· The amniotic fluid surrounding Pudding is currently at its highest level during the pregnancy.
· Pudding’s head size has increased 3/8ths of an inch due to rapid brain growth.
· Neurons and synapses are developing in huge numbers – forming connections in our baby’s brain will give him/her the skills he/she needs to thrive as a newborn.
· This week, Pudding may be able to coordinate sucking and swallowing with breathing.
· While most of our little one’s bones are hardening, Pudding’s skull is quite pliable and not completely joined. The bones will be able to move slightly to make birthing easier.
· Our baby takes intermittent deep breaths of water. That’s okay, though since he/she gets oxygen from the placenta. This breathing exercises muscles and encourages his/her lung cells to produce more surfactant (a protein essential for healthy lung development).
· Pudding is now 17.2 inches (43.7cm) long and weighs 4.23 pounds (1918gm).
Think of stretch marks as pregnancy service stripes. ~Joyce Armor
