Your baby’s brain and higher nervous functions are developing
Your baby’s development is non-stop. Thanks to the accumulation of subcutaneous fat, your baby is becoming plumper with nice rounded cheeks [1].
The baby's digestive system is already formed, but it will take time for it to function fully. The lungs are not mature enough to work on their own, they will be fully developed by 36 weeks [2, 3].
The maturation of the baby’s cerebral cortex and related higher nervous functions continues. An interesting fact is that the baby’s brain grows unevenly, in most babies the left hemisphere is larger than the right in the womb [4, 5].
While the layer of protective lubricant that covers the baby’s body becomes thicker [6], the skin is still very thin and transparent. At this age, the skin remains colorless — and we can see the blood vessels through it. Genetic skin pigmentation will begin in the third trimester. This process will continue after birth, up through the first year of life. But in the womb, all babies tend to look the same, regardless of the skin color of their parents [7].
If you are expecting twins
The babies are now pretty cramped inside the uterus. It's getting harder for them to roll over. If either of them is not in the “head down” position, your doctor may start to plan a cesarean section. With such limited space, there is little chance that they will be able to turn over.
What can be seen on ultrasound
The picture shows the baby’s head. Their nose, ear, and upper and lower jaws are visible. The white arches in the head area are the frontal and occipital bones. You can see the arms bent at the elbows and folded towards the chest. Below you can see the spine, which looks like a white strip. The dark area around the chest is the heart.
