Your Baby is the Size of a Courgette

Baby's lungs are gearing up to breathe

What else is going on this week? No matter what your baby's skin color will eventually be, it's turning pinker now and not because he's getting overheated.

In fact, the amniotic fluid is perfectly climate-controlled, keeping him at an always-comfortable temperature. Instead, the skin is changing color because small blood vessels, called capillaries, are forming under the skin and filling with blood.

Later this week, blood vessels will also develop in your baby's lungs, bringing them one step closer to full maturity — and one step closer to taking that first breath of fresh air. But at 25 weeks pregnant, those lungs are still very much works-in-progress.

Though they are already beginning to produce surfactant, a substance that will help them expand with oxygen after baby is born, the lungs are still too undeveloped to sufficiently send oxygen to the bloodstream and release carbon dioxide when he exhales.

Baby’s nose starts working

The lungs aren't the only system that's gearing up for air intake. Your baby's nostrils and nose are starting to work this week too. This allows your little one to begin taking practice breaths.

It was previously believed that the nostrils stay plugged up until around now in the pregnancy. The latest research shows, however, that they open much earlier and stay that way through all three trimesters.

Of course, since there's no air in there, your baby is really only "breathing" amniotic fluid, but it's the practice that counts, right?

Baby could also be able to smell various scents in utero by this week too. If not, that sense will kick in by the third trimester.

The Mutlu Anne app is with you every step of the way on your pregnancy journey.

Thanks for reading.