Foetal Development

From zygote to embryo to foetus to baby.

Human development
from tiny cells to a
complex living
organism
 Week 1 - 4
By week 4, the embryo is curled into an arc of
about 4 mm across. There are signs of early
development of the neural tube, which contains
the spinal cord, and the tubular structure of the
embryo's body has started to form.

The two tubes of the heart fuse and start

contracting and the neural tube zips itself shut.
 Week 5 - 6
The embryo measures about 10 mm and
becomes recognisable as a tiny human baby.

The cells differentiate into layers and the head is curled towards the
bulging chest which covers the heart.

Small swellings show where the arms and legs will grow.
Week 7 - 12
The foetus now has eyes, fingernails and tiny
milk teeth buds.

It can open its mouth and may start sucking its thumb.

By week 12 it will start swallowing amniotic fluid and the external

sex organs become well developed.

All other organs are fully formed and begin maturing. The kidneys
secrete urine and the foetus is already making movements.
 Week 13 - 16
The foetus measures about 13 - 14 cm in length.

Downy hair called lanugo covers the skin.

Hearing develops to a greater extent and the mother's voice becomes

distinct from other uterine sounds.

The foetus can flex its legs and hiccups as it swallows amniotic fluid.
 Week 17 - 20
Your baby should measure around 25 cm and
weigh 240g.

From this stage on there is huge variation in foetus size and growth
rate.

The baby's gender should be quite clearly visible and you should start
feeling movement.

Sebaceous glands produce a cheese-like substance known as vernix

which protects the baby's skin from drying out.
Week 21 - 24
By week 24 the baby weighs around a half to
one full kilogram and is about 25 cm long.

The head and body are now more in proportion. Fat is being
distributed under the skin, which is still thin and almost
translucent.

The eyelids and ears are properly formed and more hair starts to
appear, including eyebrows and eyelashes.

There may be periods of waking and sleeping. The average sleep

cycle can vary from 20 minutes to two hours and your baby may be
startled by loud noises.
 Week 25 - 28
The baby measures about 26cm in length and
the weight is around 1.5kg.

The heartbeat is around 120-40 beats per minute.

The brain begins to wrinkle to allow more grey matter into the skull
and is considered to be viable, which means that if born at this
stage it has a reasonable chance of survival.
 Week 29 - 32
The umbilical cord is about 50 cm in length.

The lungs produce large quantities of surfactant to ensure maturity.

Weight will increase by about 200g per week until birth.

The chances of survival at this stage are good, though the lungs are
still maturing. The vernix and lanugo start to shed and are swallowed
by the baby.
Week 33 - 36
It is starting to become more cramped in the
uterus and the baby(s) movements may
decrease slightly and resemble stretching
rather than kicking.

Weight increases by about 200 g per week until birth.

A baby ready for birth weighs between 2.8 and 5 kg and the
average length is between 46 and 50 cm.