Baby’s face can show expressions
Your baby’s eyes are now able to distinguish light from darkness. Although they are tightly closed, your baby can respond to bright light from outside the uterus [1].
They can also make a lot of dramatic facial expressions, including frowns and smiles! But the movements are involuntary since the baby can’t control their facial muscles yet [1].
While awake, the baby waves and straightens their arms and bends and stretches their legs. But you may not be able to feel these movements yet, especially if this is your first pregnancy.
The skeleton continues to ossify, or harden into bone, and milk teeth are developing and covered with dentin tissue.
All bodily systems have developed, and their structure and function continue to improve. Your baby continues to grow and gain weight, and by this week they are almost the size of the placenta.
If you are expecting twins
The babies are already actively moving their arms and legs, each in their own bubble. But you can’t really feel these movements yet, because right now the amount of amniotic fluid is slowly increasing. This allows the babies to grow and get used to the uterus without disturbing each other. Liquid is a very good shock absorber, but if the babies are sharing a single fetal sac, you may start feeling the first stirrings.
What can be seen on ultrasound
This image shows the baby lying on their back, facing slightly toward us. Their profile is visible, and we can distinguish the forehead, nose, and chin. The right hand seems positioned in a welcome gesture, with the palm, wrist, and five fingers all visible.
The feet are resting against the uterine wall, and the right knee is visible, while the left is mostly obscured.
