the proGnosis

For some reason, over the past thirteen weeks, I’ve been keeping track of how a baby grows in a womb and how life develops. Here are some of the highlights of how amazing God’s physical knitting together of a person in the womb is:

Five Weeks Old

This week the baby’s heart begins to beat and so blood begins to pump around its body. The beginnings of the brain; the cardiovascular, nervous and reproductive systems; as well as all other major systems are under way. The baby is about 2mm long; about the size of a sesame seed.

Six Weeks Old

The baby will look like a mini-tadpole. Eyes, ears and nose begin to develop. The heart now has a regular beat. Arms and legs are beginning to grow, though now they’ll only look like tiny bumps and the brain is beginning to take shape.

Seven Weeks Old

The face is really forming now with open eyes showing some pigmentation, visible ear holes, mini nostrils, and an indentation where the mouth will appear. The digestive system, stomach and lungs are all beginning to form. The baby is about 1/4 of an inch long; about the size of a tic-tac, and weighs about as heavy as an eye-lash. This week the baby has grown 10,000 times its original size!

Eight Weeks Old

Little ‘Jonny’ looks a lot more human this week. Eyelids, ears, upper lip and the tip of the nose are forming. Webbed fingers and toes grow this week. The heart has developed its four chambers and is beating at around 150 bpm. The b

aby is now 1/2 an inch long.

Nine Weeks Old

Nippples, hair follicles and anus all grow this week. The face is becoming more defined and the baby is starting to exercise and expand its muscles, though you won’t be able to feel the movement yet. Reproductive organs are developing this week too (though the gender is decided at conception). The baby is huge now at 1 inch, about the size of an olive, and weighs 2 grams—a little less than a penny.

Ten Weeks Old

All the baby’s cells have been directed to their places—brain tissue is growing rapidly, muscles are forming, fingers and toes are becoming defined. The tail has gone completely by now, the eyelids are no longer transparent and the tooth buds are forming. The baby is already producing urine and if it’s a boy it is already producing testosterone.

Eleven Weeks Old

The baby’s vital organs are all formed by this week. In the coming nine weeks, the baby will increase 30 times in weight and almost triple in length! At the moment it is 2 inches and weighs about the same as 2 sachets of sugar

Twelve Weeks

The small intestine is no longer entwined with the umbilical cord, but instead is tucked neatly within the abdomen. The baby’s nervous system continues to develop, and her brain’s structure is fully formed. Many of the organs are starting to work on their own, too. Swallowing is being learned this week too; practice is done on the amniotic fluid! Even fingernails are beginning to form

Thirteen Weeks

This week marks the end of the first trimester!

(Information gleaned from 3D Pregnancy and Babyzone)