Fetal Development
An 8-Week-Old Fetus
The First 3 Months
- Week 2 - Conception is the moment at which the sperm penetrates the ovum (egg). It will take 3-4 days for the fertilized egg (zygote) to reach the uterus.
- Week 4 - The embryo may float freely in the uterus for up to 48 hours before implanting. Upon implantation, complex connections between the mother and embryo develop to form the placenta.
- Week 6 - The embryo is about the size of a small raisin. The heart has begun beating. In the next 2 weeks, the fetus will grow at an incredible rate. It will quadruple in size and facial features, hands, and feet will become apparent. At about 40 to 43 days after conception, brain waves can be detected in the unborn child.
- Week 8 - By the time you have missed your period and think you might be pregnant, your baby is already about 8 weeks old. It is 1-inch long. Despite its small size, the unborn child already looks distinctly human. (see illustration above)
- Week 10 - The heart is almost completely developed and very much resembles that of a newborn baby. The child has it's own blood type which is different from her mother's. Twenty tiny baby teeth are forming in the gums.
- Week 12 - The tiny person is protected by the amniotic sac, filled with fluid. Inside, the child swims and moves gracefully. The child can and does sometimes cry silently. The brain is fully formed, and the child can feel pain. The fetus may even suck his thumb. The eyelids now cover the eyes, and will remain shut until the 7th month.
2nd Trimester - Months 4-6
3rd Trimester - Months 7-9
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