Fetal Development

1
Fetal Development

• What Is Happening During
• Each Month of Pregnancy?

2
1(first) Month

• Brain and spinal cord forming
• Heart formed and beating
• Bones forming
• Eyes and ears forming
• Weighs less than 1 ounce
• Length less than 1/8 inch

3
2 (second) Month

• All essential organs forming
• Fingers, toes, and facial features (eyes, nose,
  lips, ears, and tongue) evident and continuing to
  develop
• Brain starting to control organs
• Length about ½ to ¾ inch

4
3 (third) Month

• Arms and legs moving
• All body parts and organs present
• Head makes up almost half of fetus size
• Signs of male and female gender present
• Heartbeat evident with electronic device

5
4 (fourth) Month

• Movements felt by the mother
• Sucking motions made with the mouth
• Head and body become proportional
• Lungs continuing to develop
• Skin almost transparent
• Weight about 5 ounces
• Length about 4 to 5 inches

6
5 (fifth) Month

• Nails appear on fingers and toes
• Fetus more active in womb
• Fetal heartbeat heard with a stethoscope
• Breathing movements occurring but lungs not
  developed enough for survival if born
• Length about 8 inches

7
6 (sixth) Month

• Unique footprints and fingerprints present
• Responds to outside sounds
• Actions such as hiccupping, squinting, smiling,
  and frowning may be seen on ultrasound
• Weighs about 1 to 1 ½ pounds
• Length about 8 to 9 inches

8
7 (seventh) Month

• Eyelids open and close
• Good chance of survival if born, may have
  complications
• Weight about 2 and 2 ¼ pounds
• Length about 10 to 13 inches

2 inches
9
8 (eighth) Month

• Skin thicker and more color
• Lungs still developing but good chance of
  survival with disability risks low
• Bones fully developed but still soft
• Length about 16 to 17 inches
• Weighs about 3 to 4 pounds

10
9 (ninth) Month

• Body fat increases
• Fingernails reach the end of the fingertips
• If born, high chance of survival but may need
  some medical care
• Weight about 5 to 6 pounds
• Length about 16 to 18 inches

11
9 Plus Months

• Fingernails grow beyond the end of the fingertips
• Mother supplies fetus with antibodies against
  disease
• Fetus fills entire uterus
• Weight greater than 6 pounds
• Length about 19-21 inches