How Your Foetus Grows During Pregnancy? Week By Week Stage!

The age-old tale of the blossoming of life often follows uncharted paths. Understanding each stage of Fetal development is essential for navigating this fascinating voyage.

Stages of Fetal Development

There are three Pregnancy stages:

• Germinal stage – Fertilisation occurs in this phase, a tiny bundle of cells called the blastocyst implants into the mother’s uterine lining.

• Embryonic stage – The blastocyst goes on to evolve into the future baby and develops distinct head, eyes, mouth, limbs, heart, brain and spinal cord, finally becoming an embryo.

• Fetal stage – The Embryo to fetus transformation occurs. All major organs develop. Hair, fingernails and eyelashes appear. The fetus moves its limbs and grows bulkier.

The Trimesters

Each pregnancy follows a unique and incredible process of development. However, the Pregnancy timeline consists of three distinct stages of progress, each lasting a period of three months. Achieving these Trimester milestones is nothing short of winning laurels.

First Trimester(Weeks 1 to 12)

The first two weeks of pregnancy are a time for the body to gear up for a whole new phase. The ovum is released at the end of the second week, by which time the body has already produced hormones and the uterine walls have thickened in anticipation of a pregnancy.

A sperm fertilizes the egg during week 3. This process creates a zygote.

During week 4, the zygote expands into a blastocyst and nestles into the mother’s uterine lining. Amniotic fluid filled cavity called the amniotic sac grows around the blastocyst. The Amniotic fluid regulates temperature and protects the embryo. The placenta develops during this time. The placenta’s function includes providing nutrients and oxygen to the embryo and draining waste.

Weeks 5 – 8

The embryo starts developing the heart, brain, spinal cord and neural tissue of the central nervous system. Limbs start developing, blood cells appear, and circulation begins. Ears, eyes, mouth, bones and genitals take form. By now, all vital organs and body systems appear. The Baby’s heartbeat can be detected via ultrasound. The embryo now becomes a fetus.

Weeks 9 – 12

This is a period of rapid Prenatal development as fetus develops distinct facial features, bones and muscles. It has fully developed arms, hands, fingers, feet and toes. The circulatory, digestive and urinary systems continue to develop and the liver produces bile.

Second Trimester (Weeks 13 to 28)

Weeks 13 – 16

By now fetus develops skin, vocal cords and external genitals. Fingerprints begin to form. Lungs begin to develop. Ears develop and fetus can hear the mother’s voice.

Weeks 17 – 20

In this period, the Baby growth in womb is significant. By this time, the first Fetal movements or quickening is detected by the mother. The fetus has its own unique set of fingerprints.

Weeks 21 – 24

Baby’s limb movements are now coordinated. The lungs are fully developed. The fetus now puts on body fat.

Weeks 25 – 28

The fetus continues to gain more body fat and weighs around 1 kg. The nervous system and lungs develop at a rapid pace. The fetus can now blink and has eyelashes.

Third Trimester (Weeks 29 to 40)

Weeks 29 – 32

The fetus has a distinct sleep-wake cycle. The baby’s kicks in the womb start getting more pronounced during this period.

Weeks 33 – 36

The baby’s brain continues to mature and weighs around 2 kg.

Weeks 37 – 40

This phase is marked by a vital change of position by the fetus in preparation for birth. The baby is roughly 45 cm in length and weighs about 3.5 kg.

Conclusion

We wish all parents the very best for their pregnancy journeys. May each stage of fetal development and the birth story be a happy experience!