Your dream child at 14th week
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Big news of this week! Your dream child is able to make facial expressions now and she will exercise her face muscles by frowning and pulling a variety of expressions. Her face and body are far more defined than a few weeks ago – she is tiny and fragile, but very obviously a baby.

Development

  • Around this time your baby’s thyroid glands starts to produce hormones.
  • The external genitals are developing more and, it can be seen on an ultra sound scan.
  • In girls, the ovaries descend into the pelvis and in boys, the prostate gland appears.
  • The skeleton is getting harder and becoming stronger.
  • She even has tiny taste buds, which look like those of an adult but are not yet functioning.

Appearance

Finally, your baby’s body is catching up with its rather large head. The ears and eyes continue to shift into their correct positions, as the ears move to the sides of the head and the eyes draw closer to one another. As the neck grows longer, your baby’s chin lifts from its chest. The muscle reflexes continue to develop, but the baby is still too small for any of the resulting movements to be felt by Mom. The baby is drawing all its nutrients directly from the placenta, so again, it’s very important you watch what you put into your mouth. The baby is fully developed and is growing larger, and the system is continuing to expand. At week 14, your baby is 3.4 inches and 1.5 ounces, she's almost doubled in weight since last week and keeps on growing.


What is placenta?


week14

The placenta is an amazing organ that plays a crucial role in pregnancy in keeping the baby alive and well. When it is delivered after the birth of the baby, it looks somewhat like a piece of liver, and usually weighs about one sixth of the baby's weight.

The main function of the placenta is to supply the baby with adequate nutrition. Blood from the mother goes through the placenta then into the umbilical cord attached, before reaching the baby. This blood contains oxygen, glucose and an array of other nutritional substances. Before the blood goes to the baby, the placenta works like a kidney to filter it of harmful substances, while also letting those that are good for the baby pass through.

As well, the placenta acts like a lung for the baby, allowing the transfer of oxygen just like the lungs do in a newborn baby or adult. Once the baby has used the blood with the oxygen, the blood goes back to the placenta to get rid of carbon dioxide and pick up more oxygen. The placenta also ensures these waste products from the baby are released into the mother's circulation, which in turn are disposed of through her urine. It also helps to protect the baby from infections because it keeps the mother's blood and baby's blood separate by acting as an effective filter.


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