Antoinette is already in Week 22!!! Can you all believe it? My how time flies. Anyway, Billy has crossed the 7.5 inch mark this week and he weighs a bit over 12 ounces, or about 3/4 of a pound. Antoinette's belly is clearly growing much quicker now. Billy's liver has begun producing enzymes, although they are different than the ones they will produce after he is born. His healthy liver has the task of breaking down billirubin, which is created as blood cells expire. Billirubin is produced at a far faster rate than in an adult, so the umbilical is needed to filter the excess into Antoinette so that her liver can process the leftovers. If this is not processed sufficiently, the baby will be born looking like it has a yellowish tint, or a bit jaundiced. This condition is very treatable.
Another milestone this week for the baby is that his neural network is sufficiently developed to the point that he is capable of processing his surroundings. Although he won't remember any of this when he's older, he is carefully (and sometimes not so carefully) exploring his surroundings with his more capable sense of touch. He will begin to touch his own face and his own arms and legs now.
Antoinette's blood volume has consistently been increasing throughout pregnancy and most of this increased volume is plasma, or the liquid portion of the blood. The result is that Mom's can develop physiological anemia and have to be checked for this by their doctor. Iron levels reach their low point this week, so the symptoms of this need to be prepared for to keep an eye on more serious forms of anemia that can develop.
A time of incredibly rapid brain development is beginning and will continue for the next 5-6 years for the little one, all the way up to about kindergarten.
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