Before your baby is born, there are a lot of stages throughout pregnancy. From conception to labor, every stage is eye-opening to learn about. There are many organs that are formed and they develop within a typical period of 9 months. The mother and the baby growing inside the womb experience many changes in these 9 months. In this blog, you will learn about the various fetal development stages, week by week and month by month, so you will be aware of what’s going on in the womb at every stage and identify concerns easily to take the best possible care of yourself and your baby.
The Path to Fetal Development
From the first menstrual period to menopause, a woman’s body has reproductive cycles every month. In this cycle, the woman has a menstrual period or becomes pregnant, in which case, the ovary forms eggs (oocytes), which develop fluid-filled cysts (follicles). Only the follicle with a mature egg is released to form a corpus luteum for a healthy environment in the uterus with the help of progesteron hormone. Conception happens when the egg is fertilized by the sperm (male sex cells) and implants itself in the uterus. Fetal development happens after nine weeks when the sperm conceives the egg, so let us understand the various stages of fetal development.
Stages of Fetal Development: Week by Week and Month by Month
Different Stages
Germinal Stage
The egg is fertilized by the sperm in the fallopian tube to create a zygote. It goes to the uterus while dividing itself and finally becomes a blastocyst with two structures (the placenta and the embryo). Hormones are produced to support pregnancy from this stage.
Embryonic Stage
After the zygote forms into a blastocyst, human features like the head, eyes, limbs, and mouth begin to take form as it turns into an embryo. The heart cells cluster and start to pulse, and buds that will grow into arms and legs also take form.
Embryonic Stage
The embryo with human characteristics turns into a fetus, which has developed the main organs of the body. Hair and fingernails grow, along with major fetus movements. This is where the fetus develops, in length and in weight.
Development Stages of A Fetus Week by Week and Month by Month
First Trimester (Conception to 12 Weeks)
Month 1 (Week 1-4)
The first two weeks are when the hormones are slowly released by the body to prepare the uterus. The sperm and the egg are fertilized during ovulation, and a zygote is formed. The next week is for the zygote to turn into a blastocyst.
Month 2 (Week 5-8)
The tissue of the central nervous system (like the spinal cord and the brain) begins to form. Heart cells pulse, tiny buds of arms and legs develop, blood circulation, eyes, ears, etc., form. Soft cartilages are replaced with bones, and the development of genitals and the umbilical cord is completed.
Month 3 (Week 9-12)
The embryo turns into a fetus and starts to develop other organs, muscles, and a distinct facial feature. The fetus moves its fully developed feet, toes, and fingers. At week 12, organs are fully functional, and the fetus drinks and pees the amniotic fluid.
Second Trimester (13-28 Weeks)
Month 4 (Week 13-16)
The head grows accordingly to the fetus’s body, along with thick skin, hair, and genitals. Organs start taking a permanent position, and lungs are developing. The feturs makes movements like smiling or sucking its thumb, and can also hear any talks.
Month 5 (Week 17-20)
The skin of the fetus is covered in vernix (a whitish coating), and it keeps its body warm with fuzz-like hair (lanugo). Unique fingerprints are developed, hiccup, punches, and kicks can be felt. The brain area that is responsible for the five senses also develops.
Month 6 (Week 21-24)
The bone marrow produces blood cells, and the fetus is able to touch the umbilical cord or its ears. Fat is produced in the body, this is also where the fetus hears various sounds.
Month 7 (Week 25-28)
The fetus’s body produces more fat, and the skin is more plumpy instead of wrinkles. The color of the eye and skin is formed with melanin. The eyelashes are grown and the fetus can open or blink its eyes, and it turns down its head for the birth.
Third Trimester (29-40 Weeks)
Month 8 (Week 29-32)
The fetus is cramped in the amniotic sac, and it can now control body heat. The brain grows, and the body gains more weight very fast. Organs are fully formed, and the information is processed with the help of stimuli, which gets the fetus ready for birth.
Month 9 (Week 33-36)
Bones are starting to harden (except for cranial brain), and the vernix gets thicker. The brain is still growing and the language is replaced by hair on the head.
Month 10 (Week 37-40)
Labor can happen anytime in this month because the fetus drops into the mother’s pelvis. Once it reaches full term in the 40th week, your fetus is ready for birth, so it is good to be prepared to identify signs of labour.
Important Weeks in Fetal Development
Pregnancy has three trimesters, among which, there are many stages in each week and each month. There are some major risks in each of these stages, but after 13 weeks of conception, miscarriages are seen to reduce, but your fetus still has a long way to grow.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a fetus has many stages of development that starts even before it becomes a fetus. Understanding these stages are very important, not only for expecting parents, but also for doctors and caregivers because it allows them to carefully monitor pregnancy and address any concerns. If you are aspiring to become a specialist in the field of embryology to help couples conceive a baby who have been struggling with infertility issues, you can enroll in MOMSOON Academy’s courses that focus on ART and embryology. We offer a wide range of courses like M.Sc, Post Graduate Diploma, Integrated B.Sc – M.Sc, Fellowship and Certification Courses.
