His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. The placenta is still larger than the baby at this stage, and will be supplying baby with oxygen, fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals. The placenta will also filter out carbon dioxide and waste materials, in an intricate process called ‘diffusion’.
Your baby is also actively rehearsing ‘breathing’ by inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid to prepare the lungs for future air respiration. This is kind of exciting, but also a little weird to think about, as it means baby is breathing in the same fluid that he’s weeing in. (Don’t stress, the urine is totally sterile and the liquid waste from the baby is ultimately filtered down to your bladder, adding to your million-times-a-day trips to the bathroom. )
Baby’s poo is also building up in his intestine, waiting to be released once he is born in a tarry, dark substance called meconium. All this poo and wee talk might be enough to gross you out, but remember it’s much easier to deal with poo and wee while baby is growing inside you than when they’ve made their way into the big world outside the womb.
Baby is wriggling, moving and waving around in the amniotic fluid, which remains at a nice 37.5 degrees Celsius, which is slightly higher than your body temperature.
Just like adults, all babies are different and develop at varying rates in the womb. This information gives a general idea of your baby’s development and progress.
This article was written by Alex Brooks for Kidspot, Australia’s best pregnancy, labour and birth resource.
