~OMSI~

My dad wanted to go see BodyWorks at OMSI today, so I met him at his house (that's when I told him and mom they were going to be grandparents!) and we headed up to Portland.  The exhibit was pretty interesting.  Made me a little sick at times but it was all the more interesting knowing that I am growing a little person inside of me!  The best part of the day was when we got to see the exhibit they have of actual size babies at different stages of pregnancy.  I am 4 weeks today and the smallest baby they had, was 4 weeks.  It was a very special experience to see that with my dad on the day that I told him :)  It is something I will never forget.

How your baby's growing:

This week marks the beginning of the embryonic period. From now until 10 weeks, all of your baby's organs will begin to develop and some will even begin to function. As a result, this is the time when she'll be most vulnerable to anything that might interfere with her development.

Right now your baby is an embryo the size of a poppy seed, consisting of two layers: the epiblast and the hypoblast, from which all of her organs and body parts will develop.

The primitive placenta is also made up of two layers at this point. Its cells are tunneling into the lining of your uterus, creating spaces for your blood to flow so that the developed placenta will be able to provide nutrients and oxygen to your growing baby when it starts to function at the end of this week.

Also present now are the amniotic sac, which will house your baby; the amniotic fluid, which will cushion her as she grows; and the yolk sac, which produces your baby's red blood cells and helps deliver nutrients to her until the placenta has developed and is ready to take over this duty.