Amazing Facts about Gestation, Babies and Pregnancy

Perhaps it all boils down to simply carrying a baby but there is so much more to being pregnant and to having babies. Discover some curious  related facts that may well intrigue you but also some of the more ‘strange’ ones that might well be food for thought.






Babies have more Bones

Babies have more bones than adults. You might be surprised to know that the difference is moreover, quite large. A baby has almost 300 bones but you, as an adult, had around 207. Why this difference? Well, babies have many individual bones which then fuse. For example, a baby’s skull is formed of several independent plates which then fuse to form the single skull we know in adults (the only part which remains does not fuse is the mandible).

More Baby Boys are born

Baby girls and baby boys are not born in the same ratio. It seems that generally, baby boys outnumber baby girls (although baby boys have a higher mortality rate in their first year of life). However, in the tropics, the situation is reversed and more girls are born than boys. Studies from the University of Georgia in Athens found a correlation between males and female birth and equatorial distance. The further above the equator one moves (northern Europe and the likes) the more baby boys are born. However, further down the equator towards the hotter climes, more girls are born.

Your baby’s sense of smell is more developed than yours

Yes baby’s have a much more fine tuned sense of smell than either of their parents. This acute sense of smell is indispensable to the baby and helps it bond to its mother. It is recommended that mothers keep away from strong smells and perfumes as these can be detrimental to the baby. The baby needs to be able to smell the natural odor of your skin.

Sperm Facts

Sperm cells have no sense of direction and can only propel themselves forward. They can moreover live for up to 5 days inside the female body. You might also have wondered just how long it takes sperm cells to reach the ovum. Well, the total length of the journey to the fallopian tubes is a staggering 175mm and it may take up to three days (although the team winner can actually make it in 45 minutes).

Twins with different fathers

It is possible to have twins with different fathers. This situation is sometimes observed in cases of non identical (dizygotic) twins. Such twins are formed when two separate sperm cells fertilize two independent ova each resulting in an embryo. If the mother has sex with two different men in a short space of time, it is possible that a sperm cell from each man fertilizes an ovum producing two embryos with different dads. This must happened within the same ovulation period. A twin zygosity test will establish whether the twins tested are identical or fraternal should there be any doubts.

The Museum of Human Mutants

The Vroliks Museum (Amsterdam) – This museum is a treasure trove for scientists and geneticists. This museum houses a collection of embryo specimens displaying fetuses (but also animals) suffering from various deformities. The museum of human mutants was started in the 19th century and is unique in the world. Despite the macabre atmosphere, gruesome and sick to some, this museum has helped scientists understand the basis and progression of many diseases.

Resource Box

Karl M McDonald writes about various topics and regularly contributes to online blogs and info sites. The author has contributed to a number of websites and blogs and is regularly contributor to the easyDNA Knowledgebase of articles. The author has special interest in DNA testing related issues. Many articles and posts by the author can be found online.