Before I bring you this week’s exciting events, I would just like to say once again: I hate surgery. I had such a horrible day yesterday that I started fantasizing about ways I could escape from OR (and hours of mind-numbing boredom). For a moment I seriously considered throwing my shoe into the sterile field just for kicks. I think I was delirious.

Anyway, on to happier things! Here are the latest plot developments:

Seven weeks into your pregnancy, your baby is 1/3 of an inch long — a little bigger than the top of a pencil eraser. He or she weighs less than an aspirin tablet.

The umbilical cord — the link between your baby and the placenta — is now clearly visible. The cavities and passages needed to circulate spinal fluid in your baby’s brain have formed, but your baby’s skull is still transparent.

The arm bud that sprouted last week now resembles a tiny paddle. Your baby’s face takes on more definition this week, as a mouth perforation, tiny nostrils and ear indentations become visible.

Rahul says it looks like a good swimmer. I say we name it Flipper.