June 17, 2009

34 Weeks!!!

34 Weeks Pregnant
Size = 17 3/4 inches
Weight = 5lbs

Fetal development that is occurring around week 34 of pregnancy includes the following:
  • The skeleton hardens, although the head remains pliable to maneuver through the birth canal
  • The skin becomes less red and less wrinkled
  • The toenails are present, and the fingernails have reached the tips of the fingers
  • Your baby is developing immunities to fight mild infections.
Babies who are born at 34 weeks can usually survive outside of the womb without extensive medical intervention.

Your baby kind of looks like she's coated in a layer of cream cheese these days. The thick, white substance that protects her skin from pruning in the amniotic fluid is called vernix. When she's born you'll probably see some vernix lingering in her "hard-to-reach" places like under her arms, behind her ears and around her va-jay-jay, if she's a she.. Other news from the womb this week:

The soft fur, lanugo, that covered your baby's body for much of her stay in the womb is now almost completely gone. Your baby begins to develop her own immune system, instead of relying solely on antibodies received through the placenta. This will come in handy when some grubby relative manhandles the baby without washing his hands first.


Odds of a Premature Baby's Survival by Length of Pregnancy

Length of Pregnancy Likelihood of Survival
23 weeks 17%
24 weeks 39%
25 weeks 50%
26 weeks 80%
27 weeks 90%
28-31 weeks 90-95%
32-33 weeks 95%
34+ weeks Almost as likely as a full-term baby
Sources: March of Dimes, Quint Boenker Preemie Survival Foundation


WE MADE IT TO THE TOP OF THE CHART!!!







1 comment:

Candace said...

YAY! It seems like it wasn't long ago that you first put the chart up and we only had 17% chance of survival and here we are closing in on full term. :)