Your Baby's Development
Marveling over a baby's tiny fingers and toes is one of the
joys of the
first day of life
. Those fingers and toes are just beginning to form this week, and
the arms can even flex at the elbows and wrists. The eyes are
becoming more obvious because they've begun to develop pigment
(color) in the retina (back of the eye).
Also, the intestines are getting longer and there isn't enough
room for them in the baby's abdomen, so they protrude into the
umbilical cord until week 12.
By now, the beginnings of the buds that will develop into your
baby's genitals have made their appearance, although
they've not yet developed enough to reveal whether your baby is
a boy or a girl.
Your Body
Pregnancy symptoms such as a missed period, nausea, extreme
fatigue, or tight clothes due to the swelling of your uterus have
probably prompted you to wonder whether you're pregnant. Once
you have confirmation of your pregnancy from a home pregnancy test
or blood or urine test at the doctor's office, you should call
and schedule your first
prenatal visit
. Your pregnancy may be monitored by one of several health care
professionals, including an obstetrician, nurse practitioner,
midwife, or family doctor. If your pregnancy is considered high
risk (for example, if you have had multiple miscarriages, are older
than 35, or have a history of pregnancy complications), your doctor
may want to see you as early as possible and more often during the
course of your pregnancy.
Good prenatal care is extremely important for the health and
safe delivery of your baby, so be sure to make prenatal
appointments a top priority.
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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