• As the mother’s abdomen stretches thinner, light is visible inside the womb, helping baby to develop sleep cycles, reactions, and responses to his surrounding environment.
• As he grows and the space gets tighter inside the uterus, his foot, elbow, or other little body part may protrude from the mother’s belly.

Source: Valley Medical Center, Weekly Parenting Email

• Approximate length 16 to 18 inches, weight 4 to 5 pounds.

• His arms and legs are continuing to fill out from fat accumulation. He’s dimpling at his elbows and knees and forming creases around his wrists and neck.

• The percentage of fat on his body is 8%, compared with only 1% of his body weight at 20 weeks. At birth, his body fat will be about 15%, helping him to keep warm.

Source: Valley Medical Center, Weekly Parenting Email

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• He is beginning to run out of space to move in the uterus and is tucked into the fetal position.
• His movements in the womb may be less frequent as a result of cramped space, but he is growing and delivering stronger punches and kicks.
• He will have periods of deep sleep and periods of being actively awake, much like a newborn baby.

Source: Valley Medical Center, Weekly Parenting Email

• Approximate length 16 to 18 inches, weight 4 to 5 pounds.
• He is beginning to develop his own immunity to mild infections. If he were born now, he could survive outside the womb and resist some disease.
• His appearance is similar to that at birth, but he will fill out more in the next few weeks.
• He may be positioning for birth with his head turned down toward the pelvis.

Source: Valley Medical Center, Weekly Parenting Email

• His skin color changes from dark red to pinkish as the fat underneath his skin increases.
• His fingernails have reached the end of his fingertips. He may have scratches or marks on his face at birth from his fingernails.
• The hair on his head, eyelashes, and eyebrows grow longer.