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Thursday, November 14, 2002
The night before last I was woken up by the little baby for the first of (probably, hopefully, what-the-hell-are-we-getting-ourselves-into-ly) many, many nights. L was holding me close, trying to ward off the south bend cold, and there against my back I could feel the little baby—kicking or maybe flipping or stretching. L had tried to have me feel her before but I had had no luck. In the middle of the very quiet night, though, there she was, unmistakably. And not only can I feel her, but she can hear stuff around her now! Crazy. They say she would dig classical music-- does anyone have any suggestions? Here’s the 23 week report: Fetal Development : 23 weeks The baby now weighs a little over a pound. Her hearing is well established, and she can make out a distorted version of your voice, the beating of your heart, and your stomach rumblings. Loud noises often heard in utero, such as the barking of a dog next door or the roar of a vacuum cleaner, probably won't faze the child when she hears them outside the womb. Numerous studies seem to indicate that the unborn prefer classical music, especially Vivaldi. Play "The Four Seasons" for the child, and pay attention to her movements. Does she quiet down during adagio sections, and speed up for the allegro portions? In addition to advances in the baby's hearing, blood vessels in the baby's lungs are developing to prepare for breathing. She's swallowing, but usually won't pass stool until after birth. If the baby were to be born now, she would still have a good chance of survival (about 85 percent) with the right care. Advances in science and technology now mean that a 24-week-old baby can grow outside the womb if necessary, although about 50 percent of children in this situation will have some severe and permanent damage. As for you, you may feel clumsy now that your center of gravity has shifted; your gums may bleed when you brush your teeth, and your belly button, once an "innie," may now stick out. Don't worry — it'll revert to its pre-baby state soon after you give birth. |