Tuesday, January 4, 2011

21 Weeks Pregnant

Not a whole lot is new this week! We’re just getting back into our regular routines, which is no fun, but I’m looking forward to resuming my bib-making and other things I haven’t had much time for lately.

Baby should now be about 10.5 inches long from head to toe, and around 13 ounces. It also has a new trick: it now gets some of its nourishment from the amniotic fluid, since it is developed enough to swallow and digest it. Also, the “bone marrow spaces” (is that a technical term?) are producing red blood cells now, whereas before they were produced in the spleen and liver.

This is a photo of a baby that was reportedly born at 21 weeks gestation.

The open eyes make me think it might be a little older than that, since the eyes are normally still fused shut according to what I’ve read. I’ve also read that 22 weeks is the absolute earliest a baby could be born and survive. Anyway, even if the baby in the picture is a week or two older, it’s amazing how well developed it is!

Well, that’s about all I’ve got for this week! I hope 2011 is treating you well so far!

2 comments:

  1. You look like a pregnant lady! I like how fluffy gray kitty is looking at your belly :)

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  2. it may have been a baby that was born at 21 weeks, but was not able to be photographed or held until a while later. If it WAS born at 21 weeks, it's one lucky baby!

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