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Life and Death Before Birth
fingers, toes, and ears, too.
If
my lip is tickled I will
pull away. Does all this please you, Mom?
Week 8 -- My parents are probably deciding on a
name for me. However, they don't at this time know
that I am a little boy. There are so many great names
to choose from. I will probably need a middle name,
too, for I am getting bigger everyday. All my body
systems are present now and an electrocardiogram
reading can be taken next week. I can make a tiny
fist, get hiccups, suck my thumb, wake and sleep. All
my organs are functioning -- stomach,· liver, kidneys,
brain -- all are intact. There are lines in my palms.
All future development of my life will simpfy be
refinement of and an increase in size until maturity at
approximately 23 yea(s. All I need is nourishment. I
can swim freely and even grab. All this is taking place
two months before what in the "olden" days was called
the
"quickening"-~the
first time I will be felt by my
mother.
Week 10 -- At this stage, I am perfectly formed. I
even have fi11gerprints. I can squint, swallow, retract
my tongue. My hair is growing.
It
will be bright and
shiny and auburn in color. I wonder what color of hair
my mom and dad have. Will I favor my grandparents?
Although it is dark all around me, I am just about able
to see. When my mom brings me into the world, it
wm .
be full of sunshine and trees to climb. I want more
than anything to see my mom. Do I look like you,
Mom?
Week 12 -- I can breath (fluid), suck my thumb,
taste, cry, swallow, sleep and wake, and all organ
systems are functioning, including mental. I am
·moving my arms and legs, inhaling and exhaling
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