Touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing senses are being mapped to separate brain regions.
What's Happening With Your Baby This Week?
- A white, waxy layer called "vernix caseosa" is coating the skin to protect it from amniotic fluid.
- Specialized brain regions for each of the five senses are differentiating; each sense is building its own neural network.
- The kidneys are working; the urine they make is an important source of amniotic fluid.
- Permanent tooth buds are beginning to form behind the baby tooth buds.
- In baby girls, the ovaries contain approximately 6 million primitive egg cells.
This Week's Tips for Mom
- You may experience leg cramps; they can be especially common at night.
- Balancing your salt intake and drinking at least 2.5 liters of fluids daily will do you good.
- You can start using a pregnancy support pillow to ease hip and back pain.
- You may notice skin changes (dark spots, melasma); using sunscreen is very important for your skin.
- You might consider scheduling your week 20 appointment for the detailed ultrasound (anomaly scan).
Tip of the day: Gentle calf stretches before bed can help prevent nighttime cramps; if you're considering a magnesium supplement, check with your doctor first. Pulling your toes toward you to stretch the calf muscle can provide quick relief during a cramp.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Length and weight values are averages; every baby grows at their own pace.
