Newsletter from Essential Baby -week 14

Your baby's development.

This week your baby is about 80-89mm in length and weighs approximately 25 grams (0.9 ounces). The head is now about one third of your baby's whole length, and the neck continues to get longer, meaning that the chin no longer rests on the chest.
The placenta has fully developed, and it's rich network of blood vessels is functioning as your baby's life support system. The placenta also manufactures some of the pregnancy hormones.
The umbilical cord is also completely mature and is made up of three entwined blood vessels (covered by a fatty layer). The large vein of the umbilical cord carries nourishment and oxygen rich blood to the fetus, while the two smaller arteries are responsible for carrying waste products and carbon dioxide from the fetus to the placenta, which then processes waste. The placenta also passes on antibodies that help fight infections from the mother to the fetus.
It is important to note that a large proportion of what the mother consumes is passed to the fetus this way, including, drugs and alcohol.
Your baby's circulation continues to develop and he/she can now swallow amniotic fluid, which is excreted as urine. Your baby starts to establish a sucking reflex, and exercises the muscles that will help him/her to swallow and breath after birth.
The profile of your baby is now more human, and features such as chin, forehead and nose are more clearly defined. Fingers and toes are becoming fully formed and the external genitals differentiate.
By the end of this week, your baby is fully formed. From here, he/she needs to mature. When provoked (eg by prodding of your abdomen), your baby will respond with active movements, however you still can't feel your baby moving yet.

Your Pregnancy.

You may start to notice that moles, freckles and small tags of skin appear, or grow and change during pregnancy. If you notice any changes in a mole, it's best to have it checked by your health care practitioner.