“A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on”

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“Life is present from the moment of conception.”

Dr. Jerome Lejeune, late professor and world renowned geneticist, University of
Descarte, Paris

“A person’s a person, no matter how small!”

Excerpted from “Horton Hears a Who,” by Dr. Seuss, late famous children’s
author
The growth of your baby is a continuous process that often conveys a sense of awe.
The following information will help you understand your baby's rapid growth and
highlights milestones in development. (Sizes and weights are approximate).

First Trimester

First Trimester Photos

*Week 2*

Conception is the moment at which the sperm penetrates the ovum. Once
fertilized it is called a zygote, until it reaches the uterus 3-4 days later.

*Week 4*

The embryo may float freely in the uterus for about 48 hours before
implanting. Upon implantation, complex connections between the mother and
embryo develop to form the placenta.

*Week 6*

The embryo is about 1/5 of an inch in length. A primitive heart is beating.

Head, mouth, liver, and intestines begin to take shape.

*Week 10*

The embryo is now about 1 inch in length. Facial features, limbs, hands, feet,
fingers, and toes become apparent. The nervous system is responsive and
many of the internal organs begin to function.

Second Trimester

Second Trimester Photos

*Week 14*
 The fetus is now 3 inches long and weighs almost an ounce. The muscles
begin to develop and sex organs form. Eyelids, fingernails, and toenails also
form. The child’s spontaneous movements can be observed.

*Week 18*

The fetus is now about 5 inches long. The child blinks, grasps, and moves her
mouth. Hair grows on the head and body.

*Week 22*

The fetus now weighs approximately 1/2 a pound and spans about 10 inches
from head to toe. Sweat glands develop, and the external skin has turned
from transparent to opaque.

*Week 24*

A protective waxy substance called Vernix covers the skin. By birth, most of
the Vernix will be gone but any that is left is quickly absorbed. Fetus has a
hand and startle reflex. Footprints and fingerprints are forming. Fetus
practices breathing by inhaling amniotic fluid into its developing lungs.

Third Trimester

Third Trimester Photos

*Week 26*

The fetus can now inhale, exhale and even cry. Eyes have completely formed,
and the tongue has developed taste buds. Under intensive medical care the
fetus has over a 50% chance of surviving outside the womb.

*Week 30*
 The fetus is usually capable of living outside the womb and would be
considered premature at birth.

*Week 40*

This marks the end of the normal gestational period. The child is now ready to
live outside of his mother’s womb.

References:

http://www.babycenter.com/pregnancy-fetal-development-index

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002398.htm

http://www.wpclinic.org/parenting/fetal-development/

http://www.wpclinic.org/parenting/fetal-development/first-trimester/

http://forestvillepregnancycenter.org/Pregnancy_Fetal_Growth.html

http://pregnancyandbaby.com/pregnancy/baby/A-look-inside-your-babys-world-
3111.htm

http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregnancy/0,,nc26,00.html

Reaction:

The fetal development of a baby is amazing pace! Just come to think

about it, within approximately a 40 week period, your little one will have to
transformed from a single cell to a fully form human – filled with wonderment
and prepared to change your whole world forever.
For a first-time the mother, will experience of having a baby is indescribable.
The new feeling of life taking form inside her, the physical and emotional
changes, and the anticipation of bringing forth a new life is wonderful. A new
baby brings untold joys in the life of a mother.

Pregnancy and birth are natural and healthy processes, and we're all
fascinated by how a baby grows within us. Pregnant is one of the most
joyous times in a woman’s life. Knowing about the life that is growing inside
the pregnant woman is exciting and fascinating. The fetus develops over
many months’ time, but the first few months are the most critical. All of your
baby’s major organs begin forming in the early weeks of her pregnancy.
Therefore, your health, nutrition, and avoidance of harmful substances are
important even before your pregnancy begins. Making healthy choices for
her is the best way to protect her unborn baby. Anything she eat, drink,
breathe, or touch can affect her baby’s development, especially in the very
sensitive period beginning at conception. Although many people think of
pregnancy as lasting nine months, it is actually 280 days, measured from the
first day of the last menstrual period, or 40 weeks. Health care providers
divide these weeks into three trimesters. The first trimester is from
conception through 12 weeks, the second from 13 through 28 weeks, and the
third from 29 weeks until delivery. The first trimester is a highly sensitive
period in the development of her baby. Harmful substances that are ingested
can affect the normal growth and development of the fetus. Babies are
incredible, some people want to have abortions but they don’t know how
beautiful babies they really are...