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Fetal Development

Our Lives Start at Conception

Our lives begin, of course, long before birth. Not open to dispute is the fact that our lives began at the moment of fertilization. The following is a description of the first months of life, starting from the point of fertilization. These facts are recognized in medical and biology texts. But how much do you know about your own beginnings?

First Trimester (Link: Abortion Procedures)

CONCEPTION (FERTILIZATION)
• Sperm fertilizes egg
• The new life, starting as just one cell, eventually implants in lining of uterus

2 WEEKS
Heart beats at 21 days
• Foundation laid for brain and spinal cord

4 WEEKS
• Brain and spinal cord begin to form
• Length is less than 1 inch

6 WEEKS
• Lungs are beginning to form
• Eyes and nostrils are visible
• Taste buds and teeth are beginning to develop

8 WEEKS
• Fingers have grown and separated, toes are now visible
• Facial features—eyes, nose, lips, and tongue—continue to develop
• Each minute the brain develops as many as 250,000 new neurons
• Unborn child is now called a fetus, rather than an embryo

10 WEEKS
• Fingernails are beginning to form
• Kidneys are developing and can produce urine

12 WEEKS
• All major body parts and organs are present
• Heartbeat can be heard with electronic devices
• Bones are beginning to harden

Fetal devlopment at 4 weeks
Fetal development at 6 weeks
abortion at 8 weeks
Fetal development at 10 weeks
Fetal development at 12 weeks

Second Trimester (Link: Abortion Procedures)

14 WEEKS
• Mouth makes sucking motions
• Spleen begins producing red blood cells
• Hair pattern on head develops

16 WEEKS
• Movement may be felt by the mother
• The unborn child can suck her thumb
• Taste buds are present and functioning

18 WEEKS
• Arms and legs begin to punch and kick
• Fingernails are well formed
• Uterus begins to form if it’s a girl
• Length is about 10 inches head to heel

20 WEEKS
Experts say she can feel pain
• Swallowing begins
• Can turn body side to side and front to back

22 WEEKS
• Rapid brain growth continues
• Weight is about one pound

24 WEEKS
• Outside sounds can be heard
• Actions such as hiccuping, squinting, smiling, and frowning may be seen through ultrasound

26 WEEKS
• Sleep patterns exist and rapid eye movement indicates dreaming may occur
• Eyelids reopen after being closed for months
• Muscles exercise by kicking and stretching

abortion at 14 weeks
abortion at 16 weeks
abortion at 18 weeks
abortion at 20 weeks
abortion at 24 weeks
abortion at 28 weeks

Third Trimester (Link: Abortion Procedures)

28 WEEKS
• Central nervous system is developed enough to control some major body functions
• Another person might hear a heartbeat by listening to the pregnant woman’s abdomen

30 WEEKS
• Rhythmic breathing movements start to occur
• Mom’s voice and other familiar sounds may be recognized
• Bones are fully developed, but still soft and pliable

32 WEEKS
• Pupils can dilate and constrict in dim or bright light
• Connections between the nerve cells in the brain have increased

34 WEEKS
• Weight is about 4 to 4½ pounds

36 WEEKS
• Body fat increasing rapidly
• Head may soon start repositioning down in preparation for birth

38 WEEKS
• A newborn is considered full-term 38 weeks after fertilization (40 weeks of pregnancy)
• The unborn child can grasp firmly

Source: Right to Life of Michigan

Photos are from a fetal development slide show at babycenter.com. This site also has a slide show describing early pregnancy symptoms.

A video of fetal development can be found here

A printable chart of fetal development can be found here

Abortion Pill
First Trimester
Second Trimester
Third Trimester
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