The baby continues to grow rapidly, and the movements of the growing fetus become more apparent to both the mother and everyone around the baby. With each passing week, the chance of survival if the baby is born increases significantly.
What is happening in the belly?
The baby is at a stage in its development where it has roughly doubled its weight in just 6 weeks, but despite the significant weight gain, the mother's secure belly is still a place with plenty of space.
It is a pure playground for the fetus, which does somersaults and moves in a wave. It is still important to feel movements every single day.
In addition to the large movements, the small things like eyelashes and nails have also grown, and they will now be an integrated part of the baby's body and appearance.
The baby's skin is still very thin, but with each passing week, it becomes thicker, and already now it is actually no longer transparent. This week, the majority of the baby's skin will also be covered by a small layer of hair, which resembles fine down.
This layer is called lanugo hair or wool hair. Lanugo hairs are actually a byproduct of the activation of hair follicles in the skin, which occurs to produce the important vernix. It varies when the baby loses this lanugo hair again. Some have done it before birth, while others will have a bit of down on their ears, in their face, or on their shoulders and back. It can take days or weeks after birth to lose the last of it, and it is all completely normal.
It only gets heavier and heavier for the mother
How the expectant mother feels at this time varies greatly. However, most can sense that there is pressure from inside the belly.
The baby can easily press on your bladder, and therefore you may have to rush to the bathroom at odd times. It is also a reminder that you should try to remember to train your pelvic floor. It is a part of the body that is really working hard at this time, and its task is only getting bigger. Therefore, it also needs to be maintained and trained.
There are many good tips for optimal training of your pelvic floor during pregnancy, both online and with your doctor, midwife, or similar.
Size of the fetus
The baby is now around 800 grams, weighing the same as a large grapefruit. However, the shape is not quite the same, as the baby will be about 31-32 centimeters long from toe to top at this point.
Advice for the partner
Time may seem to fly, and you are now well over halfway to becoming parents. The baby will also be able to recognize you and your voice quite quickly after it arrives in the world, and everything is coming up close.
Try to enjoy the time and appreciate the things you can do together now. It sounds like a cliché, but there is nothing to do but wait for the little one's arrival, so you might as well try to enjoy yourselves during the waiting period.
