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Fertilization
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Period: to
Prenatal Development
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Implantaion
Zygote implants/attaches to the wall of the uterus to receive nutrients from the mother's body. -
Progesterone levels build
When you’re 2 weeks pregnant, progesterone levels in your body begin to build. Your uterus starts to thicken, and again starts laying down many extra small blood vessels. Your period has likely ceased by now and an egg in one of your ovaries is ripening, and will be released by the end of this week. On average women ovulate mid cycle, or day 14 – while this is not the same for everyone, this is the basis on which a estimated due date is calculated. -
Conceive
At this stage you will not know that you are pregnant, but your body will. Your body starts to produce a hormone called Human Chorionic Gonadtrophin (HCG) which you will be able to detect in your urine in a week or so, if you take a home pregnancy test. -
Suspect you are pregnant
Your egg is now well attached to the inside wall of your uterus. It is sending out tiny little hair like tendrils, which will wrap around the abundant small blood vessels in the lining of your uterus and provide oxygen and nutrients to your growing baby. In normal circumstances your blood and the blood of your baby do not mix – you have a separate circulatory system. Exchange of oxygen, nutrients and waste products is made possible due to the closeness of your blood vessels to the blood vessels -
First missed menstrual period
When you’re 5 weeks pregnant, this is the week following your first missed menstrual period – but don’t be alarmed if you notice a little blood. Implantation bleeding may occur when you usually get your period. Implantation bleeding is caused from the blastocyst implanting into your uterus. As a result, sometimes a little blood leaks which may appear to be a light period or spotting. Always report any blood loss to your carer, but bear in mind this is a possibility. -
Morning sickness
There is a good chance that morning sickness has paid you a visit. Morning sickness affects around 88% of women. Some women will develop Hyperemesis Gravidarum – severe morning sickness – which usually means a short stay in hospital for rehydration. Don't get mislead by the name, ‘morning sickness’, because it often lasts all day. No one is sure what causes morning sickness but it is suspected that the rising levels of HCG play a major part. -
Worsened Morning Sickness
Try eating small meals often – avoid going for long periods without food Avoid spicy or fatty foods Some women find that fizzy drinks help, but this can make gas worse! Ginger in any form is also known to help. Try drinking ginger beer, ginger tea or eating ginger biscuits. You can get ginger capsules from health food stores too. Some women find that keeping crackers on their bedside table and eating before they get up helps, as well as keeping a pack in their bags or at thei -
Tummy is growing
At 8 weeks pregnant, your tummy is growing and you may just be able to see the start of your bump. Pimples may start to develop on your face (see our article on acne in pregnancy":http://www.bellybelly.com.au/pregnancy/acne-during-pregnancy-acne-and-pregnancy) along with darker patches of skin. Nose bleeds and bleeding gums are caused by the increasing blood volume in your body (about a 30% increase), and a possible lack of vitamin C.
Nausea
Vomiting
Heartburn
Bloating
Constipation -
Development of ducts and gland
Your baby is developing rapidly at 9 weeks of pregnancy and is now recognisable as a little person. The eyes, nose and ears are recognisable and bones and muscle are visible beneath the thin translucent skin. Your baby also starts to move but these movements are small and you will not be able to feel them yet. Your baby is feeding from the placenta which has been developing over the past few weeks. Ankles have formed and your baby can bend his arms with his little elbows. -
Baby can now make small un-coordinated movements
Baby can now make small un-coordinated movements. Fingers toes and joints are now fully developed and your baby even has fingernails and hair! The nervous system is starting to develop along with the large muscles and the digestive system. Eye colour is now determined and the eyelids are fused shut until early in the third trimester, as the the irises develop. Your baby’s head is about half it’s body length! If you’re 10 weeks pregnant, your baby measures approximately 3cms long and weighs aro -
Major organs are now formed and functioning.
Major organs are now formed and functioning. Your baby starts to pass urine from it’s kidneys. It is also able to suck and swallow and has also started to make small voluntary movements. It’s fingers and toes have fully separated and baby spends his spare time kicking and swimming! Everything your baby needs in now supplied by the placenta. Your baby’s heartbeat can now be heard with a doppler. Your baby measures approximately 4cms long and weighs around 7 grams -
Your baby’s sex organs are now distinguishable, but still incomplete
Your baby’s eyes are almost in the correct position in relation to it’s head, as are it’s ears. The lungs are developing and primitive breathing can be seen. Vocal cords begin to form. The amniotic fluid that your baby swallows is now passed out through it’s bladder. Your baby’s bones, which until now were soft, are starting to harden, including the ribs and spine. It’s arms are in proportion with the size of it’s body. Toes and fingers are formed. -
Your baby measures approximately 7-8cms long and weighs around 23 grams.
Your baby now has fully functioning kidneys and starts to pass urine regularly. It is also able to suck and swallow and it’s neck is getting longer. The spleen has started to develop. And your baby is now producing bone marrow. Movements increase but it is unlikely that you will be able to feel these movements, especially in a first time pregnancy. Baby even has it’s unique set of fingerprints. -
Week 14 Baby’s organs are starting to function, as well. Around this time, his liver will begin producing bile and his spleen will start helping to produce those all-important red blood cells.
