- WEEK 30 -

until now, the surface of ahniér's brain was smooth - now that little brain's taking on those characteristic grooves & indentations, which allow for an increased amount of brain tissue as she prepares for life outside the womb & the street smarts she'll need

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another big change this week's ahniér's bone marrow's taken over production of red blood cells [before, tissue groups & then the spleen took care of producing the blood cells] - this' an important step for your baby, because it means she's better able to thrive on her own once born [with a little TLC, of course] - so it's in with the new [brain cells, red blood cells] & out with the old [lanugo] - much of the lanugo — the soft, downy hair covering ahniér's body — is beginning to disappear now because both fat & the brain are regulating her body's temperature [so no need for that furry coat anymore] - but you may see a few leftover strands of fur on your newborn's back & shoulders

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ahniér's permanent teeth have developed & are "waiting" in her gums, underneath the baby teeth - ahniér's very aware of the surroundings & her eyelids will open & close - she'll even look around & turn toward light - we tend to think of the uterus as a dark place, but the uterus actually can be light & dark depending on your environment

ahniér rivals a good-size cabbage in weight, tipping the scales this week at over 3 pounds - she weighs about 3# 12oz now [or more] & is approximately 16" long - your little porker's getting even cuter with increasingly pudgy arms & legs this week thanks to the ever-growing layers of subcutaneous fat - you may be able to distinguish sleep & wake cycles ahniér as well - although it usually seems as if the baby wants to sleep while mama's awake & vice versa at night - this' not indicative of a sleepless newborn - mama's voice's not only heard by your baby, but is also recognized - also, ahniér has a grip so strong she's capable of gripping onto your finger - at this point, ahniér may be practicing nursing as she sucks her thumb - she has lungs that are capable of breathing air, although medical help may be needed if she were to be born now & 9 out of 10 babies born now will survive - the light's visible at the end of the tunnel! - mama's oversized self & amazing ahniér have finally reached the single digits (in terms of weeks till birth)!