Fetal development: The first trimester Fetal development begins soon after conception.

Find out how your baby grows and develops during the first trimester. By Mayo Clinic staff You're pregnant. Congratulations! You'll undoubtedly spend the months ahead wondering how your baby is growing and developing. What does your baby look like? How big is he or she? When will you feel the first kick? Fetal development typically follows a predictable

Soon after fertilization, the zygote travels down the fallopian tube toward the uterus. At the same time, it will begin dividing rapidly to form a cluster of cells resembling a tiny raspberry. The inner group of cells will become the embryo. The outer group of cells will become the membranes that nourish and protect it. Week 4: Implantation By the time it reaches the uterus, the rapidly dividing ball of cells now known as a blastocyst has separated into two sections. The inner group of cells will become the embryo. The outer group of cells will become the membranes that nourish and protect it. On contact, it will burrow into the uterine wall for nourishment. This process is called implantation. The placenta, which will nourish your baby throughout the pregnancy, also begins to form. Week 5: The embryonic period begins Fetal development three weeks after

course. Find out what happens during the first trimester by checking out this weekly calendar of events. Keep in mind that measurements are approximate. Weeks 1 and 2: Getting ready It might seem strange, but you're not actually pregnant the first week or two of the time allotted to your pregnancy. Yes, you read that correctly! Conception typically occurs about two weeks after your period begins. To calculate your due date, your health care provider will count ahead 40 weeks from the start of your last period. This means your period is counted as part of your pregnancy even though you weren't pregnant at the time. Week 3: Fertilization

conception The fifth week of pregnancy, or the third week after conception, marks the beginning of the embryonic period. This is when the baby's brain, spinal cord, heart and other organs begin to form. The embryo is now made of three layers. The top layer the ectoderm will give rise to your baby's outermost layer of skin, central and peripheral nervous systems, eyes, inner ear, and many connective tissues.

Fertilization and implantation The sperm and egg unite in one of your fallopian tubes to form a one-celled entity called a zygote. If more than one egg is released and fertilized, you may have multiple zygotes. The zygote has 46 chromosomes 23 from you and 23 from your partner.These chromosomes will help determine your baby's sex, traits such as eye and hair color, and, to some extent, personality and intelligence.

Your baby's heart and a primitive circulatory system will form in the middle layer of cells the mesoderm. This layer of cells will also serve as the foundation for your baby's bones, muscles, kidneys and much of the reproductive system. The inner layer of cells the endoderm will become a simple tube lined with mucous membranes. Your baby's lungs, intestines and bladder will develop here.

By the end of this week, your baby is likely about the size of the tip of a pen. Week 6: The neural tube closes

By the end of this week, your baby might be about 1/2 inch (11 to 14 millimeters) long. Week 9: Baby's toes form Fetal development seven weeks after

Fetal development four weeks after conception Growth is rapid this week. Just four weeks after conception, the neural tube along your baby's back is closing and your baby's heart is pumping blood. Basic facial features will begin to appear, including passageways that will make up the inner ear and arches that will contribute to the jaw. Your baby's body begins to take on a C-shaped curvature. Small buds will soon become arms and legs. Week 7: Baby's head develops

conception In the ninth week of pregnancy, or seven weeks after conception, your baby's arms grow, develop bones and bend at the elbows. Toes form, and your baby's eyelids and ears continue developing. By the end of this week, your baby might be about 3/4 inch (18 to 22 millimeters) long. Week 10: Baby's neck begins to develop

Fetal development eight weeks after conception By the 10th week of pregnancy, or eight weeks after conception, your baby's head has become more round. The neck begins to develop, and your baby's eyelids begin to close to protect his or her developing eyes. Week 11: Baby's genitals develop At the beginning of the 11th week of pregnancy, or the ninth week after conception, your baby's head still makes up about half of its length. However, your baby's body is about to catch up, growing rapidly in the coming weeks. Your baby is now officially described as a fetus. This week your baby's eyes are widely separated, the eyelids fused

Fetal development five weeks after conception Seven weeks into your pregnancy, or five weeks after conception, your baby's brain and face are rapidly developing.Tiny nostrils become visible, and the eye lenses begin to form. The arm buds that sprouted last week now take on the shape of paddles. By the end of this week, your baby might be a little bigger than the top of a pencil eraser. Week 8: Baby's eyes are visible

Fetal development six weeks after conception Eight weeks into your pregnancy, or six weeks after conception, your baby's arms and legs are growing longer, and fingers have begun to form. The shell-shaped parts of your baby's ears also are forming, and your baby's eyes are visible. The upper lip and nose have formed. The trunk of your baby's body is beginning to straighten.

and the ears low set. Red blood cells are beginning to form in your baby's liver. By the end of this week, your baby's external genitalia will start developing into a penis or clitoris and labia majora. By now your baby might measure about 2 inches (50 millimeters) long from crown to rump and weigh almost 1/3 ounce (8 grams).

