THE GROWING FETUS FIRST TRIMESTER
 Bone ossification centers begin to form.
END OF 4TH GESTATIONAL WEEK
 Length: 0.75–1 cm
 Weight: 400 mg
 Back is bent
 Spinal cord is formed and fused at the
midpoint.
 Arms and legs are budlike structures.
Rudimentary
 eyes, ears, and nose are discernible.
 Rudimentary heart appears as a prominent
bulge
 on the anterior surface
 Lateral wings that will form the body are
folded
 forward to fuse at the midline.
 The head folds forward and becomes
prominent,
 representing about one-third of the entire
structure
 Length: 2.5 cm (1 in)
 Weight: 20 g
 Organogenesis is complete.
 The heart, with a septum and valves, is
beating
 rhythmically.
 Facial features are definitely discernible.
 Arms and legs have developed.
 External genitalia are forming, but sex is not
yet
 distinguishable by simple observation.
 The primitive tail is regressing
 The abdomen bulges forward because the
fetal
 intestine is growing so rapidly.
 An ultrasound shows a gestational sac,
diagnostic
 of pregnancy
END OF 12TH GESTATIONAL WEEK (FIRST TRIMESTER)
 Length: 7–8 cm
 Weight: 45 g
 Nail beds are forming
 on fingers and toes.
 Spontaneous
 movements are possible
 Some reflexes, such as
 the Babinski reflex, are
 present.
 Tooth buds are present.
 Sex is distinguishable by outward appearance.
 Urine secretion begins but may not yet be
evident in amniotic fluid.
 The heartbeat is audible through Doppler
technology.
THE SECOND TRIMESTER
The Baby's Growth and Development in Middle
Pregnancy
The second trimester of your pregnancy is from week
13 to week 28 - roughly months four, five and six. As
well as feeling and looking more pregnant during
these weeks, you may also have more energy than
you did in the first trimester.
4th, 5th and 6th Month
• Fingers and toes are well-defined.
• His eyelids, eyebrows, eyelashes,
nails, and hair are formed.
• Teeth and bones are becoming
denser.
• The baby can even suck his or her
thumb, yawn, stretch, and make
faces.
The 4th Month
• The nervous system is starting to function at
this point in pregnancy.
• The reproductive organs and genitalia are
now fully developed, and your health care
provider can see on ultrasound if you are
having a boy or a girl.
• By the end of the fourth month, your baby is
about 6 inches long and weighs about 4
ounces.
• Eyelids,eyebrows, eyelashes, nails and hair
are formed
• Amniotic fluid develops
• Teeth and bones become denser
• Coordinated limb movements are present
• Nasal septum and palate close
 THE 5TH MONTH

Hair is beginning to grow on your baby's head, and

lanugo, a soft fine hair. This hair protects your baby
and is usually shed at the end of the baby's first week
of life.

The baby is covered with vernix caseosa it protect the

baby's skin from long exposure to the amniotic fluid,
is shed just before birth.

The baby may begin to move. (( Quickening ))

At the end of this month, the baby should be 10

inches long and weighs 1/2 to 1 pounds

Digestive system is functioning

Fetus can hear at 19th week

Heart sounds are palpable by auscultation

THE 6TH MONTH

SIZE

The baby is about 12 inches long and weighs about 2

pounds.

PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES

His or her skin is reddish in color, wrinkled, and veins

are visible through the baby's translucent skin.

Baby's finger and toe prints are visible. The eyelids

begin to part and the eyes open.

The baby may respond to sounds by moving or

increasing the pulse, and you may notice jerking
motions if baby hiccups.

• Skin appears wrinkled and pink or

red with visible blood in capillaries

• REM ( rapid eye movements) begins

• Brown fat is forming which is the site

of heat production

• Fingerprint and footprint form by

23rd week

• Baby’s lungs produces surfactant at

26th week

• Baby’s gender can be identified by

the end of the second trimester