Your Baby’s Development In The Womb, Month After Month
Your baby’s development in the womb is truly amazing. Although most of the changes happen without you even noticing it, they all help ensure that all important processes do their job so that your fetus can finish growing.
With each passing month, your baby will have new physiological structures. Even from one week to the next, there can be important changes.
To determine your baby’s gestational age, your pregnancy is considered to begin on the first day of your menstrual cycle. The first weeks of your cycle count, even if you are not currently pregnant yet.
Pregnancy: The Miracle of Life
A normal gestation period lasts between 37 and 41 weeks or about 9.5 months. If you are pregnant or planning a baby soon, why not find out more about your baby’s development in the womb, month by month?
The first month of your baby’s development in utero
In the first two weeks between the beginning of your menstrual cycle and ovulation, your baby has not yet begun to develop. But the process is already underway.
The first month is when fertilization occurs and the zygote moves to the uterus, through the fallopian tube.
The zygote already contains the information needed to make a fully formed baby. To do this, however, it must first develop into a blastocyst and then an embryo.
Meanwhile , the mother’s body is ready to protect your baby’s development in the womb.
Second month
The second month begins in the fifth week of pregnancy. This is the beginning of the embryonic period . This is where the most important structures develop, which will later support all vital systems.
This month, most cell developments have already taken place. This means that cells can begin to specialize in different functions. For example, neurons develop at this stage, along with most blood cells.
These structures are also formed:
- The brain
- The spinal cord
- The heart
- Gastrointestinal tract
- The external functions
Third month
We can count the third month from the sixth to ninth week of pregnancy. Here the changes are even more apparent. Arms and legs begin to form along with the tissue that turns into bones.
In many cases, the upper and lower limbs have already grown and the fingers will have appeared by the end of this month.
Other changes are:
- Heartbeats are becoming more regular
- Blood begins to flow through the main blood vessels
- Eyes and ears gradually begin to take shape
- The lungs have begun to form
- Some nerves can be seen in what becomes the baby’s skull
Fourth month
At present, most organs are already formed and growing rapidly. Therefore, at the present time, instead of an embryo, we can start talking about a fetus. Moreover, the facial features become more defined from this moment.
Development in the uterus continues with:
- Elbows
- Nipples
- Toes
- Hair follicles
- Eyelids
- Ears
Fifth month
Although the fetus is already well developed , the head is still larger than the rest of its body and the skin is almost transparent. Although the eyelids are formed, they remain closed until about the 28th week of pregnancy.
Other features that are evolving include:
- Appearance of the bone structure to support teeth
- Defined facial features
- Evidence of gender formation
- Nails begin to grow
- The liver begins to produce red blood cells
Sixth month
Even if your baby is fully formed at this stage, their skin will still be transparent. The head will be covered with a very fine hair: this is called lanugo . But their muscles and bones are getting stronger and stronger.
At this point, your baby is already moving, stretching and starting to practice sucking movements. They become more and more active because they can hear and respond to stimuli. You will also be able to listen to their heartbeat through a stethoscope.
Seventh month
In the seventh month, the baby’s eyes are properly formed and the first deposits will be in their intestinal tract. Although air bubbles can form in their lungs, they are not fully developed to breathe outside the womb.
Eighth month
In the eighth month , the lungs of the fetus will still develop. This process is quite complex, but at this point their breathing is already common. But they will grow and take on fat. Their bones are completely formed but are still very soft.
At this stage, the fetus prepares to absorb and store many nutrients, mainly phosphorus, iron and calcium.
Ninth month
The gestation period is now in its 34th to 40th week. At present, the fetus can already weigh up to two and a half kilos. They can still grow even more, but not too much . The fat they have built up under their skin means they are not so wrinkled.
In addition, all their organs are already fully developed, along with their muscles and bones. The lanugo that once covered most of their body is found only between their shoulder blades and on their arms, where it is denser.
Your baby’s development in utero is complete. The baby has already been in the womb for 38 months from conception so it can be born at any time.
