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Week 2 Week 4 Week 6 Week 10 Week 14 Week 18 Week 22 Week 26 Week 30 Week 40 |
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. The fetus is now about 5 inches long. The child blinks, grasps, and moves her mouth. Hair grows on the head and body. 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. 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 a over a 50% chance of surviving outside the womb. The fetus is usually capable of living outside the womb and would be considered premature at birth. This marks the end of the normal gestational period. The child is now ready to live in outside of his mother's womb. |
Side Notes Total average weight gain for a pregnant women should be around 11.9 kg , breakdown as follows: Baby - 3.5 kg Placenta - 0.675 kg Amniotic fluid - 0.8 kg Uterine enlargement - 0.9 kg Maternal breast tissue - 0.45 kg Maternal blood volume - 1.5 kg Fluids in maternal tissue - 1.4 kg Maternal fat - 3.25 kg Percentage constituition of weight: Baby -- 39% Blood -- 22% Amniotic fluid -- 11% Uterus -- 11% Placenta -- 9% Breasts -- 8% Approximate baby's weight: 13 weeks - 30g 14 weeks - 60g 15 weeks - 100g 16 weeks - 135g 17 weeks - 185g 18 weeks - 235g 19 weeks - 285g 20 weeks - 340g 21 weeks - 390g 23 weeks - 440g 24 weeks - 0.5kg 25 weeks - 0.6kg 26 weeks - 0.7kg 27 weeks - 0.8kg 28 weeks - 0.9kg 29 weeks - 1kg 30 weeks - 1.1kg 31 weeks - 1.4kg 32 weeks - 1.6kg 33 weeks - 1.8kg 34 weeks - 2kg 35 weeks - 2.3kg 36 weeks - 2.5kg 37 weeks - 2.7kg 38 weeks - 2.9kg 39 weeks - 3.1kg 40 weeks - 3.4kg |