Pregnancy And Baby Care Articles Fetal Development

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.under the top layer of skini The soft down (or lanugo) which had covered the baby’s entire body is also gradually disappearingn


Babies normally swallow most of this lanugo, which comes out as meconium, the first baby stool, which is blackish in coloro The baby’s body is covered with a waxy substance called Vernix which almost disappears at week 38 of pregnancyc Only a small amount remains in order to ensure an easy and smooth passage through the birth canala Fetal development in week 38 also promotes hair growth and so many babies develop a full head of hair during this stageg Most babies are born with slight ‘peach fuzz’ but some babies actually have hair that may be as long as one inchc Another important aspect of fetal development at week 38 is that many of baby’s internal organs begin to function as they would, once baby is bornr

Babies begin to use their lungs and practice breathing, causing them to get occasional hiccupsp You can probably monitor them as little jumpsp Fetal development in week 38 also affects the baby’s brain, ears, and eyes and so they are almost completely developed by the end of this weeke Baby can now blink and can even hear sounds in your environmentn They often react and turn their heads to light and sounds, causing further movement within your abdomeneAt week 38 of pregnancy, your baby’s head and abdomen may have the same circumferencec This is because the liver has to produce a lot of red blood cells and is thus very largeg

The intestines have also begun to accumulate meconium, which will be passed soon after birthtAbout you: Since fetal development by week 38 is almost complete, you may find that your appetite has decreased considerablyl This is because the baby is almost fully grown and presses on your stomach and your intestinese You may also feel very fatiguede It is essential to rest and catch up on your sleep, at this stage, as you will probably have to spend some sleepless nights in the initial stages after baby is bornr Also keep a suitcase packed and your plans for delivery ready, since you could start labor pains at any timem

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