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Click on any figure on this page for an
enlarged or alternate view
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24 weeks -
Seen here at six months, the unborn child is covered with a fine, downy hair called
lanugo. Its tender skin is protected by a waxy substance called vernix. Some of this
substance may still be on the child's skin at birth at which time it will be quickly
absorbed. The child practices breathing by inhaling amniotic fluid into developing lungs. |
| 30 weeks - For
several months, the umbilical cord has been the baby's lifeline to the mother. Nourishment
is transferred from the mother's blood, through the placenta, and into the umbilical cord
to the foetus. If the mother ingests any toxic substances, such as drugs or alcohol, the
baby receives these as well. 32 weeks - The foetus sleeps 90-95% of the day, and
sometimes experiences REM sleep, an indication of dreaming. |
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40 weeks - The
baby, now approximately seven and a half pounds, is ready for life outside its mother's
womb. At birth the placenta will detach from the side of the uterus and the umbilical cord
will cease working as the child takes his first breaths of air. The child's breathing will
trigger changes in the structure of the heart and bypass arteries which will force all
blood to now travel through the lungs. |
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