your baby weighs about 4.97 ounces and is 5.12 inches long.

He or she has a much more normal "human" appearance now. She holds her head more erect and her body and limbs are longer in proportion to her head. (This is just too amazing. My baby is a baby - a real person. I'm so proud already!)

Pads are forming on his tiny fingertips and toes. Soon those individual swirls and whorls will be apparent.

Her eyes are looking forward now, but they are still firmly closed.

Meconium (composed of products of cell loss, digestive secretion and swallowed amniotic fluid), is accumulating in the bowel. This black gooey substance will become your baby's first poop! (YUCK!)

The umbilical cord is growing thicker and stronger and continues to rush blood and nutrients to your growing baby.

If your child is male the prostate begins to develop.

Her skeleton is transforming from cartilage to bone. The bones remain flexible to make the journey through the birth canal easier.

This is what another website says about what my baby is up to:

At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, your baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, she'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, doubling her weight and adding inches to her length. The patterning of her scalp has begun, though her hair isn't recognizable yet. Although closed, her eyes are moving (slowly), and she's even started growing toenails. Her fingernails and toenails will continue to grow, so don't be surprised if she needs them trimmed soon after birth.

This is just too amazing!