Baby at 17 weeks gestational age - image courtesy of BabyCenter.com
It’s been quite a while since we updated you on the progression and development of Junior Constantino and thought it was about time.
Prior to Christmas we visited my wife’s obstetrician who conducted a brief examination and found that everything is going extremely well. She also allowed us to listen to the baby’s heartbeat, which was fast and strong.
Currently, we’re at week 17 gestational age for Junior, and Kim (my lovely wife) has begun feeling tiny kicks – which she says are akin to what you’d feel if you put a hand on one side of a gallon of milk, and flick the opposite side with your finger.
The baby’s physical movements are more like echos or ripples at this point, but we know that they’ll change to flying-side kicks soon enough.
According to BabyCenter.com, a lot is going on in there at this stage of development:
His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren’t recognizable yet. He’s even started growing toenails. And there’s a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop. (from week 16)
Your baby’s skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she’s around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop. (from week 17)
For those keeping track at home the baby’s growth trajectory on the fruit/vegetable scale has been as follows:
Week 17 – Turnip
Week 16 – Avocado
Week 15 – Apple
Week 13 – Lemon
Week 12 – Lime
Week 11 – Fig
Week 10 – Kumqut
Week 9 – Grape
We’ve scheduled the next ultrasound for Tuesday, January 24th when Junior will be 19 weeks – that’s when we’ll find out the gender. It’s a very exciting experience, and we’re humbled everyday by this miracle that’s drawing ever closer to reality.
