How does a baby develop in the womb (by month)

Period up to 8 weeks

So, what does a fetus do for 9 months in its mother’s womb? Let's start from the very beginning, from the moment of fertilization of the egg by the sperm. By the way, up to 8 weeks the fetus is called an embryo. During this period, all its systems and organs are formed.

After fertilization, the egg begins to fragment. It moves towards the uterus and is freed from the membrane. Introduction into the uterus (attachment of the fertilized egg) occurs on the 6-8th day after fertilization. The attachment process occurs with the help of chorionic villi.

At 2-3 weeks, the embryo develops very actively: the foundations (rudiments) of the muscular, skeletal, and nervous systems are formed. That is why the stage of their “laying” is considered an important period of gestation.

At 4-7 weeks, the following organs are formed in the unborn child: heart, head, arms, legs. At week 5, the length of the embryo is about 6 mm. During the 7th week, the rudiments of the eyes, abdomen and chest begin to appear, and fingers form on the hands. At this time, the embryo already has a vestibular apparatus (sensory organ), and its length increases to 12 mm.

At week 8, the process of identifying the face begins. Then you can already distinguish the mouth, nose and ears. If we talk about the overall size, then the head of the embryo is very large and the body is not proportional. All its elements have already been formed, and the nervous and musculoskeletal systems are being improved. Sensitivity of the skin in the mouth area also appeared during this period, thus preparing for the formation of the sucking reflex. At the same time, the genitals are also visible. The length of the fruit is approximately 20 mm.

First trimester

This period is very important for the formation of the future organism, its internal organs, and immune system. The first trimester lasts 12 weeks, and it is one of the most dangerous, because the threat of miscarriage is clearly present.

The state of health of a pregnant woman during this period is not stable. There is a sharp change in hormonal levels, which affects all vital systems of the body.

The development of the child in the womb occurs in an unusually curious way precisely at this time - at the very beginning of pregnancy. A small cell begins to divide, forming blanks for future internal organs.

The favorable period for fertilization is the middle of the cycle; most often it is at this time that pregnancy occurs. The egg and sperm consist of a set of 23 chromosomes and, when fused, form a new cell. The cell begins the process of division, which is determined genetically. The egg itself, meanwhile, returns to the uterus; by the time it returns, it already contains a certain amount of cellular substances.

The movement of the egg occurs along one of the fallopian tubes; on average, its journey takes 7 days. After returning, the egg attaches to the wall of the uterus and penetrates the endometrial layer. The baby in the womb is still a fetus weighing 2 - 3 mg. Using ultrasound, it can sometimes be difficult to determine pregnancy so early, since the fetus is no larger than the head of a pin.

The following days, the cells of the embryo begin to divide more intensively. Some of them form the protective shell of the future organism, the other part becomes building material for future organs and tissues. The development of a child in the womb week by week is due to the gradual formation of the rudiments of all systems.

At week 10, toxicosis makes itself felt as the fertile period begins. The fetus has its own nerve endings, which may not correspond to the mother’s impulses. Hormonal fluctuations are especially painful these days.

Fetal development up to 18 weeks

At week 9, the unborn baby’s fingers and toes already have marigolds. It begins to move in the womb, but the mother does not feel these movements, since the fetus is small and a large amount of space in the uterus is occupied by amniotic fluid. The doctor, using a special stethoscope, can already hear the child’s heartbeat. At this time, the process of muscle development continues, so the baby touches himself, his body. This is an interesting process that can be observed on ultrasound. And first of all, the child reacts to the touch of the sensor. He moves away from it at first, and then tries to put his hands on it, trying to touch the sensor.

At 11-14 weeks of pregnancy, the baby’s arms, legs, eyelids are already clearly formed, and the genitals become visible. That is, an ultrasound can find out the sex of the unborn child. During this period, the fetus already “knows how” to swallow. And even if he doesn’t like something, he can wince and stick out his tongue as a sign of dissatisfaction. The skin at this time has a transparent appearance.

At week 14, blood forms in the middle of the bones, hair begins to grow on the head, and the baby himself moves more clearly and coordinated.

Weeks 15-18 in fetal development are characterized by clearer facial features, pinkening of the skin, the ability to open the mouth, blink, and grasp with hands. During this period, the fetus is more active in the womb.

Fetal development by month

Pregnancy is the most long-awaited and wonderful time in the life of any woman. Any of us would like to watch every day of the development of our beloved baby from the inside, but this is not possible. The vast majority of expectant mothers begin to care about the normal development of the child even at the moment when he is in their womb.

Unfortunately, not every woman is driven by banal curiosity: sometimes it is necessary to know the norms and indicators in order to detect abnormal fetal development in time.

Leading obstetricians and gynecologists at our clinic specialize in pregnancy management. By entrusting us with your most intimate, you can be confident of an excellent result, right up to a successful delivery. Our doctors will minimize all possible malformations and developmental defects, protect your pregnancy from negative physiological factors, and help you give birth to a healthy and happy baby.

How does a fetus develop over nine months?

