Your baby is now about 16 cm long, roughly the size of a bell pepper or an artichoke, and weighs around 190 grams. At this stage, the baby’s external genitals are fully formed and visible.
The ears have developed significantly, and the nerves and tiny bones within them are maturing. Your baby’s hearing is getting sharper, and they can now hear sounds inside the womb. Movement has also become more refined, your baby can stretch, yawn, and roll over.
This week marks the beginning of the formation of the vernix caseosa, the white creamy layer that covers the baby’s skin and protects it from the surrounding amniotic fluid. This coating also moisturizes the skin and makes delivery through the birth canal smoother.
Meanwhile, myelin, the protective sheath around nerves, begins to form and will continue developing until your baby’s first birthday. This layer is vital for the fast transmission of nerve signals throughout the nervous system.
By now, your baby is also developing eyelashes, eyebrows, and eyelids. The bronchial tubes and lung sacs continue to grow. In baby girls, the uterus and fallopian tubes are forming and settling into place.