This week your baby has a distinguishable head and trunk! And on
your baby's head…facial features! That's right, as early as week six
your baby is beginning to develop facial features with indentation that
will become the eyes, ears and mouth. Their larynx or voice box will
also begin to form this week.
An EEG, or electroencephalogram, can detect and monitor your baby's
brain activity this week. An ultrasound would also be able to detect
your baby's heartbeat! With their circulatory system well established,
their digestive and respiratory systems will also begin to form this
week.
What is an ultrasound anyway?
If you aren't familiar with ultrasounds at this point, 9 months from
now you will be very familiar with them. A pregnancy ultrasound is an
imaging test that uses sound waves to see inside of the womb. This
procedure is painless and noninvasive.
While you are lying on your back, the person performing the test
will place a clear, usually cold, gel on your belly. A hand-held probe
is moved over the area and the sound waves that are emitted bounce off
the developing fetus to create a picture on the ultrasound monitor. In
some cases, a pregnancy ultrasound may be done by placing the probe
into your vagina.
Scans are often performed in the first trimester to:
- Assess your baby's age
- Rule out problems like ectopic pregnancies
- Assess your baby's heart rate
- Identify problems with the placenta, uterus or pelvis
- Confirm a normal pregnancy
- Check for multiple pregnancies
- Check for Down Syndrome
Cat Litter
You may have heard that pregnant women should not touch cat litter.
Though it may sound strange, this is no urban legend. Changing cat
litter can put you at risk for toxoplasmosis, which is a parasitic
disease that can cause pregnancy problems and serious birth defects.
There is no need to get rid of your cat, but it is important for
someone else to change the litter box! If that is not possible, be sure
to wear rubber gloves while changing the litter and wash your hands
when you are done. Toxoplasmosis can also be caused by eating uncooked
meat and unwashed vegetables, so be sure to cook all meats thoroughly
and properly scrub your vegetables before consumption! You should also
be sure to wash all cutting boards and utensils that may have come into
contact with meat before you use them to prepare foods.
