There are a number of distinct stages of fetal development with certain, exciting landmarks for your new child. In fact, the nine months that your child spends in the womb are a period of rapid and extraordinary growth and formation. A pregnancy is measured by 40 weeks of gestation, but the more classic example is to measure it by months. There are considered to be 3 main stages of fetal development, and they’re known as conception, embryonic development, and development of the fetus. These are the major benchmarks, with subtle and innumerable gradations in between.
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Around the second week of the pregnancy, conception occurs. That is because the first two weeks of the pregnancy cycle are considered to be the woman’s body gearing-up to be fertilized, by dropping the necessary eggs and building up the womb with blood tissue. Once the egg makes it to the uterus and is implanted with sperm, you have conception. This is when the rapid growth begins.
The second and perhaps most important stage of fetal development is the embryonic development. This stage takes place right after conception, and up through the 11th week of pregnancy. Cellular division occurs after four weeks of pregnancy, and the division marks which cells will become placenta, and which cells will become your baby!
After 6 weeks, the baby has a fully beating heart, and the arms and legs are in full development. Then at 8 weeks, intestines begin to form, as well as teeth growing under the baby’s forming gums. Once the embryonic stage has completed, there will be fully functioning joints, as well as irises in the eyes. Many large organs also begin to develop, and the central nervous system as well.
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After 11 weeks, the Fetal Development stage will begin. The child is officially called a fetus in this stage, having all the necessary parts to be a baby. It’s during the 5 weeks after the beginning of this stage that genitals, hair, nails, and even vocal chords begin to appear and form. Kidneys will begin to work the way that kidneys do, and the liver takes on its role as well. Throughout this time, the bones are hardening and preparing for the outside world.
There’s a huge growth spurt that occurs from the 16th to the 20th week, where fat tissue begins to form, the heart goes faster, and baby waste accumulates in the bowel. Like a typical baby, the child inside will be awake or asleep, they’ll hiccup and kick.
Then through the 28th week the baby develops lungs, preparing to breathe the outside air. And then in the home stretch from week 29 to week 40, the lungs will fully develop in preparation for birth. The rest of the child is complete, including organs and all major systems. The baby will continue to fatten to prepare for the outside world, and the immune system will strengthen. And that is a fully formed child!
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