Milestone of Fetal Growth and Development

GROUP 4

Conception sperm cell meets and penetrates an egg,

the genetic make-up is complete, including the sex of the infant. Within about three days after conception, the fertilized egg, which is dividing rapidly into many cells, passes through the fallopian tube into the uterus where it attaches to the uterine wall. The placenta also begins to form.

Fetal development at 4 weeks

At this point of development the structures that eventually form the face and neck are becoming evident. The heart and blood vessels continue to develop. And the lungs, stomach, and liver start to develop. A home pregnancy test is now positive.

End of the 4th Gestational Week

Length: 0.75 to 1cm Weight: 400 mg The spinal cord is formed and fused at the midpoint. Lateral wings that will form the body are folded forward to fuse at the midline. Heads folds forward and becomes prominent, representing about 1/3 of the entire structure. The back is bent so that the head almost touches the tip of the tail. The rudimentary heart appears as a prominent bulge on the anterior surface. Arms and legs are budlike structures. Rudimentary eyes, ears, and nose are discernible.

Fetal development at 8 weeks

The baby is now about the size of a grape almost an inch in size. Eyelids and ears are forming and even the tip of the nose is visible. The arms and legs are well formed. The fingers and toes grow longer and more distinct.

End of the 8th Gestational Week

Length: 2.5 cm (1 inch) Weight: 20 g Organogenesis is complete. The heart, with a septum and valves, is beating rhythmically. Facial features are definitely discernible. Arms and legs have developed. External genitalia are present, but sex is not distinguishable by simple observation. The primitive tail is regressing. Abdomen appears large because the fetal intestine is growing rapidly Sonogram shows a gestational sac.diagnostic of pregnancy

Fetal development at 12 weeks

The fetus measures about two and a half inches and starts to make its own movements. You will start to see the top of the uterus above the pelvic bone. Your doctor may hear the baby's heartbeat with special instruments. The sex organs of the baby should start to become clear.

End of the 12th Gestational Week

First trimester Length: 7 to 8 cm Weight: 45 g Nail beds are forming on fingers and toes. Spontaneous movements are possible, although they are usually too faint to be felt by the mother. Some reflexes, such as the Babinski reflex, are present. Bone ossification centers are forming. Tooth buds are present. Sex is distinguishable by outward appearance. Kidney secretion has begun, although urine may not yet be evident in amniotic fluid. Heartbeat is audible through Doppler technology.

Fetal development at 16 weeks

The fetus now measures about 4.3 to 4.6 inches and weighs about 2.8 ounces. The top of your uterus should be felt about three 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 should have fingerprints.

End of the 16th Gestational Week

Length: 10 to 17 cm Weight: 55 to 120 g Fetal heart sounds are audible with an ordinary stethoscope. Lanugo is well formed. Liver and pancreas are functioning. Fetus actively swallows amniotic fluid, demonstrating an intact but uncoordinated swallowing reflex; urine is present in amniotic fluid. Sex can be determined by ultrasonography.

Fetal development at 20 weeks

The baby weighs about 9 ounces and is about six inches long. The uterus should be at the level of the belly button. The baby can suck a thumb, yawn, stretch, and make faces. Soon -- if you haven't already -- you'll feel your baby move, which is called "quickening."

Fetal development at 24 weeks

The fetus weighs about 1.4 pounds now. It responds to sounds by moving or increasing its pulse. You may notice jerking motions if it hiccups. With the inner ear fully developed, it may be able to sense being upside down in the womb.

End of the 24th Gestational Week

Second trimester Length: 25 cm Weight: 223 g Spontaneous fetal movements can be sensed by the mother. Antibody production is possible. Hair forms, extending to include eyebrows and hair on the head. Meconium is present in the upper intestine Brown fat, a special fat that will aid in temperature regulation at birth, begins to be formed behind the kidneys, sternum, and posterior neck. Vermix caseosa, which serves as a protective skin covering during intrauterine life, begins to form. Definite sleeping and activity patterns are distinguishable (the fetus has developed biorhythms that will guide sleep/wake patterns throughout life).

