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Fetal Development Weeks 18 Through 21
See what's happening with your baby in the fifth month of your pregnancy.
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The unique swirls and whorls that are your baby's fingerprints begin to appear at the tips of her fingers this week. Her hands begin to make grasping motions, and she might even start sucking her thumb. This self-soothing habit can stick around into a child's toddlerhood and beyond, but all kids give it up eventually.
The placenta, that all-important nurturing organ, is now almost as big as the baby herself. Besides providing her with a steady diet of nutrients and oxygen, this dark blobby mass also receives waste products from the fetus's blood and deposits them in the mother's blood. The waste is then filtered out by the mother's kidneys.
Next: Week 19
Topics in Pregnancy Stages
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I am 20 weeks and yesterday we finally found out were having a little girl!!!!
11/6/2009 12:37:28 PM Report AbuseI am 20 weeks and have 2 more weeks to wait for the ultrasound. This is baby #4 and we have 2 girls and 1 boy. We are hoping for a boy to even things out.
11/5/2009 05:23:35 PM Report Abuseim 21 weeks pregnant! this is my first child, and i cant wait to see what im having..i hoping for a boy, there's alot of girls in my family...
11/4/2009 02:08:47 PM Report Abusewell this monday i ma 18 weeks. i already have a two year old son. so we are excited on the new bab's gender. a healthy baby is more important. but knowing ahead gives time to plan. i find out on 11-19-09. so excited. a blessing of news before thanksgiving.
11/3/2009 12:27:27 PM Report AbuseI am 18 weeks and find out we are having a girl which we are happy about. I am praying that our baby is healthy.
11/3/2009 12:23:25 PM Report Abuse