The baby is getting stronger
The baby's skin is wrinkled, translucent, and very thin; it has a pink-red color because the blood from the capillaries can be seen through it [1].
At the same time, the baby's body becomes more rounded. Folds appear on the arms, legs, and buttocks due to the accumulation of subcutaneous fat.
The baby's heart rate is between 120 and 160 beats per minute, and the doctor can hear it with an obstetric stethoscope or Doppler machine.
At this time, the baby may be considered viable in the event of premature birth. Going into labor at this stage is not optimal and involves great risk, but premature babies can survive thanks to modern obstetric centers. Their lungs are underdeveloped, and they cannot breathe on their own but can be successfully stabilized with life-support devices until they mature [2].
During this week of pregnancy, the mom’s body supplies the baby with a considerable amount of calcium needed for bone growth, so it’s important for your partner to include foods rich in calcium in her diet. Milk, cheese, almonds, and green vegetables such as broccoli are great sources. Many moms-to-be need extra calcium [3, 4], so consult the doctor about whether your partner needs a special supplement.
Your baby needs the weeks between now and when your partner reaches full term to grow and gain strength for later life. The expectant mom needs to continue eating a healthy and varied diet and get plenty of rest. Her body is working at full capacity as a source of nutrients.
If your partner is expecting twins
The babies are already quite big and strong! And now your partner will be under particularly close supervision by the doctors because the risk of premature birth in a multiple pregnancy is higher. This week, she will likely have an additional ultrasound to make sure that everything is right with the babies [5].
What we can see on an ultrasound
In the image, the baby is lying on one side; the head can be seen on the right. The dark area in the center is the corpus callosum, a plexus of nerve fibers that divides the cerebral cortex into the left and right hemispheres.
A hand is visible, which is reaching towards the mouth. Most likely, the baby wants to suck on a finger. The hand is clenched into a fist.
The dark spot in the chest area is the heart, and the light arch, located just below, is the bend of the spine.
