Fetal Development

40 Weeks: Growth of the Embryo and Fetus

Watch and Learn

This amazing prenatal video chronicles how a human being develops and grows from a single-celled organism to newborn infant. Through a combination of animation, action, fetal photographs, and ultrasound images, watch a pregnancy unfold in a new and exciting journey of discovery. Detailed photos of the embryo and fetus through each trimester of pregnancy make for an excellent lesson in pregnancy and human development.

A list of some things pregnant woman may experience during each trimester.

First Trimester (Week 1 – 12)

Your period stops or becomes very light.
You may feel nausea or queasiness, especially in the morning. Some women vomit.
Your breasts swell and may be tender.
You have to urinate more often.
You feel tired.
You may become constipated and have heartburn.
You may have headaches.
You experience mood swings — feel angry, sad, or happy for no reason.

Six Weeks: By twenty-one days after fertilization, the embryo’s tiny heart has begun beating.

Second Trimester (Week 13 – 26)

You gain weight.
You can feel the fetus moving.
The skin on your stomach stretches and may get dry.
Your breasts get bigger. It helps to wear a supportive bra.
You may experience ongoing heartburn, indigestion, and constipation.
You may get nosebleeds.
Your feet, hands, ankles and face may swell.
A dark line develops on your skin between your navel and your pubic area.
A temporary “mask” or darker area of pigmentation may develop on your face.

Eighteen Weeks: By this time eyebrows, eyelashes, and fine hair appear. The child can grasp with his hands, kick, or even somersault.

Third Trimester (Week 27 – 40)

You can see the fetus move from the outside.
Your navel pushes out.
You begin to get backaches.
You begin to walk differently to accommodate the weight of the fetus.
You experience painless “practice” contractions.
You have shortness of breath.
Finally, labor and delivery!

Twenty-four Weeks: The unborn child is covered with a fine, downy hair called lanugo and a waxy substance called vernix. The fetus still has much growing to do, but some babies could survive if born this early.

DID YOU KNOW...

Pregnancy is counted from the first day of a woman's last period.

This means that at conception, the unborn child is already considered two weeks old!

Your body will be changing during pregnancy!!  Watch this video to learn about the first trimester of pregnancy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML-H2ayCiQ0

As soon as you think you might be pregnant, you should visit a pregnancy help center or clinic right away for a pregnancy test.  Book an appointment for a free test at Carolyn’s Place

Book an Appointment

Keep healthy during your pregnancy.  Watch this video to see what the CDC says to have a healthy pregnancy.  And contact us to learn more about our pregnancy classes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGvr4S33tW4