Baby’s Development
Things are coming together quicker than ever as your little one continues to build the foundation for all the organs and systems that will carry it through the rest of its life.
Your little raspberry is changing into a grape! Deep inside you this week, your baby will grow to approximately 0.56 to 0.80 inches. What’s more, it’s starting to gradually lose its tail…taking it from the realm of the amphibian to something a bit more familiar!
Inside the embryo, the tubes growing from the throat to the chest are starting to form branches that will soon become lungs. This is possibly the longest process your embryo will undergo. Unlike other organs, the lungs aren’t fully complete until the baby is late into its third trimester! The brain however, continues to grow at a rapid rate and this week marks the first communication between brain cells.
Your embryo’s face is becoming a little more human as well. Its eyes develop folds that will soon become eyelids and upon close examination, the tip of its nose is visible. The fins that stood for arms and legs last week become longer and start to bend at the elbows. All the better to punch and jab you with during the progress of pregnancy!
Your Body and Emotions
You will probably have your first visit to the obstetrician this week. It’s a big moment! You get to meet and choose the person with the hands that will pull your little one into the world!
Don’t be shy about bringing all your questions along. You may even want to make a list of them so that you can be assured that all your needs will be met. If you want, include questions about your doctor’s practices along with your pregnancy concerns. For example, you may want to know if your doctor believes in inducing labor at an early stage or if he or she has a history of scheduling C-sections. Many doctors receive monetary bonuses for C-sections and it’s a sad fact that some are more prone to recommending them in order to receive a ‘kick back’. You want to be sure that you’re working with a doctor you respect.
If you are experiencing unmanageable mood swings or depression, now is the time to bring it up with your doctor. In fact, being silent about it can actually cause a great deal of harm to your baby. It’s been proven that women who experience depression or anxiety in pregnancy give birth to babies who are smaller than average and therefore more susceptible to illness or complication. If you have a history of mental illness or if you were being treated before pregnancy, the hormones involved can cause a relapse or increase in your symptoms. There is absolutely no shame in getting help. Your obstetrician will refer you to a reproductive psychiatrist immediately and you can relax knowing that with their help, you can actually enjoy the remainder of your pregnancy.
Dad’s Tips
Remember the breasts your partner used to have? Well, they’re starting to change rapidly. You might find your partner’s new breasts to be either a lot of fun or a little intimidating. You may have noticed a difference right away, but by now you probably can’t help but see an increase in size and even shape.
Many women get a real boost of self-confidence as their breasts grow and due to their heightened sensitivity, may find themselves feeling sexier than ever. If this is the case, enjoy! She’ll probably get great pleasure out of your appreciation of them. However, the breast issue can be a double-edged sword. She may be feeling extremely sick at this point and the last thing she’ll want is you fondling her or making endless comments. Be patient. This new change isn’t going anywhere. By the time most women are into their second trimester, their sex drive has returned with a vengeance and the two of you will have plenty of time to enjoy.
