The Importance of Each Stage of Pregnancy Development

The entire pregnancy has been bifurcated into three stages called trimesters. Each stage of pregnancy development is important, as it signifies constant change and development in the fetus. Some people call it week-by-week stage of pregnancy.

The initial pregnancy stage of fetus development is tough for the would-be mother as many hormonal changes are taking place in her body. Morning sickness is a very common symptom in the early stages of pregnancy. The embryo forms and the baby start to develop eyes, ears, toes and fingers.

In the second pregnancy stage, the fetus grows further and the stomach starts to protrude. It is characterized by dizziness, headaches, and backache as further changes take place in the body.

The baby starts to develop bones. The third stage of pregnancy can see signs of fatigue and increased urination. The baby develops vital organs and fat under the skin. By the end of the third semester your baby is ready to arrive.

Weekly Stages of Pregnancy

Most health care providers refer to the week-by-week stage of pregnancy or pregnancy stage by week for a better understanding of the development of fetus inside the mother’s body. The entire pregnancy period is divided into 40 weeks (280 days). The weekly stages of pregnancy are described below.

Week	Major Developments
1st and 2nd	The first two weeks represent the period before you actually get pregnant; sperm fertilizes the egg
3rd	Fertilized egg implants in uterus
4th	Placenta starts forming
5th	Development of the primitive streak
6th	Heart starts to beat, aorta, eyes, liver, gall bladder, lungs, pancreas, arm buds, stomach, intestines start forming
7th	Eye lenses, jaws and tongue start developing; arms and legs develop into paddles
8th	Development of the cerebellum, hand and foot plates, wrist and elbow areas, eye pigments, teeth buds, windpipe, and voice box takes place
9th	Cartilage, bones, sex organs, fingers and thumb start taking shape
10th	Ear lobes, upper lips, toes, palate, taste buds acquire a shape
11th	Body starts straightening; sex organs form, muscle structure starts varying
12th	Gall bladder, pancreas get fully developed; brain takes complete shape; finger nails start developing
13th	Vocal chords forms; intestines move to abdomen and form folds
14th	Breathing, sucking, swallowing motions practiced; hands become more functional
15th	Neck forms; hair pattern defined
16th	Toe nails grow; head, neck grow straighter
17th	Reflexes like blinking, swallowing, sucking develop; all structures develop further
18th	Finger prints develop; fecal waste develops
19th	Primitive egg cells in baby girl develop
20th	Scalp hair, eyebrows begin developing
21st	Muscle and bones get stronger
22nd	Hair, eyebrows now visible
23rd	Middle ear bone hardens
24th	Heart beat gets stronger
25th	Capillaries develop; nostrils open
26th	Muscular breathing starts, air sacks develop
27th	Development of brain patterns
28th	Eyelids open
29th	Senses develop, eyes move
30th	Body stores nutrients
31st	Internal organs mature
32nd	Iris reacts to light
33rd	Baby may suck fingers
34th	Immune system starts developing
35th	Descent of testes complete in male child
36th	Dimples on elbows, knees, neck
37th	End of development
38th	Waste accumulates in intestines
39th	Baby settles in pelvis
40th	Be ready to welcome your newborn

This is an overview of the pregnancy stage fetus every week. However, the weekly stage of pregnancy may vary from person to person depending on a number of factors. You should maintain a regular check-up routine with your health care provider to ensure that the development of your baby is in line with the prescribed weekly stage of pregnancy development.

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More Information on Stages of Pregnancy:
A Picture of Stage of Pregnancy – Capture the Golden Moments
    Picture of Stage of Pregnancy- Capture Those Beautiful Memories
    The Early Stage of Pregnancy- A Time for Mixed Feelings
    The First Stage of Pregnancy --- A Unique Experience
    The Importance of Each Stage of Pregnancy Development
    An Overview of Different Stages of Pregnancy
    Enjoying Your Pregnancy Stage Video
    Baby Stages During Pregnancy