Sunday 25 February 2007

Four Weeks Pregnant



This week marks the beginning of the embryonic period. From now until ten weeks, all of my organs will begin to develop and function. As a result, this is the time when I'll be the most vulnerable to anything that might interfere with my development. Right now I am an embryo consisting of two layers: the epiblast and the hypoblast, from which all my organs and body parts will develop. The primitive placenta is also made up of two layers at this point. Its cells are tunneling into the lining of Mummy's uterus, creating spaces for her blood to flow into so that the developed placenta can provide nutrients and oxygen to me when it starts to function at the end of this week. Also present now are the amniotic sac that will house me, the amniotic fluid that will cushion me as I grow, and the yolk sac that produces my red blood cells and helps deliver nutrients to me until the placenta is ready to take over this duty.

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