At this stage, your baby is around 3.5 inches (8.89 cms) long and weighs about 1.5 ounces (42.5 grams). He will probably gain about one quarter of an ounce this week. You will soon feel the flutter that indicates that your baby is moving. At this stage, he is moving quite a bit, but since he is still so small, you may not yet feel it. If this is your first pregnancy, don’t be surprised if you need to feel the movement more than once before you recognise it and believe it! During this week, you -
At this stage, your baby is around 4 inches long and weighs about 2.5 ounces (approx. 70.9 grams)
He is moving around a lot, though you may not yet feel it. His joints and limbs can all move now, and he may even get the hiccups! Respiratory type movements in your baby’s chest can be detected now. He is moving about one pint of amniotic fluid in and out of the lungs every day, and he’s excreting about that same amount of urine. He is also starting to develop what is known as “brown fat”, which helps him regulate his body temperature. -
4 1/2 inches long and weighs about 3.5 ounces.
His hair is starting to come in, as are his eyebrows and eyelashes. His taste buds are also starting to form, and his eyes have become sensitive to light. -
Begin listening to his heartbeat at every appointment now, too. You’ll gain great comfort from hearing that little heart beating when you visit
Your baby is starting to get some meat on his bones, and is developing a waxy coating on his skin, called vernix. This coating protects baby’s skin from damage as he floats in the amniotic fluid. He weighs about 167 grams and is about 13 cm long. His umbilical cord is getting stronger and thicker, and he is moving around more. -
Week 18
This week, he weighs about 190 grams, and is about 14 cm long. He is constantly moving, along with swallowing, hiccupping and yawning. His toenails are developing and his skin is no longer transparent. He is starting to develop fine, soft hair all over his body, called lanugo. In addition, he’s getting some hair on his head. His heartbeat is now strong enough that the doctor no longer needs to use a special prenatal stethoscope to hear it. -
This week, your baby weighs about 240 grams, and is about 15.25 cm long. In his brain, the nerve cells responsible for hearing, taste, smell and sight are starting to develop.
If you don’t already know, and want to find out, you probably can get an answer now. Your doctor usually schedules an ultrasound somewhere between 16 and 19 weeks. He’ll be looking for more than just private parts, though. At this ultrasound, the doctor will do a full body scan to get assurance that all parts are developing normally. You should receive some pictures from this ultrasound, too. -
About 289 grams, and is about 16 & 1/2 cm long.
His taste buds are starting to develop and he’s gulping down much larger amounts of amniotic fluid each day. He is moving a lot now, and his movements feel more like real movements, as opposed to flutters. He has periods of waking and sleeping, and will react to loud noises. You may notice that he is quiet and still until someone taps your abdomen or you hear a loud noise. It simply means you woke him up! -
He is gaining weight much more rapidly, and looks much more like a newborn
He still has a lot of weight to gain, however, before he is born. Because he still needs to fill out a bit, his skin is still very wrinkly. His eyebrows are developed now, giving his face much more expression. His digestive system is starting to create meconium, a tarry substance that will make up his first dirty diaper. It’s his body’s way of getting ready for regular digestive processes. -
368 to 450 grams, and is about 28-30 cm long.
His face is fully formed, so he’s even more adorable. But, his face will continue to fill in, as he gains more weight. He is starting to gain fat now, so he begins to look more like a newborn. Nipples are beginning to form too. -
Really preparing for her entrance.
Baby’s skin is beginning to turn more opaque, because it is getting thicker. It will also begin to get pinker as capillaries form. All in all, your baby is beginning to look more like a newborn baby. Weight gain and definition of features will continue throughout the coming weeks. Her hearing is really good now. In addition to hearing your voice, she can hear noises around you, especially if they’re loud. -
Week 24 Baby’s eyelashes, eyebrows and hair are present.
Baby’s eyelashes, eyebrows and hair are present. But, they don’t have any pigment yet, so regardless of whether she’ll wind up being a blonde or a brunette, her hair is white right now. Her face is filling out as she’s adding quite a bit of fat. Baby’s bones are also growing and getting harder and stronger. This, in addition to the fat she’s adding, is why you seem to be gaining weight more quickly. -
Time to register for your birthing class, if you plan to take one
Baby has developed her sense of equilibrium. She can tell which way is up and which way is down. Other than this development, she’s still doing much of the same activities of the past few weeks. She’s gaining weight and getting stronger so that she’s ready to brave the world. She’s also growing quite a bit more hair. You’re feeling much stronger kicks and punches now, too. She has periods of waking and sleeping, and these are probably becoming pretty obvious to you. -
600 grams and 1.2 kg, and is about 34-38 cm long.
