Concerns and Complications

Your baby todayThe placenta, shown in red above the baby's green profile, is now receiving half a liter of blood each minute from your circulation. In order to accommodate this increase your blood volume expanded dramatically in the first few mon...

Your baby todayYour baby's hair and eye color are all determined genetically and set before birth. Unfortunately, however detailed an ultrasound image is, it can only show the shape of structures and will never be able to show true color informat...

Your baby todayBy now the fetus's forehead is high and bulging, with visible joins in the plates of bone that comprise the skull. The eyes have migrated from the sides of the head at this stage of development. ...

Your baby todayThis profile of the baby shows the tip of the nose touching the placenta. Your placenta will not be growing any more and now thins slightly. Within, the placenta continues to mature and it remains a highly efficient means of supply...

Your baby todayThe lip shape and groove between the nose and upper lip are particularly well shown here. If you or your partner has a prominent groove, or philtrum, above the upper lip, your baby may too, or she may inherit characteristics that a...

Your baby todayThere is no light in the uterus, but 3D ultrasound is designed to produce highlights and shadows to give the same effect as if you shone a flashlight into the uterus. Now your baby may be holding her hands flexed into a fist. ...

Your baby todayYour baby's heart will beat quite fast, at between 110 and 160 beats every minute. Even after birth, your baby's heart will continue to beat at this speed. It will be several years before the heart rate is 70 or so beats per minute...

Your baby todayThere is still plenty of room for your baby to move around. Your baby is able to perform complete somersaults and change position several times a day or even several times in a few minutes. ...

Your baby's skin is still transparent and there is little fat lying beneath it at this stage of the pregnancy. ...

What's happening insideThe blastocyst prepares to embed itself in the lining of the uterus-the endometrium. Once it is completely implanted-usually around seven days after fertilization-the pregnancy will become established. ...

Your baby todayThe embryo until this stage of development has consisted of two layers of cells. Now, a third layer starts to become visible as a "bulge" between the two-this bulge can be seen in the center of this image. ...

What's happening insideThis mature ovarian follicle contains a fluid-filled cavity (pale pink) known as the follicular antrum. At this stage, just prior to ovulation, one follicle has become much larger than the others, and it is this follicle th...

Women who experience a pregnancy loss quickly learn that our society doesn't understand the pain of this loss. Well-meaning friends might say, "It was probably defective in some way so this is actually a blessing." Or, "You'll get pregnant again....

Understanding Ectopic Pregnancy Baby Talk An ectopic pregnancy is one in which the fertilized egg implants itself outside the uterus. After an egg is fertilized, it travels down the fallopian tube to find a comfy place in the uterus to attach a...

You're probably already wondering if you're carrying a boy or a girl, but the physical signs of gender aren't apparent yet. ...

What Is Preeclampsia? Hey Mom! Some believe that preeclampsia can be prevented by taking one baby aspirin every day during pregnancy. If a friend or relative suggests this plan, beware. There is no solid evidence that aspirin can reduce the risk...

What Is Rh Incompatibility? Baby Talk Rh incompatibility occurs when the mother's blood is Rh-negative and the baby's blood is Rh-positive. At your first medical visit, blood is drawn to determine your blood type and Rh factor. You are either Rh...

Using Over-the-Counter Medications During Pregnancy Baby Talk Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are ones that can be bought without a prescription. They are all the preparations and remedies that fill the shelves in your local pharmacy. Here's ...