Week 21 (and 1 day) pics

We had a great time at the doctor's office this morning and got to see some live action shots of the baby.  All is well.  The brain, heart, kidneys and spine (those were the major callouts) are developing according to plan and the ultrasound tech estimated the baby's weight at around 14 ounces (which is the 49.3 percentile if that kind of thing is of interest or importance to you).  We also got some good views of hands, feet, arms and legs.  No guesstimates on the length.  The little one was somewhat active, so it was like watching a video of a very small alien.  Pics from today's appointment are provided below for your viewing pleasure.  Although we could have opted to learn the sex of the baby during today's visit, we had already decided not to (and didn't change our minds). 

Week 21

The average fetus is 10.5 inches long and 12.7 ounces.
Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for hydration and nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies are most interested in tastes they've already experienced through amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you want your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch. You may soon feel like "she's" practicing martial arts as "her" initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to "her" activity as you get to know "her" better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.

The Belly has landed! - Week 20

We think the picture says it all. Very exciting!

Week 20

Weighing in somewhere around 10.5 ounces, baby is about 6.5 inches now head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel. Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, speaking of the diaper situation... baby's genitals are now fully formed!

Week 19

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

Week 18

Baby's become amazingly mobile (compared to you, at least), passing the hours yawning, hiccupping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking, and swallowing. And baby is finally big enough that you'll soon be able to feel her movements.

Average fetus is 5 to 6 inches. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, although he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.