Big Brain, Little Baby
Inside the womb, your baby's brain is on the fast track to development. In fact, his brain will be fairly well developed before he's born, and he'll even start to learn a few things in there.
Here are some of the milestones you can expect in your little one's big brain development:
Weeks 2 and 3
- His neural tube forms, which will become his brain, spinal cord, nervous system and backbone.
Week 6
- The hemispheres of his brain become distinct.
Week 7
- Sex-differentiating hormones are released.
- He's starting to develop the neurons, or nerve cells, he'll use his whole life.
Week 12
- His taste buds are beginning to form.
Weeks 15 to 18
- Ridges are beginning to form on the part of his brain that handles memory, language and consciousness.
- His visual cortex starts to develop.
Weeks 24 and 25
- Neurons (cells that conduct nerve impulses) are migrating to different levels of his brain, which will help him to make connections after birth.
- His sense of touch is progressing.
- He is growing familiar with a variety of sounds.
- He will start to experience an early form of learning, called habituation.
Weeks 27 to 30
- He'll gain his sense of smell.
- His brain will take on the folded shape of a mature brain.
- He may begin to form memories.
- He is producing the billions of neurons and synapses needed to make complex connections.
Weeks 36 to 40
- His brain continues to make connections he'll need to learn things.
- His brain is now ready for life on the outside.
Of course, his brain can't make all of this incredible progress alone. He needs the nutrition that only you and your balanced diet can provide. Especially important is getting enough DHA and ARA (sources of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fats), that support his normal brain and eye development, and normal, healthy immune outcomes.