Baby’s eyes are forming now, and soon she’ll be opening and closing them very soon. She’s taking lots of breaths now, though they aren’t yet of oxygen. Baby’s immune system is developing, too. Right now this development consists primarily of absorbing your antibodies to be ready for the outside world. -
Week 27
Your baby is starting to show brain activity now. It will continue to develop in complexity over the next few weeks. Baby’s lungs are developing rapidly, and though they won’t be completely developed until the very end of your pregnancy, they have made great strides. Baby’s breathing is becoming more rapid. Those Braxton Hicks contractions are happening more frequently now, and you might sometimes wonder if baby is making her appearance a little too soon. -
Your baby’s weight is about 1.2 kg and she is about 36-40 cm long.
Her skin looks less wrinkled, and she continues to look more and more like a newborn. Her lungs have developed to the point that she would likely survive if born today. Of course, she still needs quite a few more weeks to really be ready for the outside world -
All organs are formed, and she’s starting to gain a lot of fat. She still has a long way to go.
she still has most of her weight left to gain. As she gains fat, she gets more energetic, too. All that weight is making her stronger, and she’s itching to get out. You’ll probably notice baby having the hiccups if you haven’t already. From this period on in pregnancy, many babies have them quite regularly. It’s time to start counting baby’s kicks, to help ensure everything’s on track. You should count kicks once in the morning and once at night, every day. -
Baby’s brain is developing those wrinkles we all associate with how our brains look.
She’s gaining weight quickly, and running out of room in your uterus. That problem will only get worse, as she will gain the bulk of her weight from now until she is born. Because of her brain development, she can regulate her own body heat better now. She will start to shed the hair that has been covering her skin because of this. She no longer needs it to keep her warm. Her skin will start to look and feel smoother. -
Week 31
Your baby’s weight is about 1.8 kg and she is about 38-44 cm long. She will gain about .22 kg each week from now on. All five of baby’s senses are working now. His irises react to light. He processes information and can even smell, though there’s not much to smell in there. You’ll notice now that baby is quiet for longer periods of time. -
Week 32 Your baby’s weight is about 1.8 kg and she is about 38-45 cm long. She will gain about .22 kg each week from now on.
Baby is also getting ready for the big day. She may even have dropped, head, down, into position for birth – especially if it is your first baby, who tend to engage sooner. If not, it will be happening in the next couple of weeks. This new position means she’s feeling even more cramped, but does not mean birth is imminent – baby is just getting ready. -
At 33 weeks pregnant, your baby’s weight is about 1.8 kg and she is about 38-46 cm long. She will gain about .22 kg each week from now on
Baby’s bones are continuing to harden. His brain is also continuing to develop. These days, when he’s awake, his eyes are open. He’s also working hard on a new skill that will be critical once he enters the world. He’s beginning to coordinate sucking, swallowing and breathing. -
34 weeks pregnant, your baby’s weight may be as much as 2.6 kgs, and she is about 39-48 cm long
If your baby is a boy, his testicles may be descended by now. His fingernails are also growing. By the time he’s born, he may already need a manicure! Baby is starting to be able to recognise simple songs now. If you’re not already singing to him, start doing so. -
2.8 kg. and she may measure around 47 cm long.
She won’t get much longer between now and birth, but she will continue to gain weight. There’s a lot of fetal activity now. Baby is really paying attention to the sounds outside the womb. Continue to let him hear your voice regularly. He can hear high-pitched sounds best -
Bones and cartilage are still soft
This makes for an easier transition for birth, allowing baby to move, turn and wriggle down. Your own ligaments will also be looser and more flexible in labour too, giving baby room to move. The primary bones in baby’s skull are separated, creating that soft spot you’ve heard so much about. This also helps her to ease through the vagina – so don’t panic about baby’s head coming out. These soft bones and cartilage make the birth easier on both of you. -
Your baby’s weight may be up to, or even over 3 kg now, and she is about 47-49 cm long.
She won’t get much longer between now and birth, but she will continue to gain weight. At this point, your baby is considered full term, though it’s likely to be another week or two until her debut. She’s getting ready, though, by turning from side to side, breathing in amniotic fluid, and sucking her thumb to get ready for drinking milk. He’s blinking. And, if he’s not already in birth position, he will be heading downward soon. -
weight is likely a little over 3 kg now, and she is about 47-49 cm long.
She won’t get much longer between now and birth, but she will continue to gain weight. Baby may have about an inch of hair now. In addition, she’s starting to get rid of the white goo on her skin (called vernix) that protects it from the amniotic fluid. However, she may still have some on her skin at birth. -
Your baby’s weight is likely somewhere between 3 and 4 kg now, and she is anywhere from 47-53 cm long.
Babies grow little in length during the last couple of weeks, but she will continue to put on weight until the very end. Her fingernails are growing, and if she waits much longer to make her debut, she’ll need a bit of a manicure on day one. -
40 Weeks of Pregnancy
Your baby’s weight is likely somewhere between 3 and 4 kg now, and she is anywhere from 47-53 cm long. She continues to gain weight, and her lungs continue to develop.
