The development of a newborn during pregnancy is an amazing process. There are 4 stages of the pregnancy timeline including: 1st trimester, 2nd trimester, 3rdtrimester & birth.
The Trimesters
The 1st trimester will span from conception to 12 weeks where the fertilized egg will change from a small group of cells to a fetus that is starting to have features of a baby. At the end of the third month, the fetus is about 4 inches long & weighs roughly 1 oz with all organs & limbs present.
The 2nd trimester will take place from week 12 to 28 where the heartbeat can be heard, facial features develop, movements begin in the uterus, hair begins to grow & sex of the fetus becomes visible. The fetus is actively moving, has grown to about 14” long & typically weighs between 2 lbs – 4 lbs by the end of week 28.
The 3rd trimester typically starts at week 29 & continues until birth which usually occurs in the final month around week 37 & on. Major limbs, tissues & organ systems are very well developed by this stage. The fetus is about 18” – 20” long at this point & prepares for the birthing process ahead with full functionality of all organ systems.
The Childbirth Process
Childbirth is an amazing, synchronized process of multiple systems working together. Special hormones dictate the process for the mother before, during & after the birth. For some, the sac of amniotic fluid that contains the baby ruptures before labor which is referred to as “water breaking”.
As the baby begins the journey out, the cervix softens & dilates as it prepares to allow passage for the baby. Muscles located at the top of the uterus press down on the baby assisting the passage. Hormones are flowing through the mother as the labor process begins while the baby’s skull travels through the pelvis region. From there, the baby exits through the vagin* & undergoes a rapid adaptation to living outside the womb.
A baby’s first breath is usually within 10 seconds after delivery as the newborn’s lungs inflate & begin working on their own. The newborn’s organ systems that were developed in the womb allow the baby to live a life of its own outside the womb. Once the doctors verify the mother & baby are in good health, the team cuts the umbilical cord & use our collection kit to collect your newborn’s precious cells.
Preserving your newborn’s umbilical cord blood & tissue.
The umbilical cord is the main source of nutrients for the baby with millions of high-value stem cells. We at Healthbanks are able to process & store these high-value stem cells for later use. Once we receive & process your collected cell samples, we will generate a cell analysis report that details important information such as cell count, cell viability & test results. Many applications of these high-value cells are being tested & proven to have major successes in cell therapy treatments.
If you’ve considered harvesting & storing your newborn’s cord blood or cord tissue & have questions, our team would be happy to explain in detail: 888-379-2670. Learn more about the importance & possibilities of storing your newborn’s stem cells by viewing our Why Bank Stem Cells page.
FAQs
There are three stages of prenatal development: the germinal, embryonic, and fetal stages. The first two weeks after conception are known as the germinal stage, the third through the eighth week is known as the embryonic period, and the time from the ninth week until birth is known as the fetal period.
What are the 4 stages of pregnancy development? ›
There are three stages of prenatal development: the germinal, embryonic, and fetal stages. The first two weeks after conception are known as the germinal stage, the third through the eighth week is known as the embryonic period, and the time from the ninth week until birth is known as the fetal period.
What are the 4 periods of pregnancy? ›
Pregnancy is roughly divided into 3 stages known as trimesters of about 3 months each : first trimester – conception to 12 weeks. second trimester – 13 to 27 weeks. third trimester – 28 to 40 weeks.
What is a pregnancy timeline? ›
the first trimester is from week 1 to the end of week 12. the second trimester is from week 13 to the end of week 26. the third trimester is from week 27 to the end of the pregnancy.
What is stage 5 of pregnancy? ›
In week 5, the brain and spinal column are already starting to form. The spinal cord is called the neural tube and is developing as an open groove. Your baby's head is much larger than the rest of the body at this stage as the brain and face are developing very rapidly.
How am I 4 weeks pregnant if I conceived 2 weeks ago? ›
Week 4 of pregnancy
For example, a fertilised egg may have implanted in your womb just 2 weeks ago, but if the first day of your last period was 4 weeks ago, this means you're officially four weeks pregnant! Pregnancy normally lasts from 37 weeks to 42 weeks from the first day of your last period.
What is stage 3 of pregnancy? ›
Stage 3: Delivery of the placenta
But a lot is still happening. During the third stage of labor, you will deliver the placenta. How long it lasts: The placenta is typically delivered in 30 minutes, but the process can last as long as an hour.
What is 4th pregnancy called? ›
A multiple pregnancy is a pregnancy with 2 or more babies. Some names for these are: Twins for 2 babies. Triplets for 3 babies. Quadruplets for 4 babies.
What happens in week 4 of pregnancy? ›
Your Body. The embryo continues to implant in your uterus, burying itself deep within the endometrium. Some women have slight cramping and spotting during this week while implantation happens. They might mistake this for a period, especially because this is around the time their monthly period was due.
What is Week 4 of pregnancy called? ›
Week 4: Implantation
The rapidly dividing ball of cells — now known as a blastocyst — has begun to burrow into the uterine lining (endometrium). This process is called implantation. Within the blastocyst, the inner group of cells will become the embryo.
As pregnancy progresses the embryo becomes a fetus. The fetus becomes a neonate or newborn at birth. It may not be common to hear a pregnant person speak about their embryo or fetus in those terms, but we can all choose to use the words we are most comfortable with.
How early can you tell if you are pregnant? ›
It can take around 3-4 weeks from the first day of your last period for there to be enough hCG in your body to show up on a test. If you take a test too soon, it could show up as a false negative – where the test says you're not pregnant even if you really are.
What is the most risky stage of pregnancy? ›
The first trimester of pregnancy is defined as up to the 14th week of pregnancy (13 weeks and 6 days) since the first day of your last menstrual period. Harmful exposures during the first trimester have the greatest chance of causing major birth defects.
Why is my belly so big at 6 weeks pregnant? ›
Maybe you're putting on weight around 6 to 8 weeks — which in your mind is quite early. One plausible explanation for an early bump, though, could be abdominal bloating. An increase in hormones can cause your body to retain fluid. So what you believe to be all baby bump may actually be a bloated stomach.
What does a 6 week fetus look like? ›
Your baby, or embryo, is around 6mm long, which is about the size and shape of a pea. Some people think it resembles a tadpole with its little tail. The arms and legs are starting to form and are known as limb buds. There are tiny dents where the ears will be.
What are the most critical stages of pregnancy? ›
First Trimester (0 to 13 Weeks)
Most miscarriages and birth defects occur during this period. Your body also undergoes major changes during the first trimester. These changes often cause a variety of symptoms, including nausea, fatigue, breast tenderness and frequent urination.
What are the baby stages from 0 to 12 months? ›
Your Child's Development -- Month by Month
| Gross Motor |
|---|
| 4 months | Pushes up on arms when lying on tummy |
| 5 months | Begins to roll over in one or the other direction |
| 6 months | Rolls over both ways |
| 7 months | Moves around --is starting to crawl, scoot, or “army crawl” |
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In general, major birth defects of the body and internal organs are more likely to happen between 3 to 12 embryonic/fetal weeks. This is the same as 5 to 14 gestational weeks (weeks since the first day of your last period). This is also referred to as the first trimester.
At what week during pregnancy do brain waves form? ›
According to some websites I had read, electrical activity had been recorded from the brain of a human fetus only six weeks and three days after conception (1). That would be just three weeks after the fetal heart starts beating (2), and one week after the earliest-recorded fetal movements (3).
