What's Happening to My Body?
Fetal Development
About two weeks before your expected period. A sperm joins with the ovum (egg) to form one cell. When conception (fertilization) occurs, the baby's features, including sex, hair and eye color, are determined. The new life has begun.
A few days after your missed period. The baby's heart begins to beat.
4 weeks after conception. The backbone and muscles are forming. Arms, legs, and ears have begun to show.
5 weeks after conception. Five fingers can be discerned in the hand.
8 weeks after conception. The baby hiccups and reacts to loud noises. Everything is now present that will be found in a fully formed adult.
12 weeks after conception. The baby can grasp an object placed in his or her hand and make a fist.
14 weeks after conception. At 16 weeks, doctor's can use ultrasound to determine the baby's gender.
20 weeks after conception. The baby's eyelashes can be seen and the lungs are developing.
Pregnancy DefinitionsCervix: The bottom opening to the uterus. Embryo: Human life at an early development stage with its own unique DNA. Conception: The point at which a male sperm and the female egg join and a new human embryo begins; also called fertilization. Fetus: A developing unborn baby with an observable human structure. Full Term Pregnancy: The stage at about 40 weeks after last menstrual period or 38 weeks after conception when the unborn baby is ready for birth. Last Menstrual Period (LMP): The date when a woman started her last menstrual period before conception. This is the point in time from which the pregnancy and the age of the unborn baby are measured. Trimester: An interval of three months used to measure three successive stages of pregnancy; first trimester, second trimester, and third trimester. Uterus: The muscular female organ that contains the developing unborn baby. |
