An FA Scan is essential to further assess the other organs of the affected baby to look for other soft markers and malformation. The more soft markers there are, the higher the risk of chromosomal abnormalities would be. These expecting mothers, especially those older than 36 years of age, would be recommended to undergo amniocentesis (aspiration of the amniotic fluid) to confirm the baby’s chromosomes. If the baby’s chromosomes are confirmed to be normal, then, pyelectasis may also be the very early beginning of urinary tract problems. Then, serial ultrasound scans would be needed to monitor the progress of this dilatation.

If this baby is affected by Down Syndrome, the next pregnancy theoretically should be at higher risk as the mother is getting older. However, it may not always be so. Thus, all future pregnancies should have prenatal testing to confirm the baby’s chromosome. If this pyelectasis baby is normal chromosomally, then the recurrence risk is 6 times in all future pregnancies. Overall, 3% of all chromosomally and structurally normal babies have transient pyelectasis. The dilatation would resolve by itself before birth.

From: Parenthood Magazine May 2008

Do you know that pyelectasis (Renal Pelvis Dilatation) is an abnormality that could be found in a baby while she is still residing in her mummy’s womb? It is the dilatation of the renal pelvis, or the part of the kidney from where the urine pipe (ureter) starts. It signifies the soft marker of chromosomal abnormalities. Chromosomes determine the genetic makeup of an individual. Soft marker is something which alerts the doctor of possibility of chromosomal problems in the baby. If a baby is diagnosed to have pyelectasis, she has 1.6 times higher chance of having Down Syndrome. The more soft markers are detected in the baby, the higher the risk of Down Syndrome would be.

If the pregnant mother whose baby has pyelectasis is 36 years or older, the baby she carries has 2.2% chance of being Down Syndrome. If the expecting mother is younger than 36 years old, then the chance of her baby being Down Syndrome is only 0.33%. Thus, older expecting mothers would be recommended to undergo amniocentesis (aspiration of the amniotic fluid) to confirm the baby’s chromosomes. Normally is it found on Foetal Anomaly Scan (FA Scan) done between 18 and 23 weeks to check the normality of the baby’s different organs. However, if FA Scan is not performed, it may be just by chance during the routine ultrasound scanning that it is detected.

If the pelvic dilatation is between 4 and 7 mm, it is considered mild. 80% of such cases would resolve by itself before birth. 17% may only resolve to normal after birth and 3% of cases would need long term follow-up. If the dilatation is more than 7 mm, then only 44% may resolve, usually after birth. The rest may have urinary problems like obstruction or reflux (back flow of urine upwards). These cases would need to be further assessed after birth with ultrasound scan, as well as a voiding cystourethrogram, a test used to visualise the urethra and urinary bladder that takes place during micturition (voiding).

From: Parenthood Magazine May 2008

During this period of time, the baby’s face is starting to look more human. His/Her eye moving closer together, toes and finger clearly seperated, eyelids, eyebrows, eyelashes, nails and hair are formed. Teeth and bones become denser. The intestine will also shifting into their proper place. Ear shifting from the neck to the side of the head. Your baby can even suck his or her thumb, yawn, stretch and make faces.

The nervous and muscle system is starting to function. He/She beginning to respond to outside stimuli. If mommy’s abdomen is poked, the fetus will try to wriggle away. The reproductive organs and genitalia are now fully developed and you may know your baby’s sex; boy or a girl by using ultrasound. The baby’s heartbeat may now be audible through an instrument called a Doppler.

 

From http://www.webmd.com/solutions/sc/pregnancy-week-by-week/weeks13-16

On the third month of pregnancy (12 weeks) the baby’s bones begin to harden. The baby is already moving spontaneously, but the mother usually can’t feel these movements for awhile yet. The baby’s eyes are large and open. Eyelids will form later. External ears have formed. Besides that, a chin, bits of teeth, a nose, and a forehead and the fingers and toes are almost fully formed. His/ her head is the biggest part of their body. It is about 1/2 the size of the rest of the body. While the head is large, the brain’s structure is similar to what it will be at birth. S/he weighs about 14 grams and is approximately 3.54 inches in total length. By the end of this month mother should be able to hear the baby’s heart beat.

External genitalia begin to differentiate, though it’s still very difficult to tell whether the baby is a girl or a boy without genetic screening. The baby moves from being an embryo to the fetal period, now called a fetus. S/he also loses their tail!

Refered from :http://pregnancy.about.com