Milestones of Fetal

Growth and
Development

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______________________
Clinical Instructor
 FIRST TRIMESTER
Incredible Color Photos of Fetal
Development

Time Stage of Development

Week 2 Although this is considered to be the second week of your pregnancy,
you are not actually 2 weeks pregnant yet. During this week, your body
will release an egg. As it travels down the fallopian tube, it will be met by
your partner's sperm and fertilization will take place. The fertilized egg,
now known as a zygote, will then continue traveling down the fallopian
tubes finally reaching the uterus three to four days after fertilization.
Week 4 By the time you are four weeks pregnant, the fertilized egg will have
implanted itself into your uterine lining. At this point, the zygote is now
known as an embryo. After implantation, the embryo begins to divide
itself into two: one part of it will develop into the placenta while the other
will go on to become your baby.
Week 6 During the sixth week of your pregnancy, your baby's heart will begin to
beat and blood will start to circulate throughout his body. His umbilical
cord will also start to form, as will his head, eyes, intestines and liver.
Week This week marks the end of the embryonic stage of development. For the
10 rest of your pregnancy, your baby will be known as a fetus. Your baby's
external genitalia begin to form this week while her facial features as
well as limbs become more apparent. By the end of the week, your
baby's vital organs will not only be formed but will also have begun to
work.
 SECOND TRIMESTER
Incredible Color
Photos of Fetal
Development

Time Stage of Development

Week Now that you are 14 weeks pregnant, you have officially started your
14 second trimester. The risk of miscarriage is significantly decreased at this
point. In addition to your baby's reproductive organs developing, your
baby will also begin to grow some hair as well as form eyelids, fingernails
and toenails. You may even be able to feel your baby moving inside of
you this week.
Week By the time your are 18 weeks pregnant, your baby's finger and toe pads
18 will have formed, which means the fingerprints won't be far behind. The
bones in your baby's inner ear will have developed enough by this point
that he may start responding to loud outside sounds. Additionally, your
baby could weigh as much as 7 ounces now and measure about five
inches long.
Week Your baby’s sense are so developed by the time you are 22 weeks
22 pregnant that she is likely to starting experimenting. Don’t be surprised
to if you see her sucking her thumb on an ultrasound. Your baby’s sweat
glands also begin to develop this week while her brain begins to quicken
its development.

THIRD TRIMESTER
Incredible Color Photos of Fetal
Development
Time Stage of Development
Week During this week, development of the retinas will finish and your baby’s
26 eyes will begin to open and even blink. If your baby were born now, he
would have a 50% chance of survival with proper medical care. This week
also marks the end of your second trimester. Next week, when you are 27
weeks pregnant, you will officially be in your third (and final) trimester.
Week As your baby begins practicing how to breathe this week, she may end up
30 with a case of the hiccups if she swallows too much amniotic fluid. Your
baby is also putting on more body fat, which will help keep her warm
when she is born. Although your baby would be premature if she was
born now, she would have a good chance of surviving.
Week This is the official end of the gestational period. Even though your baby is
40 ready and able to live outside of you, it is perfectly normal for your baby
to arrive as much as two weeks after his due date.

Fetal Growth Chart by Trimester:

First Trimester (first 3 months)
Conception to 4 weeks 8 weeks 12 weeks

• Less than 1/10 inches long • Less than 1 inch long • About 3 inches
• Spinal cord, nervous system, • Face is forming with long, weighs 1 ounce
gastrointestinal system, heart and rudimentary eyes, ears, • Can move arms,
lungs begin to develop mouth and teeth fingers and toes
• Amniotic sac envelopes the body • Arms and legs are moving • Fingerprints are
• Brain is forming present
• Fetal heartbeat is • Can smile. frown,
suck and swallow
detectable with ultrasound
• Sex is
 distinguishable

Second Trimester (middle 3 months)

16 weeks 20 weeks 24 weeks

• About 5 1/2 inches long and
weighs 4 ounces
• Strong heartbeat
• Thin, transparent skin formed stethoscope
• Downy hair (lanugo) covers
body
• Fingernails and toenails are
forming
• Coordinated movements; is able
to roll over in amniotic fluid
• 10 to 12 inches long and
weighs 1/2 to 1 pound
• Heartbeat is audible with
• Sucks thumb
• Hiccups
• Hair, eyelashes, and
eyebrows have formed
• 11 to 14 inches long and
weighs 1 to 1 1/2 pounds
• Skin is wrinkled are
covered with protective
coating
• Eyes are open
• Has strong grip

Third Trimester (last 3 1/2 months)

28 weeks 32 weeks 36 to 38 weeks

• 14 to 17 inches long and
weighs 2 1/2 to 3 pounds
• Adding body fat
• Very active
• Rudimentary breathing present
• 16 1/2 to 18 inches long and • 19 inches long and
weighs 4 to 5 pound weighs 6 pounds
• Periods of sleep and • Skin is less wrinkled
wakefulness • Less active
• Responds to sounds • Gaining immunities
• May assume birth position from mother
• Bones of head are soft and
flexible
• Iron is being stored in liver

References:
http://www.epigee.org/fetal.html
http://www.babies.sutterhealth.org/babygrowth/fetaldev/index.ht
ml
http://www.expectantmothersguide.com/library/connecticut/ECTfe
tal.htm
http://www.webmd.com/content/tools/1/slide_fetal_dev.html
http://www.epigee.org/fetal_development.html
http://www.childdevelopmentweb.com/Pregnancy/prenatal.asp
http://www.cpmc.org/services/pregnancy/information/fetal_develo
pment.html