Week 27

Welcome to the final week of the second trimester!

Baby's now the size of an eggplant. The average fetus measures between 13.6 and 14.8 inches in length and weighs in between 1.5 and 2.2 pounds (yikes!).

Baby's lungs are going through some major developments these days, which (combined with the opening of previously plugged nostrils) means that baby is now able to practice inhaling and exhaling. The lack of air in the womb means that every "breath" is filled with amniotic fluid, but hey...it's progress. Baby is sleeping and waking at regular intervals, as well as opening and closing their eyes and perhaps even sucking its fingers. Brain tissue also continues to develop, leading to a very active brain right now.

Inside the womb, the formation of tiny capillaries is giving baby a healthy pink glow. Baby's also soaking up your antibodies, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes.

I'm supposed to let Dan put an ear to my belly -- he might be able to pick up baby's heartbeat (no stethoscope required)...we'll see how that goes! Also, any tiny rhythmic movements I may be feeling can be attributed to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Maybe that's what I'm feeling right now...