How the Baby Grows: Week by Week
A fetus is a developing human being with its own separate, distinct set of DNA that manages its own development. Nourishment is the only thing it will need to grow – from conception until the end of its natural life.
| Week 1 Last Menstrual Period Week 2 Conception Week 3 Baby attaches to the uterus Week 4 Nerves, brain and spinal cord begin to develop Week 5 Baby’s heart begins to beat Week 6 Eyes, arms, legs, lungs, and stomach begin to form |
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| Week 7 Hands and feet are forming Week 8 Upper lip, teeth, fingers and ears begin to form Week 9 Toes and genitals are forming Week 10 Baby has permanent fingerprints |
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| Week 11 Baby starts to produce urine Week 12 Fingernails are forming Week 13 Baby flexes and kicks Week 14 Hormones gear up |
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| Week 15 Skin begins to form Week 16 Facial expressions are possible Week 17 Fat accumulates Week 18 Baby begins to hear |
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| Week 19 Lanugo covers baby’s skin Week 20 The halfway point Week 21 Nourishment evolves Week 22 Taste buds develop |
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| Week 23 Lungs prepare for life outside the womb Week 24 Sense of balance develops Week 25 Exploration continues Week 26 Eyes remain closed |
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| Week 27 Second trimester ends Week 28 Baby’s eyes open Week 29 Movement is more forceful Week 30 Baby packs on pounds |
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| Week 31 Reproductive development continues Week 32 Downy hair falls off Week 33 Baby detects light Week 34 Protective coating gets thicker Week 35 Rapid growth continues Week 36 Baby can suck Week 37 Baby is full-term Week 38 Organ function continues to improve Week 39 Placenta provides antibodies Week 40 Your due date arrives |
Videos: The Endowment for Human Development. (2011). Retrieved from https://www.ehd.org/get-free-videos.php
Facts: Mayo Clinic (2011). Fetal Development – The first trimester. Retrieved from: https://www.mayoclinic.com/health/prenatal-care/PR00112