The process of fetal development is meticulous and well-organized. It starts before you even realise, you’re pregnant and concludes when your baby is born. There are numerous intricate stages that must be taken between conception and delivery. Fetal development occurs in three stages: germinal, embryonic, and fetal.
Your unborn child may start to feel more real as your pregnancy goes on. Your baby was a collection of cells two months ago. He or she now has working muscles, nerves, and organs. Check out this weekly schedule of activities to learn more about what takes place throughout the second trimester. Remember that measures are a rough guide.
Week 13: Urine formation begins
Your baby starts producing pee about 13 weeks of pregnancy, or 11 weeks following conception, and releasing it into the amniotic fluid around it. Additionally, your baby ingests some amniotic fluid.
Your baby’s skeleton is starting to stiffen, especially the long bones and skull. Although it is now transparent and thin, your baby’s skin will soon begin to thicken.
Week 14: The sex of the baby becomes apparent
Your baby’s neck has developed more visibly at 14 weeks of pregnancy, or 12 weeks following conception. Your child’s spleen is producing red blood cells currently.
The sex of your unborn child will be revealed this week or in the upcoming weeks. Your baby may be nearly 3 1/2 inches or 87 millimetres length from crown to rump and 1 1/2 ounces or 45 grammes in weight at this point.
Week 15: Scalp pattern starts forming
Your baby is quickly growing 13 weeks after conception, or 15 weeks into your pregnancy. Bone is still growing and will soon show up on ultrasound scans. The hair pattern on your baby’s scalp is also developing.
Week 16: The eyes of the baby began moving
Your baby’s head is upright 14 weeks after conception or 16 weeks into your pregnancy. His or her eyes can move gradually. The ears are on the verge of taking up their permanent position. The skin of your infant is thickening. The synchronised limb motions of your baby can be seen during ultrasound exams. These motions, though, are still too minute for you to notice. Your infant may now measure over 4 1/2 inches from crown to crotch and weigh almost 4 ounces.
Week 17: New-born toenails grow
Toenails start to grow 15 weeks following conception, or 17 weeks into your pregnancy. In the amniotic sac, your baby is moving more and rolling and flipping. Each day, his or her heart pumps around 100 quarts of blood.
Week 18: The infant starts to hear
Your baby’s ears start to protrude from the rear of his or her head about 18 weeks of pregnancy, or 16 weeks following conception. Your infant may start to hear sounds. The eyes are starting to turn towards the front. The digestive system of your new-born has begun to function. Your child may be 7 ounces or 200 grammes in weight and 5 1/2 inches or 140 millimetres long from crown to rump by this point.
Week 19: The baby start developing a coating for its protection
Baby grows a protective layer.Growth slows down at 19 weeks of pregnancy, or 17 weeks following conception.Your baby starts to develop vernix caseosa, a greasy, cheese-like covering.
The vernix caseosa aids in guarding against the abrasions, chapping, and stiffening that can happen when your baby’s skin is exposed to amniotic fluid. The uterus and vaginal canal are developing in females.
Week 20: This represents the midpoint
18 weeks following conception or halfway through your pregnancy, you might start to feel your baby move. Your infant wakes and sleeps at regular intervals. It’s possible that your movements or noises will wake him or her up. Your child may be more than 11 ounces or 320 milligrams and 6 1/3 inches or 160 millimeter long by this point.
Week 21: The baby begins sucking thumb
Your baby’s entire body is covered with lanugo, a fine, downy hair, by the time you are 21 weeks pregnant, or 19 weeks following conception.
The vernix caseosa is held firmly against the skin by the lanugo. Additionally, your baby’s sucking reflex is growing, allowing him or her to suck their thumb.
Week 22: baby’s hair starts getting visible
Your baby’s eyebrows and hair are evident during 22 weeks of pregnancy, or 20 weeks following conception. Additionally, brown fat is developing, which is where heat is produced.
The testicles have started to descend in boys. Your infant’s length from crown to rump may be 7 1/2 inches or 190 millimetres and weight may be around 1 pound or 460 grammes at this point.
Week 23: Footprints and fingerprints develop
Your baby starts to move its eyes quickly during 23 weeks of pregnancy, or 21 weeks following conception. The palms of the hands and the soles of the feet also develop ridges, which subsequently serve as the basis for fingerprints and imprints. Hiccupping in your infant might cause jerking movements.
Week 24: Baby’s skin starts getting wrinkled
Your baby’s skin is wrinkled, translucent, and pink to crimson at 24 weeks of pregnancy, or 22 weeks following conception, because of visible blood in the capillaries.
Week 25: Began responding to voices and movements
By week 25-, or 23-weeks following conception, your baby may be able to move in response to sounds that are familiar to him or her, like your voice. Most of your baby’s sleep is spent in a state of rapid eye movement (REM), in which the eyelids are closed but the eyes move quickly.
Week 26: The baby begins developing lungs
Your baby’s lungs start producing surfactant, the chemical that helps the air sacs in the lungs to expand and prevents from contracting and adhering together when they deflate, during 26 weeks of pregnancy, or 24 weeks following conception.
Your child may be 9 inches or 230 millimetres long from crown to crotch and almost 2 pounds or 820 gramme in weight at this point.
Week 27: End of the second trimester
The second trimester concludes this week. 25 weeks following conception, or at 27 weeks, your baby’s neurological system is still developing. Additionally, your kid is gaining weight, which will make his or her skin appear smoother.
Final words
There are numerous events that must take place for a pregnancy to start, develop, and give birth. When you consider how many organs, systems, and bodily functions increase during a nine-month pregnancy, learning about how the fetus develops can be both fascinating and eye-opening.
During pregnancy, both you and the developing fetus go through a lot of changes. Inquire about these modifications and any other concerns you may have with your obstetrician. They are there to help you and provide the finest treatment they can.
