Getting ready to meet your baby!
Your baby could arrive any day now! All of their organs are fully formed and working. By now, your baby's skin is thick enough to protect their internal organs and regulate heat exchange [1]. A growing subcutaneous layer of fat will make your baby round and plump [2].
The lungs are now producing more surfactant, a substance that helps air bubbles open. With their help, your baby will be able to breathe independently [3].
Respiratory activity has improved thanks to the development of the corresponding centers in the central nervous system. They will continue to develop even after the baby is born. Newborn babies breathe intermittently and irregularly and can pause for up to five seconds [3].
By this week, your baby has developed clear states of activity and rest. In the active phase, the eyes move quickly, while in the passive phase, they remain almost motionless. These periods are synchronized with the heart rate and movements of the head, arms, and legs.
After the baby is born, the doctor will assess their health on the Apgar scale, which takes into account heart rate, breathing rhythm, muscle tone, reflexes, and skin color [3].
If you are expecting twins
Twins should be brought to the breast as soon as possible after childbirth. Of course, it’s more challenging to manage two, so it’s important for you to receive proper support from the dad, family and medical staff. Each of the babies can have their own style and rhythm of feeding, one can nurse often and little, and the other longer but with noticeable spacing. In the first few days, it is better to put the babies to the breast in turns to focus on particular sensations and understand how well each child latches to the nipple and how actively he or she nurses [4]. Later, you can train yourself to nurse them simultaneously. If, of course, they cooperate!
What can be seen on the ultrasound
Here, we see the baby's head from above. The dotted line indicates its circumference and diameter. It now measures almost four inches (96 mm).
