During the fourth week, the ball of identical cells is now called an embryo and is the size of a poppy seed. The embryo divides into three layers. In the top layer, the neural tube will develop, which the brain, spinal cord, backbone and nerves will sprout from. In the middle layer, the heart and circulatory system will begin to appear. The third layer will house the lungs, intestines and the beginning of the urinary systems. The umbilical cord, which sends nourishment and oxygen to your baby, is already working. The pregnant woman may start experiencing pregnancy symptoms such as pickling or tingling nipples, spotting and cramping, morning sickness, tender or swollen breasts, fatigue, darkening of nipples, altered sense of taste, and/or a missed period.
The embryo, no bigger than half a centimeter, goes through a growth spurt during the fifth week. The heart begins pumping blood and major organs including the kidneys and liver begin to grow. The neural tube closes, and the embryos upper and lower limb buds begin to sprout. The intestines will begin developing and the appendix is already in place. As early as this week the facial features will begin forming. The nostrils are becoming distinct and the earliest versions of the eyes’ retinas are forming.
The embryo, no bigger than half a centimeter, goes through a growth spurt during the fifth week. The heart begins pumping blood and major organs including the kidneys and liver begin to grow. The neural tube closes, and the embryos upper and lower limb buds begin to sprout. The intestines will begin developing and the appendix is already in place. As early as this week the facial features will begin forming. The nostrils are becoming distinct and the earliest versions of the eyes’ retinas are forming.
By the sixth week the embryo is about the size of a lentil bean. Its facial features have continued to form, there is now dark spots where the eyes are, openings where the nostrils will be and pits to mark the ears. The buds where the arms and legs will be are more noticeable now and the embryo’s hands and feet look like little paddles. The pituitary gland and muscle fibres have begun to grow as well. The embryo’s heart is beating at about 150 beats per minute, which is about twice as much as the average adult. Halfway through the sixth week the embryo will start making its first movements.
At seven weeks, the embryo is about the size of a chick pea. It now has distinct, slightly webbed fingers and toes. The liver has begun churning out red blood cells and will do so until the bone marrow forms and takes over this role. The palette and teeth have begun forming, while the ears continue to grow. Its skin is paper thin and veins are clearly visible. The pregnant woman may be experiencing with morning sickness, aches and pains and an overly active bladder.
At seven weeks, the embryo is about the size of a chick pea. It now has distinct, slightly webbed fingers and toes. The liver has begun churning out red blood cells and will do so until the bone marrow forms and takes over this role. The palette and teeth have begun forming, while the ears continue to grow. Its skin is paper thin and veins are clearly visible. The pregnant woman may be experiencing with morning sickness, aches and pains and an overly active bladder.
By the eight week the embryo is called a fetus, which is about 1.6 centimetres. The embryonic tail is gone, and all organs, muscles, and nerves have begun to function. The hands can bend at the wrist, and the feet begin to lose their webbed appearance. Eyelids have started to cover the eyes. The pregnant woman’s breasts may have grown quite drastically and her waistline may start expanding as the uterus grows to accommodate the growing fetus.
The fetus is about 2.3 centimeters and weighs about 2 grams by the ninth week. The eyelids have fused and will not open till week 27. The wrists and ankles are more developed and fingers and toes are more distinguished. The arms have grown longer and can bend at the elbows. Though it’s still too early to find out the sex, the genitals have begun to form. The placenta is developed enough to support the most critical job of producing hormones. The pregnant woman may find herself unable to control her ever-changing moods.
The fetus is about 2.3 centimeters and weighs about 2 grams by the ninth week. The eyelids have fused and will not open till week 27. The wrists and ankles are more developed and fingers and toes are more distinguished. The arms have grown longer and can bend at the elbows. Though it’s still too early to find out the sex, the genitals have begun to form. The placenta is developed enough to support the most critical job of producing hormones. The pregnant woman may find herself unable to control her ever-changing moods.
During the tenth week, the fetus is about 3 centimeters long and has begun to grow fingernails and peach fuzz. The vital organs are now fully developed and functional, the head is still very large, almost half the length of its entire body. The uterus is now about the size of a grapefruit.
By the eleventh week, most of the baby’s critical development is completed. The fetus is now about four centimeters and has all of its body parts. Its fingers and toes have fully separated. It is busy kicking and stretching. The fetus’ main task over the next six months will be growing and getting stronger. The pregnant woman may notice a dark vertical line down her abdomen; this is called the linea nigra. The uterus has now risen above her pelvic bones.
By the eleventh week, most of the baby’s critical development is completed. The fetus is now about four centimeters and has all of its body parts. Its fingers and toes have fully separated. It is busy kicking and stretching. The fetus’ main task over the next six months will be growing and getting stronger. The pregnant woman may notice a dark vertical line down her abdomen; this is called the linea nigra. The uterus has now risen above her pelvic bones.
The fetus weighs about 14 grams and is about 5.5 centimeters long by the twelfth week. The eyes have moved closer together and the ears are almost in their normal position on the sides of the head. The liver is making bile and the kidneys are secreting urine into the bladder. The fetal nerve cells have been rapidly multiplying and synapses (neurological connections in your brain) are forming.
During the thirteenth week of pregnancy, the fetus is about the size of a pea-pod and weighs about 23 grams. It already has developed its own unique fingerprint. If the fetus is a girl, she has approximately 2 million eggs in her ovaries, this number will drop by about one million by the time she is born and to about 200 000 by the time she is 17. The pregnant woman may feel less pregnancy symptoms during the second trimester and start producing colostrum; the fluid that will feed the baby for the days before the mother’s milk comes in.
During the thirteenth week of pregnancy, the fetus is about the size of a pea-pod and weighs about 23 grams. It already has developed its own unique fingerprint. If the fetus is a girl, she has approximately 2 million eggs in her ovaries, this number will drop by about one million by the time she is born and to about 200 000 by the time she is 17. The pregnant woman may feel less pregnancy symptoms during the second trimester and start producing colostrum; the fluid that will feed the baby for the days before the mother’s milk comes in.
"No one else will ever know the strength of my love for you. After all, you're the only one who knows what my heart sounds like from the inside." -Unknown