Month One – During the first four weeks of pregnancy, the single cell created during conception has multiplied to 10,000 times its original size so that your baby is now roughly ¼” long. In addition, the baby’s heart, digestive system, backbone and spinal cord have all begun to develop, as well as the placenta that connects the mother and fetus.
Month Two – In the second month, your baby has grown to roughly 1 ¼” long and has begun to move – even though you may not be able to feel it yet. The heart begins to function, circulating blood through the fetus, and the eyes, nose, lips, tongue, and teeth all begin to form. In boys, the penis begins to appear as well.
Month Three – After three months in the womb, your baby begins to take on the recognizable shape of a person and has increased to 2 ½ to 3″ long. By this point, your baby weighs ½ to 1 ounce and is beginning to develop fingernails and ear lobes. The arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet and toes are all fully formed and most of the internal organs and tissues have begun to develop. Your baby’s heartbeat, though faint, can be heard using Doppler at this stage in development.
Month Four – Between the third and fourth months, your baby undergoes a dramatic growth spurt, increasing in size to 6 ½ to 7″ long and 6 to 7 ounces in weight. Its fingers, toes and gender can all be identified, and the baby may begin to develop certain reflexes like sucking and swallowing. Tooth buds are beginning to form, as are sweat glands on the baby’s palms and soles. Although the baby seems fully-formed in many respects, it still is not able to survive outside the mother’s body at this time.
Month Five – Most expectant mothers begin to feel fetal movement during this month, and may experience the baby’s kicks or turns. The baby has grown to roughly 1 pound and measures between 8 to 10 inches in length. During this period, the internal organs continue to develop, and hair, eyebrows, eyelids and eyelashes all begin to appear.
Month Six – At this point, the baby continues to grow and develop, reaching an average size of 11 to 14 inches long and an average weight of 1 ¾ to 2 pounds. The baby may begin to hiccup and open its eyes for short periods of time.
Month Seven – Babies born during this period are able to survive outside of the mother’s womb, provided they receive special “premie” care. These babies are typically 14 to 16 inches long and weigh roughly 2 ½ to 3 ½ pounds. The organs continue to mature during this period, and the fat layers and taste buds begin to develop.
Month Eight – Most babies experience another rapid growth spurt during the eighth month, increasing to 4 to 6 pounds and 16 ½ to 18 inches in length. Most of the organs, with the exception of the lungs, are fully developed by this point in the pregnancy, while the brain undergoes a period of tremendous development. At this point, the baby’s kicks may be strong enough to be seen on the outside of the mother’s stomach.
Month Nine – In this final month before birth, the baby’s lungs finally develop to the point where the baby is able to survive on it’s own outside the mother’s womb. It has increased in size to 19 to 20 inches long and 7 to 8 pounds, and its skin is no longer red and wrinkled. Near the end of the month, the baby will begin to migrate lower in the abdomen in order to prepare for its impending birth.
