You're pregnant. Congratulations! Are you curious how big your developing baby is, what your baby looks like as it grows inside you, and when you'll feel it move? Stages of pregnancy are divided into three trimesters. Here you'll learn about each one as we explain in detail all the exciting things happening to both you and your growing baby.Take a peek inside the womb to see how a baby develops from month to month.
1. Conception : Fertilization happens when a sperm meets and penetrates an egg. It's also called conception. At this moment, the genetic makeup is complete, including the sex of the baby. Within about three days after conception, the fertilized egg is dividing very fast into many cells. It passes through the fallopian tube into the uterus, where it attaches to the uterine wall. The placenta, which will nourish the baby, also starts to form.
2. After 4 Weeks : A home pregnancy test would show positive. At this point the baby is developing the structures that will eventually form his face and neck. The heart and blood vessels continue to develop. And the lungs, stomach, and liver start to develop.
2. After 4 Weeks : A home pregnancy test would show positive. At this point the baby is developing the structures that will eventually form his face and neck. The heart and blood vessels continue to develop. And the lungs, stomach, and liver start to develop.
3. After 8 Weeks : The baby is now a little over half an inch in size. Eyelids and ears are forming, and you can see the tip of the nose. The arms and legs are well formed. The fingers and toes grow longer and more distinct. Nerve cells are branching out, forming primitive neural pathways. Breathing tubes now extend from his throat to his developing lungs.
4. After 12 Weeks : The baby measures about 2 inches and starts to make its own movements. You may start to feel the top of your uterus above your pubic bone. Your doctor may hear the baby's heartbeat with special instruments. The sex organs of the baby should start to become clear.
5. After 16 Weeks : The baby now measures about 4 to 4.6 inches and weighs about 3.5 ounces. You should be able to feel the top of your uterus about 3 inches below your belly button. The baby's eyes can blink and the heart and blood vessels are fully formed. The baby's fingers and toes have fingerprints.
6. After 20 Weeks : The baby now measures more than 6 inches and weighs about 10 ounces. The baby can suck a thumb, yawn, stretch, and make faces. if you haven't already, soon you'll feel your baby move, which is called "quickening."
7. After 24 Weeks : An ultrasound is usually done for all pregnant women at 20 weeks. During this ultrasound, the doctor will make sure that the placenta is healthy and attached normally and that your baby is growing properly. You can see the baby's heartbeat and movement of its body, arms, and legs on the ultrasound. You can usually find out whether it's a boy or a girl at 20 weeks.The baby weighs about 1.4 pounds now and responds to sounds by moving or increasing his pulse. You may notice jerking motions if he hiccups. With the inner ear fully developed, the baby may be able to sense being upside down in the womb.
8. After 28 Weeks : The baby weighs about 2 pounds, 6 ounces, and changes position often at this point in pregnancy. If you had to deliver prematurely now, there is a good chance the baby would survive. Ask your doctor about preterm labor warning signs. Now is the time to register for birthing classes. Birthing classes prepare you for many aspects of childbirth, including labor and delivery and taking care of your newborn.
9. After 32 Weeks : The baby weighs almost 4 pounds and is moving around often. The baby's skin has fewer wrinkles as a layer of fat starts to form under the skin. Between now and delivery, your baby will gain up to half his birth weight. Think about breastfeeding. You may notice a yellowish fluid leaking from your breasts. That is colostrum, and it happens to get your breasts ready for making milk.
10. After 36 Weeks : On average, a baby at this stage is about 18.5 inches and weighs close to 6 pounds and it depending on many factors. The brain has been developing rapidly. Lungs are nearly fully developed. The head is usually positioned down into the pelvis by now.
11. Birth : A mother's due date marks the end of her 40th week. The delivery date is calculated using the first day of her last period. Based on this, pregnancy can last between 38 and 42 weeks with a full term delivery happening around 40 weeks.