Successful sexual intercourse is rightfully considered the beginning of gestation. Most often, fertilization occurs at the time of ovulation, when one mature egg penetrates the fallopian tube, leaving the ovary. It meets the sperm, after which they merge and distribute the set of chromosomes. It is at this moment that the sex of the unborn child is determined, and an extra chromosome in the set can become a prerequisite for the formation of Down syndrome.

The fertilized egg moves along the fallopian tube to the uterus, in this it is helped by peristaltic movements and the ciliated epithelium. Having reached the uterine cavity, the egg attaches to the mucous membrane - the endometrium, which contains numerous nutrients for the growth and development of the fetus.

1 month. After attachment to the endometrium, the fertilized egg continues to grow and actively divide into cells. By the end of the first month, the embryo already resembles a fetus, its vascular network is formed, and the neck takes on a more contrasting outline. The internal organs of the future baby are formed. At this stage, the primary formation of the neural tube occurs, so you should be especially careful about taking vitamins and your own lifestyle.

2 month. By the second month, the embryo already reaches 2-1.5 cm in length. His ears and eyelids begin to form. The limbs of the unborn child are almost formed, the fingers and toes are already separated. They continue to grow in length. The formation of the most important systems responsible for the vital functions of the body takes place. The mother needs to carefully monitor her health during this period, not expose her body to stressful situations, and finally give up all bad habits if the pregnancy was unplanned and they still occurred.

3 month. By the middle of the third month of pregnancy, the fetus reaches 6.5-9 cm in length. The child's heart begins to beat, its pulse is twice as fast as the mother's. The uterus is still located between the pelvic bones. The fetus begins its first movements, including swallowing and opening its mouth, but the mother does not yet feel them. At this stage, the external genitalia of the fetus are formed. The embryo itself takes on natural human forms. The locomotor system still consists entirely of cartilage tissue. The fetal body is devoid of lipid tissue, so muscle tissue, cartilage and blood vessels are clearly visible through its skin. At the end of the third month, the fetus’s vocal cords form, body hair appears, facial features stand out, and fingertips harden.

4 month. At the beginning of the fourth month, the growth spurt occurs in the brain, and therefore the development of the body slows down. This month is critical in the development of pregnancy. With acute tocopherol deficiency in the mother's body, spontaneous abortion can occur. At the same time, its increased concentration can lead to severe developmental defects. Therefore, we recommend that you contact only experienced specialists for pregnancy management in order to preserve the life and good health of the baby. The formation of the child’s genital organs is completed, and the production of important sex hormones – testosterone and estrogen – is “started”. The skin color acquires a matte reddish tint, and hair growth continues. By the end of the fourth month, the fetal head becomes more proportional, and the sebaceous and sweat glands begin to work. In the fourth month, a mother's blood test can determine whether the baby has Down syndrome.

5 month. All the baby’s vital organs are formed. The digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular and nervous systems are fully functioning. The baby continues to develop reflexes: now he begins to suck his finger and make grasping movements. The formation of the scalp begins. The mother's body also undergoes changes: in the normal course of pregnancy, a woman should gain about 4 kg by this time.

6 month. The child begins to form subcutaneous lipid tissue, due to which his skin is no longer transparent and dull red. The fruit looks more aesthetically pleasing. From the sixth month, increased weight gain in the fetus begins. His facial features begin to emerge more clearly. By this stage of pregnancy, the baby is already asleep and awake. The sixth month is the most important for the formation of kidney tissue. Right now it begins to produce uric acid and urea.

7 month. By this stage, the child’s body hair disappears in places where it should not be. The hair on the head becomes longer. The baby already opens and closes his eyes, perceives sounds and visual effects. Its weight is 1300-1500 g, and its length is 30-35 cm. The fetus still moves freely in the uterus.

8 month. Brain activity develops intensively. The skin takes on a beige tint. The fruit reaches a weight of about 1800 g, and its height becomes at least 40 cm.

9 month. The child's brain growth stops. The skin pattern is finally formed. The skin tone becomes pinkish, wrinkles are smoothed out. Intensive formation of the cerebellum occurs. The heart has an accelerated pulse, all the most important internal organs “ripen”. The fetus is in a permanent position (normally, head down). The average weight is 2500-4000 g, and height is 45-55 cm. When postterm at this stage, the child’s nail plate becomes longer than the fingers, natural lubrication is erased, so postterm children at birth have dry skin and an abundance of wrinkles.

Normal intrauterine development of a child is the key to his health in future life. We recommend that you carefully choose a specialist who will manage your pregnancy. Experienced doctors at our clinic will make every effort to ensure the normal functioning of your child from the first weeks of conception. We will take care of your healthy offspring and deprive you of all possible complications during the pregnancy process.

19-23 weeks of development

A child at 19-23 weeks of pregnancy can already suck his finger; his intestines already contain pseudo-stool, which is called meconium. The kidneys begin their work, and the brain is very actively developing. During this period, the process of ossification of the auditory cartilage occurs, and the child can already hear his mother: her breathing, heartbeat, voice. The lungs are developed in such a way that in case of force majeure, the child can survive in intensive care conditions.