Week 12: Baby's fingernails develop

Fourteen weeks into your pregnancy, or 12 weeks after conception, your baby's arms have almost reached the final relative lengths they'll be at birth and your baby's neck has become more defined. Red blood cells are forming in your baby's spleen. Your baby's sex will become apparent this week or in the coming weeks. For girls, ovarian follicles begin forming. For boys, the prostate appears. By now your baby might be almost 3 1/2 inches (87 millimeters) long from crown to rump and weigh about 1 1/2 ounces (45 grams). Week 15: Baby's skeleton develops bones Fifteen weeks into your pregnancy, or 13 weeks after conception, your baby is growing rapidly. Your baby's skeleton is developing bones, which will become visible on ultrasound images in a few weeks. Your baby's scalp hair pattern also is forming. Week 16: Baby can make sucking motions

Fetal development 10 weeks after conception Twelve weeks into your pregnancy, or 10 weeks after conception, your baby is developing fingernails. Your baby's face now has a human profile. By now your baby might be about 2 1/2 inches (61 millimeters) long from crown to rump and weigh about 1/2 ounce (14 grams). Fetal development: The second trimester Fetal development takes on new meaning in the second trimester. Highlights might include finding out your baby's sex and feeling your baby move. By Mayo Clinic staff As your pregnancy progresses, your baby might begin to seem more real.You might hear the heartbeat at your prenatal appointments, and your enlarging abdomen might force you to put away your favorite jeans. While you're adjusting to the changes in your body, fetal development takes on new meaning. Two months ago, your baby was simply a cluster of cells.Now he or she has functioning organs, nerves and muscles. Find out what happens during the second trimester by checking out this weekly calendar of events. Keep in mind that measurements are approximate. Week 13: Urine forms Thirteen weeks into your pregnancy, or 11 weeks after conception, your baby's intestines have moved from the umbilical cord to your baby's abdomen. Your baby is also beginning to form urine and discharge it into the amniotic fluid. Tissue that will become bone is also developing around your baby's head and within his or her arms and legs. Week 14: Baby's sex becomes apparent

Fetal development 14 weeks after conception Sixteen weeks into your pregnancy, or 14 weeks after conception, your baby's eyes have begun to face forward and slowly move. The ears are close to reaching their final position. Your baby might be able to make sucking motions with his or her mouth. Although still too slight to be felt, your baby's movements are becoming coordinated and can be detected during ultrasound exams. By now your baby might be more than 4 1/2 inches (120 millimeters) long from crown to rump. Week 17: Fat accumulates

Seventeen weeks into your pregnancy, or 15 weeks after conception, fat stores begin to develop under your baby's skin. The fat will provide energy and help keep your baby warm after birth. Week 18: Baby begins to hear Eighteen weeks into your pregnancy, or 16 weeks after conception, your baby's ears begin to stand out on the sides of his or her head. Your baby might begin to hear. By now your baby might be 5 1/2 inches (140 millimeters) long from crown to rump and weigh 7 ounces (200 grams). Week 19: Baby's uterus forms Nineteen weeks into your pregnancy, or 17 weeks after conception, a greasy, cheese-like coating called vernix caseosa begins to cover your baby.The vernix caseosa helps protect your baby's delicate skin from abrasions, chapping and hardening that can result from exposure to amniotic fluid. For girls, the uterus and vagina might begin to form this week. Week 20: The halfway point

Week 22: Baby's hair becomes visible Twenty-two weeks into your pregnancy, or 20 weeks after conception, your baby is completely covered with a fine, down-like hair called lanugo. The lanugo helps hold the vernix caseosa on the skin. Your baby's eyebrows might be visible. By now your baby might be 7 1/2 inches (190 millimeters) long from crown to rump and weigh 1 pound (460 grams). Week 23: Fingerprints and footprints form Twenty-three weeks into your pregnancy, or 21 weeks after conception, your baby's skin is wrinkled, more translucent than before and pink to red in color. This week your baby begins to have rapid eye movements. Your baby's tongue will soon develop taste buds. Fingerprints and footprints are forming.For boys, the testes are descending from the abdomen. For girls, the uterus and ovaries are in place complete with a lifetime supply of eggs. With intensive medical care, some babies born this week might be able to survive. Week 24: Real hair grows

Halfway into your pregnancy, or 18 weeks after conception, you might be able to feel your baby's first movements, also known as quickening. By now your baby might be about 6 1/3 inches (160 millimeters) long from crown to rump. Week 21: Baby can swallow By now your baby might be about 8 inches (210 millimeters) long from crown to rump and weigh more than 1 1/3 pounds (630 grams). Week 25: Baby responds to your voice Twenty-four weeks into your pregnancy, or 22 weeks after conception, your baby is regularly sleeping and waking. Real hair is growing on his or her head.

Fetal development 19 weeks after conception Twenty-one weeks into your pregnancy, or 19 weeks after conception, your baby is poised to gain more weight. By this week your baby is becoming more active and might be able to swallow.

Fetal development 23 weeks after conception Twenty-five weeks into your pregnancy, or 23 weeks after conception, your baby's hands and startle reflex are

developing. Your baby might be able to respond to familiar sounds, such as your voice, with movement. Week 26: Baby's fingernails develop Twenty-six weeks into your pregnancy, or 24 weeks after conception, your baby has fingernails. Your baby's lungs are beginning to produce surfactant, the substance that allows the air sacs in the lungs to inflate and keeps them from collapsing and sticking together when they deflate.

