Fetal Development By Month
By becoming familiar with fetal development, you'll be able to understand what is going on with your growing baby during your pregnancy. The most rapid development occurs during the first trimester, as your baby changes from a fertilized egg into a little being with organs and bones. 1st Month During the first month, your egg is fertilized. This happens in what will be counted as your second week of pregnancy, even though you weren't technically pregnant during those two weeks. This is because the process of pregnancy starts when an egg forms at beginning of the menstrual cycle. Since the egg is two weeks old when you conceive, we consider this the second week. By the end of the first month, the egg divides into many parts, which will later become organs, and attaches itself to your uterine lining. 2nd Month During the second month, your baby becomes an embryo. The neural tube, which will become the spinal cord, closes. The heart begins to develop and the ears begin to form as small depressions. The eyes, leg buds and lungs begin to form. Nipples and hair follicles begin to appear. By the end of this month of fetal development, your baby is about ¾ of an inch long and all essential organs form to some degree. 3rd Month By the third month, your baby is now called a full-fledged fetus! Facial features continue to develop and the baby looks more human every day. The genitals differentiate, and baby can make a fist by the end of this month. Red blood cells are being produced in the liver. The eyelids close at the end of this month and don't reopen until much later. Tooth buds are beginning to form in the mouth. 4th Month By the fourth month of fetal development, the baby is almost 6 inches long. The skin is almost transparent, and your baby begins moving on her own. You should be able to feel gentle kicks and movements at this point. They begin making sucking motions. The bones become harder and the liver and pancreas begin to secrete fluid. 5th Month By the fifth month of development, your baby is covered with lanugo, which is a fine downy coat of hair. Eyebrows and eyelashes develop. Nails appear on the fingers and toes. The baby continues to exercise and strengthen his or her muscles. The heartbeat can be heard with a stethoscope or a special tool called a fetoscope. 6th Month In the sixth month of fetal development, the baby is about 11 inches long and weighs a little more than a pound and a half. The eyes are developed, and reflexes are beginning. Footprints and fingerprints continue to form. Air sacs are developing inside the lungs. 7th Month In the seventh month, the baby can open and close his or her eyes at will. The nervous system has developed enough to control some of his or her bodily functions. The baby now weights almost 3 pounds and measures about 15 inches. 8th Month In the eighth month, the baby begins to add body fat that will help them maintain their temperature. The baby weighs about 4 and a half pounds. Even though the lungs are not mature, the baby makes breathing motions. The bones are developed, but still remain soft. Baby's body begins to store calcium, phosphorus and iron. 9th Month In the final month of fetal development, the baby is considered full term. The lanugo is mostly gone. Hair on the head has developed to varying degrees. The baby is about 19 to 21 inches long and may weigh between 7 and 10 pounds. At this point, the womb becomes so crowded for your baby that she can hardly move. There is nowhere left to go, but out! And so, as much as your baby loves being all warm and protected in your womb, it is now time for her to come out and meet the world… and time for you to finally meet that precious treasure that you have been carrying and nurturing for so long. Enjoy! Read more about this topic on the following pages: Giving Birth - A Unique Story To Tell
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