PREGNANCY FACTS Some symptoms of pregnancy include: Enlarged (swollen) or tender breasts, frequent urination, morning nausea, and fatigue. In week's 9th -12th, women can expect frequent urination. 2 During the 13th - 16th weeks a woman's heart beats stronger and faster to pump the increased quantity of blood around her body into the placenta. The thyroid gland in her neck has enlarged up to twice its usual size; so tight collars may be uncomfortable. Food takes longer to digest, going from 50 minutes to 130 minutes. 3 Swelling of the feet and ankles, and perhaps the fingers and hands, is very common, especially in hot weather. 4 Most women can expect to gain 20 to 40 pounds during pregnancy. This is made up of: The baby 6-10 Lbs. Breasts 1-3 Lbs. Placenta 1-2 Lbs. Blood 2 1/2-4 Lbs. Uterus 2 Lbs. Fat 5-8 Lbs. Amniotic fluid 2 Lbs. Tissue & Fluid 4-7 Lbs. Fetal Development From Conception to Birth The following information has been extracted from "From Conception to Birth" (written by Roberts Rugh, Ph.D., and Landrum B. Shettles, Ph.D., M.D.), with the exception of the items that have been footnoted. Day 21 ~ The baby's heart begins to beat. Week 4 ~ Vital systems have their beginning. From the neural tissues, the eyes and ears begin to form. The tongue, esophagus, and stomach are well developed, and the beginnings of the liver, gall bladder, and pancreas appear. Lungs begin to develop, as do kidneys and the thyroid gland. Toward the end of this week limb buds appear. Week 5 ~ The limb buds develop into more clearly differentiated limbs with feet and hands. Fingers are visible. Facial features begin to develop, especially the nose, which was previously absent. Also, the kidneys develop a great deal, the stomach assumes its adult position, and the embryo's sex organs begin to develop. Day 40 ~ Brain waves can be detected and recorded. Week 6 ~ The embryo's liver is producing its own blood cells, and the brain controls movements of muscles and organs. The sex organs develop further. The face's development is complete. The embryo has simple reflexes and begins to move. The mother won't feel these motions for another several months, since her child is still far too small to even stretch the uterus with its motion, but these first movements are important to the healthy development of the muscles. Just as the heart, which beats first with one chamber, the brain, nerves, and muscles are obviously working far before completion. These and many other facts suggest that the body begins to function long before it is fully formed. Week 7 ~ The fetus begins to move spontaneously. The jaw forms, including teeth buds in the gums. The embryonic period ends at the end of the seventh week of gestation. At this point, all the embryo's major organ systems have begun. Many of them, most notably the circulatory system, are functioning. It looks like a miniature baby, with well-defined fingers and facial features. As the embryo becomes a fetus, the main focus of its development shifts from the genesis of new organs and organ systems to growth and refinement of these new systems. Week 8 ~ It is now officially known as a "fetus" (Latin for "young one" or "offspring"). Everything that can be found in an adult is now present in the fetus. Forty separate sets of muscles are operating at this time. The fetus responds to touch, but the mother cannot yet feel her child's movement because the fetus is still so small. Taste buds begin to form in the mouth. Week 9 ~ Fingerprints are now evident in the skin. Fingernails, toenails, and hair follicles of the skin are forming and the skin thickens. Week 10 ~ The uterus has now doubled in size. The fetus can squint, swallow and wrinkle its forehead. Bones are forming in many places, even in the fingers and toes. Week 12 ~ The motions of breathing, eating, and various body movements become more purposeful. Ribs and vertebrae form by ossification of cartilage, and the vocal cords are completed. Week 13 ~ Fine hair has begun to grow on the head, and sexual differentiation has become apparent. Month 4 ~ The ears are now functioning and the fetus can hear the mother's voice and heart beat, as well as other external noises. During the fourth month the fetus experiences more growth than it will in any other month. Month 6 ~ Oil and sweat glands are now functioning. The baby could survive being born if given the proper care. Month 7 ~ The baby uses its senses of vision, hearing, taste and touch and can recognize the mother's voice. Growth of the fetus depends entirely upon the nutrition from the mother which is conveyed through the placenta, the umbilical cord, and its own blood vessels to its growing tissues. For any further pregnancy questions or information please call us: Fairfax: (703) 278-5433 Alexandria: (703) 780-4700

© 2000-2003 SLM Pregnancy Help Center
This website was last updated on: September 18, 2006
Website designed and maintained by C:straight Media