Week 12

My Baby

Now measuring between 2 and 3 inches from crown to rump, the fetus is busily doing his stretching and kicking exercises, That only the mother will be able to feel. All major organs are in place, and his brain, nerves, and muscles are starting to function. Although his gender was determined at conception, external genitalia won't fully develop for another couple of weeks. At that point, a sonogram may be able to show whether you're carrying a boy or a girl--if your baby will cooperate and face the camera!

Baby's face is looking more human as his eyes have moved to the front of his head and his ears are in place. Hooray! Other amazing fetal highlights this week:

* Your baby is able to swallow this week and practices on the amniotic fluid he or she floats in. (And you thought baby food was kind of nasty!) And in case you're wondering how your kid can breathe in all that fluid, here's your answer: Fetuses get oxygen from the blood pumped into their bodies by the placenta and don't breathe with their lungs.

* Your baby's intestines are well under way, but they aren't all where you'd expect them to be. Instead of all being locked away in the body cavity, some are dangling on the outside, in the umbilical cord.

* Don't forget to put a baby nail file on your registry—your little nugget's finger- and toenails are forming this week. The chin and nose are also becoming more defined.

* Junior has doubled in size over the past two weeks and now weighs almost 1/2 ounce. He's also now around 2 1/2 inches long, about the length of your pinky finger, which, in a few months, will be indistinguishable from one another.


Tomorrow I have my 1st baby doctor appointment! Bob and I are so excited!! :)