Day 52

By today or tomorrow, the external ears will be completely developed. Baby's nose is stubby and the eyes are heavily pigmented. The bones of the palate are beginning to fuse and the taste buds are beginning to form on the surface of the baby's tongue. The fingers have separated. The feet are fan shaped, the toes are webbed, and the hands touch each other as do the feet. The baby measures .87-.94 inches from crown to rump - as wide as the face of an American quarter. By this time, the amniotic sac is about the size of a chicken's egg.

For your information...The appearance of the first bone cells in the baby's body marks the end of the embryonic period. This milestone was chosen since beginning bone formation coincides with the appearance of the basic structures and organs of the body.

Food Facts...Potassium is critical to maintaining the heartbeat, preventing cellular dehydration, and facilitating nerve cell transmission, carbohydrate metabolism, and muscle contraction. A daily done of 2,000 mg is considered safe and adequate. A potassium supplement is not advised, but bananas are an excellent source of potassium during pregnancy, as are avocados, potatoes, and figs. Do not place bananas in the refrigerator until they are as ripe as you want them. The skin will turn brown in the refrigerator, but the fruit will remain unchanged.

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