Mom

Your uterus is getting bigger and bigger and soon you will see the bulge of your belly. This is of course because of the growth of your baby. The obstetrician will measure the distance between the top of your uterus and your pelvic bone to see how big your baby is. This way, he/she can see whether the growth of your baby corresponds to the duration of the pregnancy.

It is however not true that your baby isn’t growing if you can’t see a bump yet or if you haven’t gained an ounce of weight. And if you are gaining a lot of weight, this doesn’t mean your baby is growing faster. All babies grow approximately the same way up to 16 weeks. After this, individual differences begin to develop. Everyone carries their child differently; especially the intestines will have to find space due to the baby’s growth in the uterus.

Baby

The baby has grown to over 8 centimeters and 30 grams and is about the size of a lemon. Your baby is now mainly using its energy for growing.

The organs have been formed and the amount of amniotic fluid is increasing. The amniotic fluid is important for protection. If you fall or accidentally bump your belly, this will not be noticed at all by the baby thanks to the amniotic fluid. In addition, the amniotic fluid provides constant warmth, so your baby never gets cold.

The bone marrow, liver and spleen have now taken over the production of blood cells. The bones are in development and teeth are beginning to develop. Your baby might already be practicing moving his/her lips to develop the muscles that are required for the sucking reflex that is necessary after birth.

Researchers suspect that at this point the baby can already hear sounds. However, its ears aren’t fully grown until around the 24th week. Still, it seems like babies can ‘hear’ sounds via the skin, which catches vibrations.