Your
baby continues to be busy growing and developing inside of you. He's
now the size of an avocado, measuring 4 1/2 inches and weighing
approximately 3 ounces. His heart is now pumping 25 quarts of blood
every day and his bladder is emptying every 45 minutes.
His limbs are even more developed and their movements have become
increasingly coordinated. He doesn't yet have any hair but the
patterning of his scalp has begun. His eyes are still closed but moving and if you had an ultrasound,
which many doctors recommend you have at about this time, you may even
see your little one sucking on a thumb, not to mention the necessary
signifiers to let you know whether you’ve got a wee lad or lassie.In the coming weeks he will double his weight and
add inches to his frame.
Mom
If this is your second child, you might already be able to detect
his little movements. Mostly because you are already familiar with what
they feel like, but it can also be attributed to the fact that your
uterus is more stretched out than it was in your first pregnancy.
Most first-time mothers begin to recognize fetal movements around
week 22. So get ready! In just a few short weeks you should be able to
detect him moving and shifting around!
In the beginning, you may only detect these movements sporadically
but as your pregnancy progresses, they should become increasingly
regular and those little flutters in your stomach will feel distinctly
like kicks. Other members of your family will soon be able to feel them
too! Though they won’t be able to feel those first fluttery movements,
they should be able to feel your baby move around 24 weeks!