Pregnancy And Baby Care Articles Fetal Development

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...and the baby is approximately ten and a half inches tall. Prior to this stage, an unborn child is always measured from crown to rump as it is constantly in a curved posture in the former half of the pregnancy. Having passed the rapid formative and growth stages, the baby continues to develop further and puts on weight steadily. Most of the baby’s nourishment comes from the mother and is passed on through the placenta to the developing baby. As the pregnancy proceeds closer to the due date, the baby becomes increasingly self reliant. At 21 weeks, the baby begins to absorb tiny proportions of sugar from the amniotic fluid which becomes a source of nourishment. The intestines have also developed further. The most vital development at 21 weeks of gestation is the ability of the baby’s bone marrow to begin producing red blood cells. In the earlier weeks, blood was produced solely by the spleen and the liver. Gradually this function is taken over completely by the bone marrow. The baby’s heartbeat is easily audible with a stethoscope. As early as 21 weeks, the baby can recognize her mother’s voice. She also begins to respond to sounds. Hair and nails continue to grow. The skin becomes thicker as the pregnancy progresses. To protect a baby’s delicate skin from the adversities of being constantly immersed in amniotic fluid, a thin protective layer covers the baby. This layer is called vernix caseosa. It is a fatty substance that has a whitish hue. It also eases the delivery process. In little girls, the vagina is formed and the ovaries are filled with more than six million tiny eggs needed for reproduction. In boys, the testes begin to descend from the abdomen to take their place and the genitals are distinctly seen. However, boys are not born with sperm. Sperm is produced only at puberty.

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