We went straight onto the internet and signed up with various baby sites - one of which sends weekly reports on what is happening with bean.Each week I'll share this with you as we progress. This is all very surreal still.
The most dramatic and vulnerable period in your baby's development begins this week and continues for the next six. During this time, all of your baby's organs will begin to develop and function. While your baby is in this "embryonic period," as it's called, she's particularly susceptible to anything that might interfere with her development.
Right now your baby-to-be is an embryo consisting of two layers, the epiblast and the hypoblast, from which all her organs and body parts will develop. The primitive placenta is also made up of two layers at this point. Its cells are tunneling into the lining of your uterus, creating spaces for your blood to flow into so that the developed placenta can provide your growing baby with nutrients and oxygen when it starts to function at the end of this week.
Also present now are the amniotic sac that will house your baby, the amniotic fluid that will cushion her as she grows, and the yolk sac that produces your baby's red blood cells and helps deliver nutrients to her until the placenta is ready to take over this duty.