This period is the equator of pregnancy, the period at which a woman first feels the baby’s movements. This date must be remembered and reported to the gynecologist.

Significant weight gain and the formation of fetal fat deposits are also characteristic of this period of pregnancy. Weight at 23 weeks is approximately 650 g, height is 300 mm.

Deviations in fetal development

Pathologies in the fetus can be genetic or acquired

Every pregnant woman expects that her baby will be healthy and the pregnancy will be easy. However, things don't always go smoothly. During the first and second screening, the child’s likelihood of developing chromosomal diseases and other abnormalities is determined.

Various developmental abnormalities can be associated both with external factors and a woman’s lifestyle, as well as with genetic abnormalities, which cannot be controlled. Genetic abnormalities can be diagnosed in the early stages of pregnancy, which allows the woman to decide whether to continue or terminate the pregnancy.

The most common abnormalities in fetal development include:

Down syndrome. This disease occurs when a child has an extra chromosome. The disease can be diagnosed from birth. Children with Down syndrome have characteristic facial features, as well as signs of mental retardation and, quite often, diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Edwards syndrome. An extra chromosome also leads to the development of the syndrome, but the signs of the disease differ from Down syndrome. Children with this syndrome have various serious developmental disorders, diseases that in 50% of cases lead to the death of the child in the first months of life.
Shereshevsky-Turner syndrome. In this disease, girls are missing one X chromosome. This leads to disruption of the development of primary and secondary sexual characteristics and infertility. The prognosis is individual, but women with a similar syndrome can, under certain conditions, give birth to a child.
Heart defects. In most cases, congenital heart defects include an anomaly of the interventricular septum, which leads to a mixture of arterial and venous blood. Defects can be operable or incompatible with life.
Absence of internal organs. The child may be missing 1 or more internal organs. In some cases, such anomalies are incompatible with life. The child may die in the womb.

Such disorders can be caused by both genetic mutations and bad habits (smoking, alcohol), infectious diseases, injuries, taking medications, insufficient or unhealthy diet, working in hazardous industries, chemical poisoning, etc.

What influences fetal development?

During pregnancy, you need to adhere to a proper and healthy lifestyle!

The intrauterine period of development can be called the foundation. During this period, the laying of internal organs and the formation of the brain occurs. In many ways, the child’s potential depends on how exactly his development occurred during pregnancy.

Doctors are confident that the course of pregnancy and the formation of the fetus in most cases depend on the woman, her behavior, nutrition and other factors that the mother herself can influence. For this reason, doctors talk to pregnant women, explaining how they can influence the situation and increase the chances of having a healthy baby.

Among the factors that have a noticeable impact on the development of a child during the prenatal period are:

Nutrition. The child is connected with the mother for all 9 months. He receives as many nutrients as the mother receives. If a woman’s body is exhausted, the child will also lack nutrition. Vitamins, minerals and nutrients are very important for the formation and development of internal organs.
Bad habits. Alcohol and nicotine affect the development of a child's brain. It has been proven that the likelihood of developing anomalies, intrauterine infections and neurological diseases in this case increases.
Stress. It is not for nothing that doctors recommend that women take care of their nerves and avoid any emotional shocks during pregnancy. Stress can lead to tachycardia and hypertension, which causes oxygen starvation in the child. It begins to actively move, increasing blood flow to the placenta.
Air quality. Of course, a woman cannot always go to a place with clean air and spend all 9 months there. However, air pollution negatively affects the development of the fetus. Lack of oxygen leads to hypoxia, developmental delays and other unpleasant consequences.
Communication between mother and child. Many experts believe that a child’s intelligence increases if his mother talked to him during pregnancy, read books, sang songs, or played music. At a certain period of development, the child already begins to distinguish voices. He remembers his mother's voice before anyone else and quickly recognizes it after birth.

A woman cannot control everything, but she can influence the course of pregnancy by following all the doctor's recommendations. This significantly increases the chance of giving birth to a healthy baby at term.

24-32 weeks of fetal development

The fetal lungs continue to develop until 32 weeks. The child falls asleep and wakes up. His skin becomes wrinkled and covered with grease. The sensitivity of the lips and mouth increases, the eyes open slightly, perceive light and even squint. Fetal development up to 32 weeks is characterized by the adaptation of the lungs to breathing normal air. The breathing process itself is already rhythmic, the baby reacts to external stimuli. The skin becomes significantly thicker, smoother, and pinker. From this period begins a period of intensive growth and weight gain. Most children born at this stage survive. According to statistics, this figure is 9 out of 10. The weight of the unborn child at 32 weeks is about 2500 g, length - 450 mm.

33-37 weeks of fetal development

At this time, the baby clearly reacts to light. He is already able to turn his head and raise it. His hair becomes silky. At 33-37 weeks, the grasping reflex develops, and the lungs are already fully formed and ready to “work” independently.

At week 37, the fetus is ready to be born. Every day he gains 30 grams of fat, and a protective sheath forms around his nerves. The cartilages of the nose and ears harden during this period. If this is a woman’s first pregnancy, then, as a rule, she reaches the end of her term.