• Approximate length 14 inches, weight 2 to 2.5 pounds.
Babies will kick most frequently in the seventh month, usually at night and early morning.
His eyelids have opened.
His lungs are capable of breathing in air. The alveoli begin secreting “surfactant,” which keeps them from collapsing.
At this point, he is only taking in small breaths of fluid in the womb, but he could survive and breathe outside the womb with medical assistance.

Source: Valley Medical Center, Weekly Parenting Email

Well, the baby is kicking and moving around a lot now. Diane felt him kick for the first time a couple of weeks ago - enough for someone else to feel it. Unfortunately, I was out of town when he started… figures. But now I’m back and he’s kicking even more. In fact, Diane says it feels like he’s doing somersaults. The doctor, on the most recent visit, said that he was kicking more than normal at this week in the pregnancy. Then she said he is definitely going to be a handful. I’m sure many of you are thinking “like father like son” :). Yep, you’ve read right. It’s a boy!

So what is it like when the baby kicks you ask? It’s a lot like someone punching from the inside of a beach ball. Sometimes it’s hard to decipher if it’s your own heartbeat in your fingers or Diane hiccupping. But when he kicks hard, it can make your hand move. The funny part is when he bounces on Diane’s bladder when she has to go. Oh yeah, this kid will be a handful.

• The baby will grow rapidly during this week and gain about half a pound.
• The brain and nervous system continue their rapid growth as they become more complex.
• By this time, rapid bone formation is occurring, requiring more calcium for bone development, especially during the third trimester.
• It is making breathing movements but will not be able to fully take in air at this point.

Source: Valley Medical Center, Weekly Parenting Email

• Approximate length 12 to 13 inches, weight 1.25 to 1.5 pounds.
• It still has no fat on it’s body yet, but it’s arm and leg muscles are well developed.
• It’s eyelids are sealed, but it makes facial expressions: frowning, squinting, and pursing it’s lips.
• It’s nostrils are opening and preparing to draw air into it’s lungs.
• The alveoli (”air sacs”) in the lungs are forming, but not enough that it can breathe outside the womb.

Source: Valley Medical Center, Weekly Parenting Email

• Blood vessels develop in it’s lungs, and it’s plugged nostrils begin to open.
• By this week, it’s hearing will be developed enough to respond to outside sounds and voices, and it may jump at sudden noises.
• Capillaries are starting to develop underneath it’s skin, giving it a more pinkish color.
• It’s hiccups will become stronger and more frequent in the coming weeks. They do not bother it in any way or cause it discomfort.

Source: Valley Medical Center, Weekly Parenting Email