Stages of Growth Month-by-Month in Pregnancy
First trimester
The first trimester lasts for 12 weeks, beginning with fertilisation. In the first three months of pregnancy, most women experience nausea, dizziness, and exhaustion. While still a clump of cells, the fertilised egg will transform into a baby’s traits throughout this period.
Month 1 (weeks 1 through 4)
The water-tight sac surrounding the fertilised egg progressively fills with fluid as it develops. Known as the amniotic sac, this protects the embryo as it grows and develops. The placenta also grows throughout this stage. As well as transferring nutrients from the mother to the developing foetus, the placenta also removes waste products from the developing baby. Think of the placenta as a source of nourishment for the baby throughout your pregnancy. Primitive features such as huge black rings around the eyes will appear in the first few weeks of a baby’s life. The upper and lower jaws, as well as the neck, are maturing. The formation of blood cells has begun, and circulation will soon follow. By the end of the fourth week, the “heart” tube will be beating 65 times a minute. The foetus is roughly the size of a grain of rice by the end of the first month.
Month 2 (weeks 5 through 8)
The development of facial characteristics continues. The beginning of each ear is a little fold of skin on the side of the skull. Arm and leg buds are growing from tiny buds. They’re also creating their toes, their fingernails, and their eyeballs. The central nervous system’s neural tube (the brain, spinal cord, and other neural tissue) is now fully developed. A person’s gastrointestinal system and sense organs begin to take shape. The cartilage is gradually replaced by bone. At this time, the head is larger than the rest of the body. A heartbeat may normally be found at about six weeks of pregnancy. It becomes a foetus after the 8th week of pregnancy, rather than an embryo. Toward the conclusion of the second month, the foetus is about 1 inch long and weighs approximately 1/30 ounce.
Month 3 (weeks 9 through 12)
Toes, fingers, and toe-toes, as well as the arms and hands, are all complete. Opening and shutting its hands and lips are examples of foetal exploration at this period. Fingernails and toenails are forming, as are the external ears. Underneath the gums, teeth are growing. Gender may still be difficult to detect on ultrasound since the reproductive organs also develop. A full-formed foetus is created by the third month. There are all the organs and limbs present, and they will continue to grow until they are fully functioning. The circulatory, urinary, and hepatic systems are all functioning. Fetuses in the third month of pregnancy are around four inches long and weigh approximately one ounce. When you reach the three-month mark, your risk of miscarriage decreases significantly.
Second trimester
Pregnancy’s middle phase is frequently regarded as the most enjoyable portion of the experience. By now, morning sickness and other symptoms of early pregnancy should have subsided. This month, the foetus will begin to develop its face traits. As the baby moves about in the uterus, you may also begin to feel movement. In the third trimester, many expectant parents learn whether their child will be male or female. If you’re 20 weeks pregnant, you’ll likely get an ultrasound called a “anatomy scan.”
Month 4 (weeks 13 through 16)
The foetal heartbeat may now be heard using a doppler, an equipment that measures the frequency of the pulse. The digits and toes are well discernible in the image. We begin to grow our eyelashes, eyebrows, and other facial hair. Denser teeth and bones form. Fetuses may even yawn, stretch, and produce facial expressions. In the beginning, the nervous system began to work. It is now possible for your doctor to tell on ultrasound whether the baby will be male or female when it is born. The foetus is around 6 inches long and weighs about 4 ounces at the end of the fourth month.
Month 5 (weeks 17 through 20)
The foetus may begin to move about at this point. The foetus is working out its muscles as it grows. When you first begin to move, you may notice a fluttering sensation. The first strands of hair appear on the scalp. Lanugo, a fine, silky hair, covers the shoulders, back, and temples. Your baby’s foetus is protected by this hair, which is lost at the conclusion of the first week of life. Vernix caseosa is the white layer that covers the skin. In theory, this “cheesy” material will shield the fetus’s skin from the amniotic fluid’s long-term exposure. Before delivery, the baby sheds its outer layer. The foetus reaches a length of 10 inches and a weight of up to 1 pound by the end of the fifth month.
Month 6 (weeks 21 through 24)
The fetus’s skin is reddish, wrinkled, and veins are visible through transparent skin if you could see inside the uterus right now. They can clearly see their fingerprints and toe marks. The eyelids begin to separate and the eyes begin to open at this point. The foetus moves or increases its heartbeat in response to noises. If the foetus hiccups, you may observe jerking gestures. After the 23rd week of pregnancy, if your baby is delivered early, he or she may survive. The foetus is around 12 inches long and weighs about 2 pounds at the end of the sixth month.
Month 7 (weeks 25 through 28)
The fetus’s fat stores continue to build while it grows in the womb. Hearing is completely developed at this stage. The foetus is constantly shifting its position and reacting to external stimuli, such as sound, pain, and light. The amount of amniotic fluid in the womb decreases. After the seventh month, if your kid was delivered early, he or she is more likely