End of the 28th Gestational Week

Length: 28 to 36 cm Weight: 550 g Passive antibody transfer from mother to fetus probably begins as early as the 20th week of gestation, certainly by the 24th week. Infants born before antibody transfer has taken place have no natural immunity and need more than the usual protection against infectious disease in the newborn period until the infants own store of immunoglobulins can build up. Meconium is present as far as the rectum. Active production of lung surfactant begins. Eyebrows and eyelashes are well defined. Eyelids, previously fused since the 12th week, are now open. Pupils are capable of reacting to light. When fetus reach 24 weeks, or 601 g, they have achieved a practical lowend age of viability if they are cared for after birth in a modern intensive care facility. Hearing can be demonstrated by response to sudden sound.

Fetal development at 32 weeks

Often on the move, the fetus weighs almost 4 pounds. The baby's skin has less wrinkles as a layer of fat starts to form under the skin. It will gain up to half its birth weight between now and delivery. Ask your doctor how to do a fetal movement chart. Think about breastfeeding. Soon you may start leaking colostrum from your breasts, a yellowish fluid that precedes milk production.

End of the 32nd Gestational Week

Length: 38 to 43 cm Weight: 1,200 g Subcutaneous fat begins to be deposited. Fetus responds by movement to sounds outside the mothers body. Active Moro reflex is present. Birth position (vertex or breech) may be assumed. Iron stores, which provide iron for the time during which the neonate ingests only milk after birth, are beginning to be developed. Fingernails grow to reach the end of fingertips.
NCM1O1: Wk.7, session 16

7/28/09

Fetal development at 36 weeks

Babies differ in size, depending on many factors (such as gender, the number of babies being carried, and size of the parents), so your baby's overall rate of growth is as important as the actual size. On average, it's about 12.5 inches and weighs 5.5 pounds. The brain has been developing rapidly. Lungs are nearly fully developed. The head is usually positioned down into the pelvis by now. A pregnancy is considered 'at term' once 37 weeks has been completed; baby is ready!
7/28/09 NCM1O1: Wk.7, session 16

End of the 36th Gestational Week

Length: 42 to 48 cm Weight: 1,800 to 2,700 g (5 to 6 lb) Body stores of glycogen, iron, carbohydrate, and calcium are deposited. Additional amounts of subcutaneous fats are deposited. Sole of the foot has only one or two crisscross creases, compared with full crisscross pattern that will be evident at term. Amount of lanugo begins to diminish. Most babies turn into a vertex or head-down presentation during this month.
NCM1O1: Wk.7, session 16

7/28/09

End of the 40th Gestational Week

Third trimester Length: 48 to 52 cm Weight: 3,000 g ( 7 to 7.5 lb) Fetus kicks actively, hard enough to cause the mother considerable discomfort. Fetal hemoglobin begins conversion to adult hemoglobin. Vermix caseosa is fully formed. Creases on the soles of the feet cover at least 2/3 of the surface.
NCM1O1: Wk.7, session 16

7/28/09

In primaparas (women having their 1st baby), the fetus often sinks into the birth canal during the last 2 weeks, giving the mother a feeling that the load she is carrying is less. This event, termed LIGHTENING, is a fetal announcement.

7/28/09

NCM1O1: Wk.7, session 16

Birth!
A mother's due date marks the end of her 40th week. A pregnancy begins with implantation and the delivery date can be calculated using the first day of the last period. Based on this, pregnancy can last between 38 and 42 weeks with a 'full term' delivery occurring around 40 weeks. Some post-term pregnancies those lasting more than 42 weeks are not truly post-term. A common "cause" is an incorrect due date. For safety reasons, most babies are delivered by 42 weeks, inducing labor if necessary.
7/28/09 NCM1O1: Wk.7, session 16