Pregnancy is a beautiful journey filled with incredible aspects for the mother and her growing baby. It is a time of wonder and anticipation as new life prepares to come into the world. Here are 10 facts about the wonderful time of pregnancy:
1. Super smell: Pregnant women often have heightened senses and in particular a stronger sense of smell which can lead to aversion for some foods and increased sensitivity to certain smells.
2. Sex determination: The sex of the baby is determined at conception by the father’s sperm carrying either a X or Y chromosome, while the mother’s egg always contributes an X chromosome. The combination of XX results in a female fetus, while XY results in male.
3. The heartbeat: The fetal heart begins to beat about 5-6 weeks after conception, even before most women realize they are pregnant.
4. Unique fingerprints: When the fetus is 6-13 weeks old, it develops unique fingerprints. These patterns are completely different from any other person and remain the same throughout its life.
5. Acquiring taste: From the 12th week of pregnancy, the fetus begins to form taste buds on its tongue and can taste the amniotic fluid, which changes depending on what the mother eats.
6. Amniotic fluid: The baby swallows and urinates amniotic fluid several times a day, thus helping the development of its digestive and urinary systems and also renewing the amniotic fluid.
7. Hiccups: Fetuses often experience hiccups in the womb and mothers can feel the rhythmic movements caused by the contraction of the baby’s diaphragm.
8. Fetal dreams: Around the 28th week of pregnancy, it is believed that babies can experience REM sleep, which suggests that they may be dreaming while in the womb.
9. Vocal cords: By the time of birth, the baby’s vocal cords are fully formed and some babies even cry in the womb, but this is not heard by the mother because of the amniotic fluid.
10. Unique Bond: During pregnancy, mothers and babies develop a unique and strong bond. Babies can recognize their mother’s voice while still in the womb and may respond to external sounds and stimuli.
