Week 7

Today marks Week 7. Here are a few interesting facts...

The babies have doubled in size since last week and now measure half an inch long, about the size of a blueberry.

The first embryonic movements can be detected by ultrasound this week.

The biggest fetal growth this week is the baby's head (the better to store all those smarts in), with new brain cells being generated at the rate of 100 cells per minute!

The babies are going out on a limb this week as their arms and legs buds begin to sprout and grow longer (and stronger), dividing into hand, arm, and shoulder segments — and leg, knee, and foot segments (though the limb buds look more like paddles than hands or feet at this early stage). Also forming this week are baby's mouth and tongue. And although the babies are just one month old, they've already gone through three sets of kidneys. The ones in place now are the permanent set and are poised to begin their important work of waste management. In about a week, baby will start producing urine. How exciting!