Week Twenty-Three

* Proportions of the body are now quite similar to a newborn although thinner since he hasn't begun to form body fat.
* Bones located in the middle ear harden.
* Your baby is able to hear. (Dads, did you know: low-frequency sounds mimicking a male voice penetrate the abdomen and uterine wall better than the higher frequencies of the female voice?)
* The eyes are formed, though the iris still lacks pigmentation.
* The pancreas, essential in the production of hormones, is developing steadily. he has begun producing insulin, important for the breakdown of sugars.
* If born now, your baby has a 15% chance of survival, his odds going up with each passing day. .
* The average baby at this stage weighs 1.1 pound (501gm) and is 11.38 inches (28.9cm) long.