
The tiny limb buds which formed recently have already developed into arms and legs with paddle-like feet and hands. The leg and arm bones are becoming harder and lengthening and your baby’s major joints are forming including elbow, wrist, knee, hip and shoulder joints. This allows your baby’s arms and legs to bend. Your baby is moving around because of the muscle contractions starting now, but of course you won’t be able to notice these movements for a while. He or she is just beginning to test out the brand new muscles and joints which have recently developed.
Internal organs such as the liver, kidneys, lungs, intestines and heart are developing and refining. The pituitary gland and pancreas are also present, as well as the gallbladder. Your baby’s heart is beating very fast, approximately 150 beats per minute, about twice as many as your heart! The heart’s pumping capacity has increased and the aortic and pulmonary valves of the heart have become distinct. Soon, your doctor or midwife will be able to pick up your little one’s racing heart by using a Doppler device, so you can hear it out loud!