23 Weeks Pregnant - What to Expect

Summary

This video discusses the growth and development of a baby at around 11 inches long and weighing just over a pound, comparing its appearance to a wrinkly Shar Pei. It explains how the baby will soon gain fat, thickening its translucent skin, and how its lungs are developing to eventually expand after birth. The video also highlights the vital role of the placenta, which transfers oxygen and nutrients to the baby, filters waste, and produces essential pregnancy hormones like estrogen and progesterone to support both mother and child.

Takeaways

• 🥕 The baby is over a pound in weight and around 11 inches long, about the size of a carrot.
• 🐶 The baby resembles a Shar Pei due to its wrinkly skin, which will smooth out as fat deposits increase.
• 📈 Over the next month, the baby will double in weight as fat starts accumulating.
• 🩻 The baby’s organs and bones are still visible through the thin, reddish skin due to developing blood vessels.
• 🛡️ Keratin is being added to the baby’s skin cells, helping thicken the skin by month 8 when the baby won’t be see-through anymore.
• 🫁 The baby’s lungs are slowly maturing, with capillaries forming and pneumocytes developing to help with breathing after birth.
• 🍼 Surfactant, a crucial substance for lung function, will be produced later to assist in lung expansion after birth.
• 🌐 The placenta, now fully formed, is attached to the uterine wall and connected to the baby via the umbilical cord.
• 🔄 The placenta transfers oxygen and nutrients to the baby, removes waste, and acts as a protective filter against harmful substances and infections.
• 💊 The placenta produces essential hormones, like estrogen and progesterone, to maintain the pregnancy.

Q & A

What is the size and weight of the baby at this stage of pregnancy?

The baby is a little over a pound in weight and about 11 inches long, roughly the length of a carrot.

Why does the baby’s skin appear wrinkly at this stage?

The baby's skin appears wrinkly because there is not yet enough fat under the skin. However, this will change soon as fat starts to accumulate.

When will the baby’s weight significantly increase?

The baby’s weight will double during the next month as it starts to pack on fat.

Why is the baby’s skin currently translucent, and when will this change?

The baby’s skin is thin and somewhat translucent, allowing organs and bones to be seen. This will change as fat accumulates and the skin thickens, becoming less see-through by month 8.

What is keratin, and what role does it play in the baby's development?

Keratin is a tough protective protein being added to the baby’s skin cells. It helps to thicken the skin as the baby develops.

What are pneumocytes, and why are they important?

Pneumocytes are specialized lung cells that are developing in the baby. They will produce surfactant, a crucial substance that helps the baby’s lungs expand after birth.

What is the function of the placenta during pregnancy?

The placenta acts as a life support system, transferring oxygen and nutrients to the baby and removing waste products. It also protects the baby from harmful substances and infections.

How does the placenta help regulate pregnancy hormones?

The placenta produces hormones, including estrogen and progesterone, which are essential for maintaining the pregnancy.

Why is the placenta compared to a 'fetal security checkpoint'?

The placenta prevents harmful substances and infections from passing from the mother’s system to the baby, serving as a protective barrier.

What changes will occur in the baby’s lungs as they continue to develop?

Small capillaries are forming in the lungs, and the lungs are slowly maturing. The pneumocytes in the lungs will later produce surfactant, which will help the baby breathe after birth.