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Facts About an Unborn Fetus
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Day 1
(14 days LMP)
size of baby: .005in.
Conception: Of the 200,000,000 sperm that try to penetrate the
mother's egg cell, only one succeeds. At that very moment, a new
and unique individual is formed. All of the inherited features
of this new person are already set - whether it's a boy or a
girl, the color of the eyes, the color of the hair, the dimples
of the cheeks and the cleft of the chin, he or she is smaller
than a grain of sugar, but the instructions are present for all
that this person will ever become.
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The first cell soon divides in two. Each of these new cells
divides again and again as they travel toward the womb in search
of a protected place to grow.
Day 6-14
(20-28 LMP)
size of baby: .006in.
The new individual at first attaches loosely to the wall of the
womb, then burrows deep and attaches securely to it over the
next week. Sensitive pregnancy tests can now show positive, but
this depends on the level of hormone produced by the new life.
By the end of the second week, the mother's menstrual period is
suppressed by this hormone (hCG) which is produced by her child.
Day 17
(31 LMP)
size of baby: .008in.
Blood vessels begin to form. Remarkably, the future sex cells
that will give rise to sperm or eggs for a new generation begin
to group together - only 17 days after this new life is alive
itself.
Day 18-20
(32-34 LMP)
The foundations of the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system
are laid.
Day 21
(35 LMP)
.03in.
The heart begins to beat, unsurely at first, gaining strength
day by day. The heart beats 70 times per minute at first,
reaching a maximum of 170-190 at seven weeks, and slowing a bit
to 160-180 at 9 weeks. A day later the eyes begin to develop.
The earliest stages of the ears are now present.
Day 26-27
(40-41 LMP)
The lungs now begin to form.
Day 28-32
(42-46 LMP)
1/8 inch long
Two tiny arms make their appearance and budding legs follow two
days later. The beginnings of the mouth take shape. The nose
starts to develop. The thyroid gland begins to grow. Blood flows
in the baby's veins but stays separate from the mother's blood.
The tongue now begins to form. The face now makes its first
appearance.
Day 36
(50 LMP)
The baby's eyes develop their first color in the retina.
Day 40
(54 LMP)
The baby makes her first reflex movements. Touching around the
mouth with a fine bristle causes her to flex her neck.
Day 41
(55 LMP)
The fingers begin to form, followed by the toes a few days
later.
Day 42
(56 LMP)
1/2 inch long
The baby develops nerve connections that will lead to a sense of
smell. The brain is now divided into 3 parts - one to experience
emotion and understanding language, one for hearing and one for
seeing. Joints begin to form. Mother now misses second period.
Day 44
(58 LMP)
Buds of milk teeth appear. Facial muscles develop. Eyelids begin
to form, protecting the developing eyes. Elbows take shape.
Internal organs are present, but immature. 99% of muscles are
present, each with its own nerve supply. Electrical activity is
detectable in brain.
Day 52
(66 LMP)
1 inch long
Spontaneous movement begins. The baby then develops a whole
collection of moves over the next 4 weeks including hiccupping,
frowning, squinting, furrowing the brow, pursing the lips,
moving individual arms and legs, head turning, touching the
face, breathing (without air), stretching, opening the mouth,
yawning, and sucking.
8 weeks
(10 weeks LMP)
1 1/8 inch long
1/30 oz. in weight
Note: all lengths are GL or "greatest length" which does not
include the legs
The baby is now well proportioned, and about the size of a
thumb. Every organ is present. The liver is making blood, the
kidneys function, and the heart beats steadily. The skull,
elbows, and knees are forming. Of the 4500 structures in the
adult body, 4000 are already present. The skeleton of the arms
and legs and the spine begins to stiffen as bone cells are
added.
9 weeks
(11 Weeks LMP)
1 /12 inches long
6/10 oz. in weight.
If prodded, the baby's eyelids and hands close. Genitalia that
were forming in the 7th week now become visible, indicating
whether it's a boy or a girl. However, the doctor won't be able
to tell by an ultrasound until the 12th to 20th week. Early
muscular movements begin. The thyroid gland turns on.
10 weeks
(12 Weeks LMP)
2 1/2 inches long
1 4/10 oz. in weight
Fingerprints begin their 7 week long formation. The fingernails
begin to develop. The eyelids now fuse together until month 7,
protecting the delicate eyes. The number of connections between
nerves and muscles has tripled since last week.
11 weeks
(13 Weeks LMP)
2 1/2 inches long
1 4/10 oz. in weight
The baby now "practices" breathing, since she will have to
breathe air immediately after birth. The baby urinates. Her
stomach muscles can now contract. Vocal chords and taste buds
form. She can make complex facial expressions and even smile.
12 Weeks
(14 Weeks LMP)
3 inches long
2 oz. in weight
Fine hair begins to grow on the upper lip and chin and eyebrows.
The baby swallows and responds to skin stimulation.
13 Weeks
(15 Weeks LMP)
4 inches long
3 oz. in weight
The face is prettier, and facial expressions may resemble the
parents'. The baby is active, but mom doesn't feel anything yet.
15 Weeks
(17 Weeks LMP)
A wild production of nerve cells begins and continues for a
month. A second surge will occur at 25 weeks.
4 months
(18 Weeks LMP)
5 1/2 inches long
5 oz. in weight
Nostrils and toenails become visible. The baby may suck her
thumb, turn somersaults and has a firm grip. She begins to
develop sleeping habits. The ovaries of
girls contain beginnings of eggs.
5 months
(22 Weeks LMP)
7 1/2 inches long
14 oz. in weight
The testes descend in boys. Mom may feel the baby kick, turn or
hiccup and may be able to identify a bulge as an elbow or head.
Each side of the brain has a billion nerve cells now.
6 months
(26 Weeks LMP)
9 inches long
1lb. 12 oz. in weight
The baby will be able to hear by next week. The child sleeps and
wakes, nestling in her favorite positions to sleep, and
stretches upon waking up.
7 months
(30 Weeks LMP)
10 1/2 inches long
3lb. 5 oz.
The eyelids begin to reopen, preparing to see the outside world.
Eyelashes have now become well developed.
8 months
(34 Weeks LMP)
12 inches long
5lbs.
Skin becomes pink and smooth. The pupils of eye respond to
light. Fingernails reach to the tip of the finger. The baby is
really getting cramped now.
9 1/2 months
(40 Weeks LMP)
13 inches long
7 1/2 lbs.
The child triggers labor and birth occurs, an average of 264-270
days after conception.
And not until the baby has gone through all these events on the
inside do we see the new child on the outside.
Reference: Milestones of Early Life: How you began your
journey, Copyright 2005, Heritage House '76, Inc.
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