Your Baby in week 18
Your Baby in week 18:
Ears move to their final position and they stand
out from the head. And start brushing up on your
lullabies — in the coming weeks, your baby will
probably be able to hear! The bones of the middle
ear and the nerve endings from the brain are
developing so that your baby will hear sounds
such as your heartbeat and blood moving through
the umbilical cord. He or she may even be startled
by loud noises! Your baby's eyes are also
developing — they're now facing forward
rather than to the sides, and the retinas
may be able to detect the beam of a flashlight
if you hold it to your abdomen.
Until now, your baby's bones had been developing
but were still soft. This week, they begin to
harden, or ossify. Some of the first bones to
ossify are those in the clavicles and the legs.
What's going on with You:
You're probably beginning to prepare for life with baby.
Your preparations should extend beyond gathering the
layette and decorating the nursery, though. This is
a good week to begin your search for a pediatrician
or other health care provider for your child. Schedule
visits to meet with potential doctors to discuss
issues such as appointment availability, immunization
scheduling, and when to call in an emergency. You'll
also want to learn as much as you can about their
practices and procedures.
Some good questions to ask: How many health
care providers are in the practice? Who covers
nights and weekends? What is their policy on
phone calls? Which hospitals are they affiliated with?
What insurance do they accept? What specialists
do they work with? How are emergencies handled?
It's important that you feel comfortable
with your child's doctor, so do your
homework and make your decision carefully.
next week 19
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