Day 48

The structure of the baby's eye is now well developed (it's not mature enough to do any visual processing yet, though). Over the next three days, the tongue will begin to develop. The external ear canal is present and the ears are set low on the baby's head. As development proceeds, structures literally get pulled from one location to another. The baby's ears will not stay low-set (unless that is a family trait). They will be pulled to their normal position as the head grows in size and shape. Likewise, the eyes, although well formed, are located on the sides of the baby's head, much like a rabbit, but they too, will migrate forward as head development continues. The baby now measures 16-18mm long and weighs about .94 grams (that's about as heavy as a teaspoon of water!)

During this time, any diseases I have can be communicated to the baby. I have to avoid contact with people who have cold, flu, or other illnesses. Simply washing my hands often will liken my chances of staying healthy.
Did you know? Between 1 and 2 teaspoons of amniotic fluid is now present in my uterus?
For your information...Even though the baby is surrounded by fluid, it does not drown because it does not depend on lungs for air. Oxygen comes to the baby from me through the umbilical cord blood. (I think most people know this. At least anyone that has a general idea of anatomy.)

This has been another installment from "The Pregnancy Journal" by A. Christine Harris, Ph. D.

On a side note...IT'S COLD IN VERMONT! As promised, we're talking about weather. Today it's was -6 when I woke up. With wind chill...I'm not quite sure because I didn't watch the news! The high for today is ZERO! With wind chill that's more like -20! (At least that's what they said on yesterdays news. Thank goodness tomorrow is supposed to warm up more. (I'm hearing through the grapevine that tomorrow might be colder...) I still think we're going to be in the single digits with wind chills in the negatives! Yowza! Boy am I glad I've learned how to layer!