Posted by Jacques on Jun 29, 2010 in Featured Articles, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Trimesters | 0 comments
Each day there are changes happening. Here is just recap of what to expect during the pregnancy stages.
The ages in this time-line refer to the age of the foetus, and not the length of the pregnancy; in other words, 40 weeks from the first day of your last menstrual cycle. So, you may be 10 weeks when the embryo is 8 weeks old.
Size – Smaller than the head of a pin.
Looks like – A cluster of cells.
Whats happening – Zygote travels through the fallopian tube to implant itself in the uterus.
Size – About 1mm, slightly larger than a pinhead.
Looks like – A cluster of cells.
Whats happening – The blastocyst is attached to uterine lining and starts differentiating into layers.
Size – About 1,25mm long – the size of a small sesame seed.
Looks like – A larger cluster of cells.
Whats happening – The heart, brain, spinal cord, muscles and bones are stating to form.
Size – 2 to 4 mm long – size of a large sesame seed.
Looks like – A tadpole, complete with head and tail.
Whats happening – Brain and spinal cord develop, eyes and limbs begin to form and heart starts beating.
Size – 1,2cm long from crown to rump; about the size of a raisin.
Looks like – A tadpole with thick arm and leg buds.
Whats happening – Arms, legs, hands and feet continue to develop. The heart divides into two chambers, air passages form in lungs and the eyes take shape.
Size – 1,2 to 3cm longs – approximately the size of a red bean.
Looks like – A tadpole with longer arms and legs; eyes nose and ears begin to show.
Whats happening – Fingers and toes develop and embryo starts to twitch and move.
Size – 2 to 3cm long – about the size of an olive.
Looks like – Eyes, nose, mouth, toes, fingers and ears are clearly visible.
Whats happening – Head, neck toes, fingers and outer ears developing. Movement can be seen on ultrasound.
Size – 3 to 4,5cm long – about the size of a walnut and weighs about 5g.
Looks like – Starting to resemble a baby with recognizable features.
Whats happening – Most organ systems growing quickly; reproductive tract yet to form.
Size – 3,8 to 6,5cm long – roughly the same size as a large lime. Weighs about 8g.
Looks like – Head still disproportionately large, but limbs are catching up.
Whats happening – Head stretches upward from chest as neck grows longer, finger nails and external genitals start to appear.
Size – 6,5cm long – Size of a small lemon and weighs between 8g and 14g.
Looks like – Body size starts catching up with head.
Whats happening – Most of the body is formed. Hair starts to grow, genitals becomes distinctly male or female. The foetus can squint, open its mouth and move its finger and toes.
Size – 6,5cm to 7,5cm long – about the size of a tennis ball. Weighs about 13g to 20g.
Looks like – Face looks more like a human and genitals more clearly male or female.
Whats happening – Systems and organs continue to grow and develop.
Size – 9 to 10cm long – roughly the same size as an orange. Weighs about 30g.
Looks like – Ears and eyes are in position, enhancing baby-like appearance.
Whats happening – All systems and organs continue to grow and develop; cartilage is transformed into bone.
Size – 10cm to 11,5cm long – about the same size as a grapefruit. Weighs about 50g to 70g.
Looks like – Blood vessels are visible through the skin and fine hair called lanugo covers the body.
Whats happening – Bones are growing harder and stronger. The foetus can smell, taste and swallow, and may suck its thumb.
Size – 13,3 to 18,5cm long – roughly the same size as a large banana. Weighs about 200g to 300g.
Looks like – Foetus starts plumping up.
Whats happening – Foetus can hear and begins to swallow more amniotic fluid to help the digestive system develop.
Size – 22 to 27cm long – roughly the same size as a spanspek. Weighs about 700g to 1,3kg.
Looks like – Eyebrows, eyelashes and head hair are present; a little plumper.
Whats happening – Sleep and wake cycles are starting to take place; at about 24 weeks, appears to recognize parent’s voices. Has a chance of surviving if born now.
Size – 30 to 35cm long, and 50cm if you count the legs – roughly the same size as a basketball. Weighs about 1,6kg to 2,5kg.
Looks like – Your baby would appear more chubbier.
Whats happening – Your baby will start moving around more often to get a comfortable position to settle; Lungs, among the last organs to fully develop, keep maturing.
Size – 53 to 55cm long – roughly the same size as a medium watermelon. Weighs about 2,7kg to 3,5kg.
Looks like -Your baby is bigger and looks like a new born.
Whats happening – In 97% of pregnancies the baby will move into the delivery position; by week 37 lungs are fully developed and by week 38your baby is ready to be born.
For a more detailed pregnancy stages guide please visit the stages of pregnancy on this site…