|
|
Pregnancy 9 Weeks
Fetal Development
Your baby will now be between 0.9 to 1.2 inches long and weighs around 0.14 ounces. Your baby's body is becoming more and more
human in appearance. The embryonic tail at the bottom of the spinal cord is shrinking and has almost disappeared this week,
but the head is still huge in comparison with the rest of the body (making up about 25% of the entire body).
The skeleton is forming and arms and legs are growing longer. Toes and fingers have formed but are still short and webbed.
The elbows should also be fully developed by now.
The bones were initially soft and flexible (made of cartilage), and now go through an ossification process (hardening of the bones).
Be sure to get your daily allowance in calcium in. The bones in the legs and the inner ear will be the first to ossify.
By now, the gonads should have completed their growth into either testes or ovaries. External genitalia appear very similar and
are undistinguishable for another few weeks. The intestines begin their descent out of the umbilical cord and into the
abdominal cavity. All major organs, muscles and nerves are now present. The villi are also forming in the intestines.
Under the translucent skin many blood vessels can be seen. Your baby's tongue is developing as well, and immature taste
buds appear on it.
Your baby is very active although you will not be able to feel this until about your 16th week. Movement can be seen on
ultrasound, however.
<< 8 Weeks
10 Weeks >>
|
|
