Week 5 of Pregnancy
Right now, your little one resembles a tiny tadpole – tail included! But don’t worry, the embryonic tail disappears around week 8 of your pregnancy.
The nervous and circulatory systems will begin forming this week, as well as the baby’s other systems. The first of these to be operational is the circulatory system, a.k.a. heart and blood vessels. In fact, their heart is already starting to take shape! But for now, the heart is comprised of two working channels.
Your baby is currently made up of three layers that represent the different bodily systems. These are:
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Ectoderm: This outer layer will form your baby’s nervous system – brain and spinal cord. It will also create their eyes, ears, hair, skin, and nails.
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Mesoderm: The middle layer forms the circulatory system, bones, muscles, ligaments, and kidneys.
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Endoderm: This is the inner layer and it will create your baby’s lungs, intestines, and the early urinary system.
Another major organ in development is the neural tube, which will soon transform into your baby’s brain and spinal cord. Make sure to take 400 mcg of folic acid every day to avoid neural tube defects like spina bifida.
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