(upbeat music)
- At 18 weeks, your little
chick is about the same size
as the chicken breast
on your dinner plate.
About five inches long,
and five ounces in weight.
But don't let his small size fool you.
There are big goings on in that
little body of his this week.
Meconium, your baby's first poop,
is slowly starting to
accumulate in his bowels.
If your baby's a boy, his
prostate gland is forming.
And both girl and boy
babies now officially sport
finger and toe prints.
These tiny swirls and wrinkles
mark your baby as uniquely
himself from here on out,
though there's probably
little need to tell you how
especially unique your baby is.
Under major construction now
is your baby's nervous system.
That's the network that coordinates
your cutie's every move.
Right now your baby's brain,
spinal cord and nerves
get a boost from myelin,
a substance that coats the
nerves and speeds up the time
it takes for messages to
travel between nerve cells.
Myelin also helps baby's
nerves form more complex
connections, enabling your
teeny mover and shaker to
perfect more intricate moves.
Such as sucking a thumb,
clasping hands, and curling
his fingers around the umbilical cord.
And guess what, mama?
Somebody's listening to you.
Baby's ears have arrived
at their final destination,
the sides of his head,
and the tiny bones inside
the inner ear have hardened,
allowing your baby to hear some sounds,
including the sweet sound of your voice.
Now hear this, thanks to
all the time they spend
listening to it in utero,
studies show that babies are
able to identify their mama's
voice right after birth.
Keep that in mind the next
time you serenade your womb
with your lullabies or
rock out in the shower.
Your little one is all ears.
(upbeat music)
