The body is now growing plumper as the subcutaneous fat builds up under the skin filling out wrinkles. Eyebrows and eye lashes are developed and the hair in the scalp is becoming longer. With the eyelids now open, the baby's field of vision extends about 8-9inches.
Red blood cell production is now entirely provided by the bone marrow and the lungs have developed most of the breathing structures including smaller airways and air sacs(aveoli).
A special substance known as surfactant is produced which coats the inner lung surface to prevent lungs collapsing when a breath is exhaled.
A premature baby will often have problems breathing due to insufficient surfactant and maybe given an artificial substitute at birth.
The weeks of tumble turning have increased muscle tone significantly, however, rapid growth however will results in less space for free movement in the coming weeks.
At this stage the growth rate of the placenta has declined, and it receives 400ml from your circulation every minute to exchanges nutrients and wastes products together with oxygen. The placenta can stop selectivley stop certain (but not all) harmful substances passing to your baby including some drugs.
