Your baby is over ten and a half inches long (crown to heel) and weighs almost one pound this week. The mouth is fully developed, including the tongue (babies at this point have been observed sticking out their tongues in ultrasound images!). The baby is swallowing more, which is good practice for the digestive system. The baby is also producing meconium, a black, sticky substance that will accumulate in the bowels as a result of swallowed amniotic fluid and digestive secretions. This will come out in the diaper after birth, although in rare cases, it will be passed in the uterus during delivery.
As the baby and your uterus continue to get bigger, you may notice a sharp pain in your side. Muscles and ligaments are stretching to support the growing baby, and the cramping that can occur in this area is called round ligament pain, which is very common from now until the end of pregnancy. Some women wear a special maternity belt to help support the abdomen and redistribute some of the extra weight.
Hot Topic: Naming Your Baby
You are probably already daydreaming about baby names, and you may have even started a list of names that you are considering. Unless you are positive about your choice of a name, it may be helpful to have a list of your favorites ready before the baby is born; but wait to decide until you actually see and hold your baby. Some couples say it’s helpful to keep the choices they are considering to themselves in order to avoid pressure from friends and family. Here are some ideas to think about:
- Names with specific meanings: Sarah (princess), Zoë (life), Jia (beautiful), Estaven (crown), Jared (descending)
- Names that appeal to your ear (including going well with your last name): Isabella, Aliyah, Nathaniel, Leonardo
- Family names, including last names used as first or middle names: Avery, Casey, Jackson, Parker, Tyler, Carson
- Names that reflect ancestry or heritage: Cecile, Maya, Amrit, Dane, Alejandro, Liam
- Current popular baby names: Ava, Emma, Abigail, Olivia, Nicholas, Joshua, Ethan, Jacob
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