What’s happening to my baby?
By now your baby is fully formed. It has survived the most vulnerable and critical stages of its early development and all the groundwork is laid for the weeks to come. It has internal and sex organs, its cartilage skeleton is gradually forming into hard bone and it can even make small facial expressions. Most foetuses will be over 6cm by this stage. Your baby is even practising its breathing by inhaling amniotic fluid – all a part of preparing for the world outside.
The placenta is fully formed and helps to support your baby via the umbilical cord; everything you eat and drink is consumed by your baby also, so consider carefully your diet and lifestyle.
What’s happening to me?
Some of the difficulties you encountered with going to the toilet might pass as the uterus moves up and away from your bowels and bladder.
Around this time you might be due for another ultrasound to check everything is tracking well. Further tests are available that can detect chromosomal abnormalities such as Edward syndrome and Down syndrome.
Because your baby has survived the most vulnerable stages of its development, many mothers-to-be traditionally choose this time – the end of the first trimester – to announce to their friends and family that they are pregnant. The chances for a full-term pregnancy increase rapidly every day from this point on.