By now your baby might be nearly 10 inches (250 millimeters) long from crown to rump and weigh nearly 2 1/4 pounds (1,000 grams). Otherwise healthy babies born this week have a 90 percent chance of survival without physical or neurological impairment and the odds improve with each passing week. Week 29: Baby's bones are fully developed

Fetal development 27 weeks after conception Twenty-nine weeks into your pregnancy, or 27 weeks after

By now your baby might be 9 inches (230 millimeters) long from crown to rump and weigh nearly 2 pounds (820 grams). Week 27: Second trimester ends This week marks the end of the second trimester. At 27 weeks, or 25 weeks after conception, your baby's lungs and nervous system are continuing to mature and he or she has likely been growing like a weed. Your baby's crown-torump length might have tripled since the 12-week mark. Fetal development: The third trimester Fetal development continues during the third trimester.Your baby will open his or her eyes, gain more weight, and prepare for delivery. By Mayo Clinic staff The end of your pregnancy is near! By now, you might be tired of being pregnant and eager to meet your baby face to face. Your uterus, however, is still a busy place. Understand how fetal development continues as you approach your due date. Here's a weekly calendar of events for the third trimester. Keep in mind that measurements are approximate. Week 28: Baby's eyes open Twenty-eight weeks into your pregnancy, or 26 weeks after conception, your baby's eyelids are partially open and eyelashes have formed. Your baby is gaining weight, which is smoothing out many of the wrinkles in his or her skin.

conception, your baby's bones are fully developed, but they're still soft and pliable. Week 30: Baby's eyes are wide open Thirty weeks into your pregnancy, or 28 weeks after conception, your baby's eyes are wide open a good part of the time. Your baby might have a good head of hair by this week. Red blood cells are now forming in your baby's bone marrow. By now your baby might be more than 10 1/2 inches (270 millimeters) long from crown to rump and weigh nearly 3 pounds (1,300 grams). Week 31: Sexual development continues Thirty-one weeks into your pregnancy, or 29 weeks after conception, your baby's central nervous system has matured to the stage where it can control body temperature. Week 32: Baby practices breathing Thirty-two weeks into your pregnancy, or 30 weeks after conception, your baby's toenails are visible. Although your baby's lungs aren't fully formed, he or she practices breathing.Your baby's body begins absorbing vital minerals, such as iron and calcium from the intestinal tract. The layer of soft, downy hair that has covered your

baby's skin for the past few months known as lanugo starts to fall off this week. By now your baby might be 11 inches (280 millimeters) long from crown to rump and weigh 3 3/4 pounds (1,700 grams). Week 33: Baby detects light

Week 37: Baby is full term Thirty-seven weeks into your pregnancy, or 35 weeks after conception, your baby will be considered full term. Your baby's organs are ready to function on their own. To prepare for birth, your baby might descend into the head-down position. Week 38: Baby develops a firm grasp

Fetal development 31 weeks after conception Thirty-three weeks into your pregnancy, or 31 weeks after conception, your baby's pupils can constrict, dilate and detect light entering his or her eyes. Week 34: Baby's fingernails grow Thirty-four weeks into your pregnancy, or 32 weeks after conception, your baby's fingernails have reached his or her fingertips. By now your baby might be nearly 12 inches (300 millimeters) long from crown to rump. The pasty white coating that protects your baby's skin the vernix caseosa is about to get thicker. Week 35: Protective coating thickens Thirty-five weeks into your pregnancy, or 33 weeks after conception, your baby's limbs are becoming chubby. Your baby is gaining weight rapidly about 1/2 pound (227 grams) a week for the next month.

Thirty-eight weeks into your pregnancy, or 36 weeks after conception, your baby is developing a firm grasp. Your baby's toenails have reached the tips of his or her toes. His or her brain might weigh about 14 ounces (397 grams). After birth, your baby's brain will continue to grow. Your baby has mostly shed all of his or her lanugo. By now your baby might weigh about 6 1/2 pounds (2,900 grams). Week 39: Placenta provides antibodies Thirty-nine weeks into your pregnancy, or 37 weeks after conception, your baby's chest is becoming more prominent. For boys, the testes continue to descend into the scrotum. The placenta continues to supply your baby with antibodies that will help fight infection after birth. If you breast-feed your baby, your milk will provide additional antibodies. Week 40: Your due date arrives

Week 36: Rapid weight gain begins Thirty-six weeks into your pregnancy, or 34 weeks after conception, the crowded conditions inside your uterus might make it harder for your baby to give you a punch. However, you'll probably still feel lots of stretches, rolls and wiggles. You might want to check on your baby's movements from time to time (kick count) especially if you think you've noticed decreased activity.Ask your health care provider how many movements you should detect in a certain number of hours. Forty weeks into your pregnancy, or 38 weeks after conception, your baby might be about 18 to 20 inches long (457 to 508 millimeters) and weigh 6 to 9 pounds (2,720 to 4,080 grams).Remember, however, that healthy babies come in different sizes. Fetal development 38 weeks after conception