Kings Shopping World :: Pregnancy Articles :: Fom Conception to Birth
Fom Conception to Birth
byAuthor: Lesley Tysoe
|
|
Pregnancy – From Conception to Birth
The definition of pregnancy
This is the period from conception to birth. After the egg is fertilized by a sperm it is then implanted in the lining of the uterus, where it develops into the placenta and embryo, and later into a fetus. Pregnancy usually lasts for a period of 40 weeks, beginning from the first day of your last menstrual cycle, and it is divided into three trimesters, each lasting three months.
The description of pregnancy
Pregnancy is a state in which a woman carries a fertilized egg inside her body. Due to technological advances, pregnancy is increasingly occurring among older women in the United States.
Month 1
At the end of the month 1, the embryo will be about a third of an inch long, its head, trunk, along with the beginning of the arms and legs have all started to develop. The embryo receives nutrients and eliminates waste through the umbilical cord and placenta. The liver and digestive system will also have begun to develop, and the heart starts to beat.
Month 2
During month 2, the heart starts to pump and the nervous system including the brain and spinal cord begins to develop. The fetus which will now be about 1 in (2.5 cm) long has a complete cartilage skeleton, which is replaced by bone cells by the end of this month. Arms, legs and all of the major organs now begin to appear, and the formation of the facial features will have begun.
Month 3
The fetus will now be about 4 in (10 cm) and will weigh a little more than 1 ounce (28 g). The major blood vessels and the roof of the mouth are almost completed, as the face starts to take on a more recognizably human appearance. Fingers and toes appear. All the major organs are now beginning to form; the kidneys are now functional and the four chambers of the heart are complete.
Month 4
The fetus now begins to kick and swallow; although if this is your 1st pregnancy you probably will not feel the baby move at this point (2nd + pregnancies may feel some movement). The fetus should now weigh about 4 oz (112 g). All the organs are not fully formed and the fetus can now hear and urinate, and it will have established a sleep-wake cycle. Over the next 5 months the organs will continue to develop. The fetus will now also have skin, eyebrows, and hair.
Month 5
The fetus will now weigh about 1 lb (454 g) and measure 8–12 in (20–30 cm) in length, the fetus experiences rapid growth as its internal organs continue to grow. This is a very exciting month as you feel your baby move, and you should be able to hear the heartbeat with a stethoscope.
Month 6
Now weighing about 1–1.5 lb (454–681 g), the fetus is red, wrinkly, and covered with fine hair all over its body. If a fetus is born during month 6 even though its lungs are not fully developed there is a hopeful chance of survival with intensive care. The fetus will continue to grow very fast during this month as its organs carry on developing.
Month 7
A fetus born is month 7 has a better chance of survival. The fetus continues to grow rapidly now and may weigh as much as 3 lb (1.3 kg) at this stage of the pregnancy. The fetus can suck its thumb and open its eyes and look around its watery womb.
Month 8
The growth of the fetus continues but at a slower rate now as it begins to take up most of the room inside the uterus. The weight of the fetus should now be around 4–5 lbs (1.8–2.3 kg) and 16–18 in (40–45 cm) long, any time from now it may prepare itself for delivery next month by moving into the head-down position.
Month 9
The fetus will now gain about 0.5 lb (227 g) a week as the due date approaches, it will drop lower into your abdomen and prepare for the onset of labour, which may begin any time between the 37th and 42nd week of gestation. Most healthy babies will weigh 6–9 lbs (2.7–4 kg) at birth, and will be about 20 in long....
Related Products
Read the next Pregnancy article on Taking Care During Pregnancy