Let’s recap what’s happened since you had your last period:
Week 1: Conception, journey through fallopian tube – day 6, implantation into the womb begins
Week 2: Day 10 implantation completed, 3 layers of cells develop including placental cells
Week 3: Period missed – Embryo with neural tube (brain and spinal cord) heart and thyroid cells
Week 4: Heart begins to beat! Size 4 mm. Shape embryonic with arm buds
Week 5: Primitive eyes and mouth, hand plates and leg buds. Size doubled to 8 mm
Week 6: Nose and mouth cavities with upper lip, foot plates; arms bend at elbows with finger rays
Week 7: Eyelids beginning, genitals unisex, beginning to look human, size 18 mm
Week 8: Fingers distinct, genital testicles or ovaries distinguishable, size 30 mm
Week 9: Now called foetus, looks like a baby, genitals becoming boy or girl, size 50 mm
Week 10: Face looks human, genitals developing, size 61 mm
Week 11: Toes beginning to take shape weighs 10 – 15 grams
Week 12: The gelatinous body is becoming firmer with cartilage
Week 13: Jerky movement seen on the ultrasound scan. Testicles producing testosterone, ovaries contain millions of immature eggs
Week 17: Mother feels kicks. Eyes closed, body covered with lanugo – fine hair, size 18 cms wt. 90 – 120 grams
Week 20: Pregnancy shows, baby size 18 – 20 cms. Sucking and swallowing reflexes, baby can taste and hear
Week 23: Baby has 44% chance of survival if born prematurely
Week 24: Called a baby weighs 500 grams approx. 30 cms. Baby has 63% chance of survival
Week 26: Eyes open and blink. Rapid brain development. Approx. 32cm long and weighs 800 – 925 grams. Baby has 81% chance of survival if born prematurely.
Week 36: Baby in the head-down ‘birthing position’. Baby can weigh up to 2 kgs. Approx. 34cm long. Labour can begin from 38 – 42 weeks gestation.
